"Have you heard about Angie?" Tim called out as Gavin walked through reception. It was December and the centre was open, but it was even emptier than usual due to the cold, wintery air. There had been no snow so far this year, but Brittas blamed the previous year's severe snowfalls as the reason for the lapse.

"What?" He responded, coming over to stand by the man.

"She's leaving!" Carole stated, her wild eyes focussing on him.

"Really?"

"Yeah." Tim turned fully to look at him. "Brittas is interviewing new people."

"I know we've only been here a few months but Whitbury know about Brittas now. Who is going to want to work here?" Gavin wondered, after the number of people who had left here, word had gotten around.

"He's only had one person in so far."

"Really? Who?" Tim leaned on the counter, curiosity lighting his face.

"A woman from up north."

"No chance she's heard of him then?" Tim grinned.

"Give it another year or so. I think we'll be heard of nationally." Gavin joked, smirking.

The phone rang, and as Carole answered it with her cheerful introduction, the two men headed off to the swimming pool.

"It'll be weird without Angie." Mused Tim softly.

"I know. I've got used to others coming and going, but I thought she would stay." He leaned down and pecked Tim's lips gently before they went into the changing rooms.

"We need somewhere new to go." Tim looked sorrowfully over at him. "I miss making out in the staffroom."

As there was no one else desperate enough for a job, Julie was brought back in to be introduced to the team as Angie's replacement. She was nice enough to them, but she didn't seem overly impressed with Brittas.

"Again!" exclaimed Julie as she walked in on Tim and Gavin. They were in the equipment cupboard, all over each other again.

"Hey, Julie." Tim said, moving away and trying to look innocent.

"Didn't think Brittas would let you do that all over the centre. It's not work." She raised her eyebrows at them, an amused grin splitting over her face.

"We don't do it in the staffroom anymore."

"Oh, yeah. Angie told me about that. Why not go somewhere else then?"

"Like where?" asked Gavin softly.

"Why not try the steam room. When Brittas was showing me round, it was one of the few doors he didn't go in."

"And a Polaroid wouldn't do much good in there." Murmured Tim, frowning slightly as he considered it.

"Thanks. Where is Brittas?" Gavin wondered.

"He was showing me around again, but Angie called him off to sort something out."

"Ah." He smiled at her and left.

"Want to give the steam room a try?" Asked Tim, smiling suggestively at him.

"Umm… Maybe we should go do some work first. I don't know why we'd be in the steam room."

"Maybe you're taking a smoke break?" Tim glanced hopefully over at him.

"Maybe later." Gavin argued gently. He turned and hurried off to the gymnasium. He wasn't sure Brittas would believe Tim was just keeping him company while he smoked. Tim was very against the idea. Still…. At least it would give him an excuse to carry cigarettes.

"Gavin?" Julie called out. He turned to see her hurrying over to him. "Just to let you know that I'm having a New Year's Eve do at mine. Here's the address." She held out a piece of paper.

"Thanks." He said softly, wondering how to reject her. He and Tim already had plans

"I thought I'd invite everyone here. I've only just moved into the area so I don't really know anyone." She smiled at him. "I'm gonna be working here soon anyway, so I might as well get to know you lot."

She turned, leaving Gavin stood with a scrap of paper in his hand.

"Oh, and it's fancy dress." She called back, grinning at him. "Tim liked the idea but he said to give you the address."

Gavin watched as she left and sighed. Apparently they had new plans.

"When is it Julie starts?" asked Tim. It was the fourth of February and they hadn't seen much of the woman since her party.

"No idea. Sometime this month I suppose. Angie said she was starting her new job next month."

The two men were languidly resting in bed. It was all ready 9am, but they had the day off. Next door, they could hear a mother shouting at her children as she tried to get them out to school.

"It's starting now and you aren't even out the door! It's only Tuesday. How have you made such a mess of your uniform already? That tie goes around your neck, not your wrist. Get it on."

"I am so glad we don't have kids. She sounds more stressed every time I hear her." Murmured Gavin as he sighed and shifted.

"I was just thinking I'm glad I'm not in school anymore. My mum was just like that."

"I went to boarding school. It was very different. Besides, your mum is wonderful."

"She is now. When my step-dad was still around she was very different."

"My parents haven't changed in all the time I've known them. Probably not since the Victorian Era."

"Is this about why I can't visit them with you again? I told you, I don't mind. Besides, you could just say I'm a friend."

"We have a whole day off together Timmy, I want to do something other than talking about our parents."

"I'm game for that." Tim replied, rolling over on top of Gavin.

As they began to kiss though, there was a knock on the door.

"Is it anything important you think?" asked Gavin, his eyes still shut as Tim peppered kisses across his face.

"Don't know, don't care."

"What if it's the postman?"

"Don't care."

"I'll just check." Gavin slid out from under Tim and pulled his dressing gown on. Tim huffed and rolled onto his back. He slid a hand down to pet at the skin on his stomach, then lower… He could hear Gavin's soft voice at the door, chatting to the postman. Soon, he would be back in their bedroom. He would cover Tim's body with his own and take command.

Tim's eyes slid shut and he spread his legs. Any minute now, Gavin would be back.

The phone rang. Tim's eyes shot open and he glared at the offending machine, but it didn't silence; its rings continued to pierce the air.

"Hello?"

"Ah, Timothy."

"Hello, Mr Brittas." He sighed.

"I was wondering where you put the rule book for the gymnasium. Linda said you had it last." It was possible Tim had put that into the pile of things to burn that Angie was making for when she left.

"I'm not sure Mr Brittas. If Laura doesn't know where it is, then perhaps Angie might."

"Riiight. It's just a woman wanting proof about the black soled shoes and a couple of other things."

"Good bye, Mr Brittas." Replied Tim quickly, before hanging up.

Gavin still wasn't back, but talking to Brittas had killed his libido for the moment. Instead, Tim got up to go make breakfast

"Who was that?" asked Gavin, leaning against the door frame as he watched his young lover putter about the kitchen.

"Brittas."

"Ah. No longer in the mood?"

"No. Do you want eggs, toast or pancakes?"

"No cereal?"

"We ran out."

"I'd rather have you for breakfast."

Gavin's large, warm hands settled either side of Tim's face and pulled his head forwards for a sweet kiss.

"I suppose I can facilitate this." Tim grinned, taking his lover's hand and leading him to the bedroom.

"Hey, boys." Carole smiled tearfully up at them after lunch. They'd managed to sit together for once in the canteen.

"Hey Carole." They both replied.

"How was your day off?" It was times like this that she reminded Gavin of his mother.

"Oh, it was lovely." Tim replied, his voice warm. "We went to the pictures to see Double Impact and then went bowling."

"Oh, how nice. I can't remember the last time I went bowling." Gavin headed through to the staffroom as Tim continued to chat to Carole.

He hurried through and put his badminton racket into their locker. He was pulling on his cap as Tim came through.

"She's pregnant again."

"What?"

"Carole. She had been on the phone to the doctor this morning and he said she is pregnant again."

"Wow."

"And that's not the only news today."

"What else happened?" Gavin asked. Tim came to stand as close to Gavin as he dared when they didn't trust their boss completely.

"Mrs Brittas has been in an accident."

"Really? Is she ok?"

"Carole says that Laura told her that the brakes had been cut in the car."

"Someone trying to do one of them in?"

"Probably." Laughed Tim, chucking his jacket into the locker. "But who knows which one. Look at all the excitement we missed with our backs turned."

"I enjoy avoiding Brittas. It's relaxing." Gavin joked.

"Hey Debbie." Tim smiled at the woman as she came in, her front wet. "Been by the pool?"

"You'd think so, but no. I passed Brittas in the canteen and while he was explaining some new poster to me, he knocked me and spilt my drink. Entirely my fault, of course."

"Ah." Tim wrinkled his nose as Gavin made a sympathetic noise. Tim went over to look at the board as Gavin headed out to see Carole. He watched Colin head in the other door and could see Brittas over by the main doors, sticking up a new poster. He hurried back into the staffroom.

He watched Tim storm off into the toilet area. He has a feeling it was probably Colin who had set him off. He went over to look at the star chart. Brittas had had the idea that he would award stars for all the good people did. In theory, a nice idea, but the prize was a meal out with Brittas and no one wanted that, the whole thing only counted for the full-time staff anyway. He hoped the part-timers had their own draw filled with misery. Still, if Tim had stormed off, maybe someone had given him a few extra stars.

However, when he got there he found it was not Tim with extra points.

"Hey! Colin, someone's been messing around with my stars!"

"What?"

"Look! I only had 6 this morning and now look."

"No, no, no. I can explain that. You got those for rescuing that little girl who swam out of her depth."

"No, no, I only got one for that, I remember. Brittas said!" He crossed his arms. He wasn't going to settle for this!

"Ah, yes." Colin replied. "But it was a green one. They're worth two yellows and the yellows are five each, that's 10 red."

"Well, I'm sorry; I'm not having it."

Colin let out a loud sneeze, making Gavin jump, but he kept his arms crossed.

"Look, Gavin. Does it really matter?"

"Matter?" Gavin exclaimed. "Whoever wins this thing has to go out to dinner with Brittas at the Burley Inn. Of course it matters."

"I know how you feel." Colin answered, simply.

"Well, it's not fair. Some of the others haven't got any stars at all…" He glanced down at the chart. "Look at them. Tony. Tony had two stars yesterday, I know he did. He's peeled them off." At least, he had according to Phil who had insisted on updating Gavin on how everyone was doing.

"No. He lost those for being late."

"Oh, he always weasels out of it somehow, doesn't he? Well, he's not getting away with it this time. He can have a couple of mine for starters."

"Gavin! Gavin, if Mr Brittas catches you…"

It was typical of his luck that as he peeled off two stars and stuck them by Tony's name that Brittas walked in.

"If I could have your attention please, everyone... Colin?" Brittas called. Gavin raised his eyes, but let out a sigh of relief as Brittas continued with his announcement. He'd gotten away with it. "Now, some of you may have seen these eye catching notices I've been displaying around the centre."

Gavin turned away, exchanging a glance with Phil, who mouth 'Why?' at him. Gavin gave him a slight smile. The other day, they had been wondering why Mr Brittas insisted on giving announcements when all his staff weren't there.

Brittas was telling people to go out and deliver these posters to people. Tim took his lot into the toilets. Hopefully just to bin them rather than trying to flush them… there were too many to do that easily.

He listened to Mr Brittas talk, and as usual he wondered if the manager had any idea how people actually worked. As everyone was dismissed, Brittas called him over.

"What were you doing just now when I came in?"

"What?"

"You were doing something at the noticeboard."

"Oh." Gavin's hopes of removing enough of his stars died. "Nothing, Mr Brittas."

"I think you were, Gavin."

"I wasn't. I wasn't doing anything! Honest!"

"It's alright." Brittas replied in what was clearly meant to be a reassuring tone. "I know."

"I didn't touch it!"

"You were at this noticeboard and thought to yourself 'Ooh, look at Tony. He's got no stars' and between you and me has little chance of ever getting any and you thought 'there's me, Gavin, storming into the lead of this month's competition' again, so you decided to boost his morale with a couple of your own stars, didn't you?"

"Mr Brittas-" Gavin interjected, "I-"

"That is exactly the sort of caring generosity that I'm trying to encourage, Gavin. I'll tell you what we'll do, we'll let Tony keep those two stars, but at no cost to yourself." The smile that had started to spread across Gavin's face froze.

"What?"

"In fact, I'm gonna give you two more. Just to show that selflessness doesn't always go unrewarded."

"Ohh…" He groaned, dropping into a chair and putting his head into his hands. Brittas gave him a clap, but he couldn't even pretend to smile. Dinner at the Burley Inn with Mr Brittas. Tim was going to laugh himself sick… again…

He waited till his boss left the staffroom, then hurried past Colin and Phil up to the roof. He had a bit of free time now, he could sit in the fresh air and pretend it was all a dream. He stood leaning against the cold metal of the fire escape for twenty minutes, looking out over the area their centre sat in, out to the mostly empty car park.

Maybe it would help to focus on the good things… thing… He could only think of one: he wouldn't have to pay for a nice meal. Maybe he should ask Brittas if he could bring a friend… It would be bearable if Tim was at his side.

He was a reasonable man… Maybe Gavin could tell him it would encourage others to do better if they saw they could bring someone else too.

A hand landed on his back, making him jump. Gavin straightened up and turned around.

"Larry? What are you doing here?"

"Gavin. There's something I want you to do for me."

"Oh yes?"

"I want you to tell Mr Brittas 'there's somebody up on the roof, contemplating suicide'."

"There's someone on the roof?" Gavin immediately tried to remember where Laura was right now. She'd be able to help… She'd be a million times more helpful than Mr Brittas.

"Mmm… Not yet, but there soon will be."

"Well, for God's sake, don't tell Brittas. He'll want to help."

"I know."

"And he'll try and talk them down. Five minutes of that, they would be contemplating suicide, they will have jumped…. Who is it, anyway?"

Larry pointed a finger to his own chest. "It's me."

"You? You're gonna jump? Larry… Why?" And why would he ask for Brittas? Did he need the manager there to make sure he followed through?

"The choir at St Mary's took 20 years to grow up, you know."

"What?"

"We used to travel round the country, win prizes. Then, Brittas came along; calling everyone by the Christian name, helping them, giving them all encouragement… We only had three people at choir practice last night. It's then I decided: He has to die."

"You what?" He ought to be used to such… strangeness accumulating around Brittas by now, but it still took him by surprise sometimes.

"It seems the only sensible thing."

"You're going to kill Brittas?"

"Mm-hmm. Not for myself, you understand, but for the sake of the parish."

"Look, Larry…" Gavin stumbled, trying to find the right words. "I don't know what to say… W-well, we all feel a bit like that sometimes…. But, don't you think you need a little help?"

"That's why I came to you!" replied Larry, a bright smile flitting briefly across his face.

"That's not quite what I meant."

"Look, look, Gavin! Just get him up on the roof…. And I'll do the rest."

"Larry! Oh, God!"

He watched as the man left, then ran back inside and went full pelt down he corridors. He needed to sit in quiet for a moment and think… away from where that conversation had taken place.

Tim was sat on one of the benches in the staffroom, tying his shoelaces. Just the person Gavin wanted to see. He would have pulled him into a hug if they hadn't put the staffroom off limits for touching now.

"Tim! I've just seen Larry Whitaker! He- he said he's gonna kill Brittas."

"I always liked Larry." Tim grinned cheekily up at him, but it didn't help his stress levels. Tim hadn't seen how serious Larry was.

"Oh Tim!"

"Does he need any help?" Tim asked brightly.

"I'm being serious! He-h-he asked me to lure Brittas up onto the roof so that he can murder him!"

"How?" Tim's voice was still too light.

"Well, I don't know. I suppose he's going to throw him off or something."

"Well, have you warned him?"

"Who?"

"Brittas!"

"No. Not yet. Do you think I should?" Maybe it was best to just… let it happen…

"Well, you have to, don't you?"

"Yes… Yes, of course."

"I'll go with you." Tim stated, heading over to the door. "Well, come on!"

"Yes… yes, I'm sure you're right."

They headed out the staffroom, past Carole who was weeping again while she sorted out some food for Ben and up the stairs. They hurried along the corridor that overlooked the gymnasium and over to Angie's office.

When they were admitted, Tim tried to raise the point straight away, but their manager sent him away, using what he explained was essentially a lie.

"I just want a discreet word about Tim." Brittas explained. "Take a seat, Gavin."

"Oh. What about Tim?"

"Now, you're a good friend of Tim, you work well together."

"Yes." Gavin was getting anxious. Was Tim in trouble? "Well, I'm just getting slightly concerned that he might be somewhat…" he wiggled a hand. "You know…"

"Somewhat what?" Gavin had no idea what the man was trying to say. Was Tim in trouble for the way he was acting? Did Brittas have a problem of his sense of humour or something?

"I'm just getting a little bit worried lately that he might be a bit of a left-footer."

Gavin took a moment to think about that. There were two meanings to the slang 'left-footer' and Gavin had a feeling Brittas wasn't on about Tim's religion.

"You think he's a homosexual!"

"Good Heavens, I wouldn't put it as strongly as that."

"Then what do you mean?"

"I'm a broad minded sort of bloke, Gavin. I think you know that." Gavin sat back in his chair, eyes wide. He couldn't believe his ears… "But, Joe Public can get very, very anxious about that sort of thing. All I want you to do is just… keep an eye out, if you get my drift."

"No. I'm afraid I don't." Why should anyone care that Tim was gay? It was clear Brittas didn't have the whole story though, if he thought Gavin would side with him over Tim.

"Just keep an eye out, particularly in the changing rooms and showers… and tell me if… well, if anything."

"Wha…?"

"All in complete confidence, of course. We don't want Tiny Tim to know about this, do we? But, on the other hand, we don't want some member of the public to-"

Thankfully, that was the moment Tim came back in, stopping the strange conversation in its tracks. Before they could even get back onto the topic they had come in to discuss originally, Angie came hurrying in, delivering Larry's message.

"You'd better get Laura to close off the area and also get Colin to lay out some gym mats, just in case." Brittas marched across the office to get his coat. "I'll see if I can't talk him down."

"Aren't you gonna call the police?"

"Don't worry, Angie, I'm a trained Samaritan." He nodded confidently at her and she left. "I presume whatever it was can wait, lads?"

"Well, it was about-" Began Tim, but Gavin forcefully interrupted.

"Yes! That's fine!" his anger was starting to catch up to him.

"What?" asked Tim, softly.

"Are you sure?" Brittas checked.

"It can wait, Mr Brittas!" snapped Gavin. He managed a smile for the man, but it was forced.

As the manager left, Tim turned to look at him.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes!" he snapped, making Tim taking a step back, concern etched into his face. Gavin took a deep breath and softened his tone. "Sorry. But, I'm fine. Come here."

Gavin pulled Tim close, pressing his face into the young man's neck and hanging on for a long moment. He wouldn't hear Brittas say a word against the man he loved. Not one word! Tim's arms were looped around his back, but the teenager didn't say a word, just waited patiently for Gavin to calm down.

"Sorry." He apologised again, stepping back. "It's just, you know, Brittas!"

"I know." Tim replied simply, before pulling Gavin's face towards his own and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "I need to go to the pool now. Linda will be wanting to get on her break."

"Right… All right, I'll see you later." He gave Tim another kiss and they headed off.

In the staffroom, Gavin found Laura sat sipping a cup of tea. He dropped heavily into the seat beside her.

"You alright, Gavin?"

"Brittas." He said, by way of explanation.

"Ah. What has he said this time?"

"He accused Tim of being a 'left-footer'."

"What?" He liked talking to Laura. She always sounded like she cared. "What did he say?"

"That it would be a bother to Joe Public."

"Ha." She snorted. "The women in his Tumble Tots class have no objections."

"Yes. And he told me to keep an eye on Tim in the showers and the changing room."

"You do that anyway, don't you?"

"What?"

"Are you telling me that when Tim gets dressed next to you in the changing rooms, you don't so much as glance over at him?" She grinned over at him, quirking her brow cheekily.

"I… You're right." His bad mood lifted. He did have a tendency to look at Tim.

"You don't watch him in just the showers and changing rooms you know?" She teased, "I can tell if Tim is in a room because your eyes tend to be stuck in one area."

He laughed and leaned back.

"I can't help it. He's beautiful."

"Hey guys." Called Debbie as she and David walked in.

"Your class all gone?" inquired Laura.

"Yeah." She replied, giving a tired smile.

"Did you get the note from Angie about her leaving do?"

"I am." She confirmed.

"I'll be there." Assured David.

"Excellent." Laura nodded.

"How many are going?" Gavin asked, curiously.

"Let's see… Me, you, Tim, Phil, Tony, Peter, John, Tracey, David, Debbie, Linda, Mike and Mandy… Danny can't make it, neither can Damien or Patrick… Oh, Molly is coming too…. Fourteen and including Angie is fifteen."

"You didn't invite Mr Brittas?" he asked.

"You know as well as I do he'd cancel it for some reason."

"I suppose so."

"Where is Tim?"

"On pool duty. I'm done for the day, so another hour and we can both head home."

"I'll go do his pool duty for him. You both get yourselves off. I'll see you at work tomorrow, then in the evening for the party."

"Oh, thank you, Laura."

The party wasn't a big, flashy party. It took place in a local pub where they joined in quiz night and failed miserably. However, once they mentioned that they worked for Brittas but had deliberately not brought him along, the evening improved as they started getting a free round or two.

"It's going to be weird." Mumbled Tim, sleepily. "It's only going to be Laura trying to keep us all sane now."

"I hope she doesn't crack under the pressure." Replied Gavin, quietly, one arm wrapped around Tim's shoulders.

"She'll be like Titan."

"Titan?"

"I mean Atlas… I think… The one who carries the world on his shoulders."

"Sorry, Timmy. I'm not sure which one that is."

"Kay." He sighed and relaxed against the older man.

"Don't fall asleep here. I don't want to carry you home."

"Won't be walking anyway."

"What?"

"Those guys don't look friendly. We're gonna have to jump in someone's taxi and walk from their house." Gavin looked over at the group of young men sat on a nearby table. They were glaring furiously in their direction.

"Good point. We'll go with Molly, she lives near us."

"Sounds like a plan." Tim slurred softly.

"Then you can go to bed."

"You just want me out the way so that you can play Sonic."

"Naturally." Laughed Gavin. "Molly? Do you mind if we jump in your taxi?"

"Sure, but I'm heading out now."

"Thanks. See you guys tomorrow. Keep in touch, Angie."

"Bye."

"See you later."

"Have a good night." The calls came back. Gavin pulled Tim and they followed Molly out to the taxi.

"Love you." Whispered Tim as they collapsed in the taxi.

"Love you too." Gavin replied gently, leaning over to buckle Tim in. Tim gave him a fond smile and Molly turned around to grin at them.