Val proceeded into the bathroom and jumped in the shower. He sang the entire time he showered, enjoying the great accoustics of the bathroom walls. When he finished with the shower he brushed his teeth and shaved, then went to find Luke. He was certain he could talk Luke out of any punishment, especially since they had enjoyed such a lovely afternoon.

He found Luke with the phone glued to his ear. He went over to the well stocked bar, looking for something to quench his thirst. Luke looked up when he heard bottles rattling, to find Val with a beer about to be opened. "Just a moment." Luke put the call on hold. "Val, you'll probably have something to drink tonight, I don't think you need to get started this early. Find something else, please."

Val grumbled "Gorilla" but put the beer back, pulling out a mineral water instead.

Luke went back to the phone. "And the press will be there after the shoot tomorrow, right? One interview, an hour long at best? Thanks." Luke hung up.

"Who was that?"

"That was Max. He called to confirm an interview tomorrow immediately after the photoshoot. He has you blocked for an hour, then we'll take off and enjoy the rest of the evening."

"What IS there to do around here?"

"Plenty, kitten, plenty." Luke got up and put his hands on Val's shoulders. His loving look was replaced by something a little more stern than Val would have liked.

"We need to discuss your behavior this morning."

"We don't." Val assured him. "We really don't."

"We do, believe me. If you think I am ever going to swallow you acting like that in public or anywhere else-"

"I was stressed," Val said with charm and disarming ingenuity, "I was worried about the photoshoots and I didn't feel too good and you wouldn't believe how sorry I am-"

"You're right, I don't." Luke said bluntly. "You were headed for the brat of the year award from the moment you boarded the plane. Apart from making a total exhibition of yourself, being thoroughly rude and unpleasant to everyone concerned and putting yourself in serious danger from me breaking your neck, you put yourself into actively dangerous situations for no other reason than to annoy me. Didn't you?"

"Not exactly-" Val said uncertainly, not keen on the direction of this argument. Val shook his head.

"If you're going to find something dangerous to do every time something happens that you don't like, I am going to have to start laying down much tighter rules on where we go and how. If I can't trust you to behave in public, I can't possibly offer you any real protection. If one of the crowd today had been carrying a knife or handed you anything nasty, you'd got yourself into a place where I couldn't have helped you. And you did it for no other reason than to make me as mad as you could get me. Didn't you?"

Val opened his mouth. Luke looked at him. "Didn't you?"

"Noooo-" Val began to whine.

"THEN WHY?"

Val just looked at the floor, unable to come up with any way to logically get himself out of the corner Luke had just put him in.

"That's what I thought. Well kiddo, you managed to make me very angry today, and I suggest you never do that again, because from now on, you behave like that in public, and I'll punish you, in public."

Val's mouth dropped open in indignation. "You can't do that! People would talk, the...the record company wouldn't allow it!" Val was practically stuttering in indignation.

"I didn't say we'd be in front of anyone. But I'll be sure to find a quiet restroom or office, and I'll take care of business then and there. If you have to walk back out with a sore tail and tears in your eyes, you'll have to deal with it. I'm sure that anyone will be able to help me find a quiet place for our business, so remember that."

"B..b..but you -"

"I WILL. I will because I care deeply for you, and I won't allow you to put yourself in danger like that again. I will because I want you to be the best you can be. I will......because I think that is what is needed, like now." Luke captured Val's wrist and sat down on the bed, pulling Val across his knees.

There was never any point in arguing once Luke reached this point but logic had nothing to do with it. Val twisted, trying to get his bottom out of it's vulnerable position upturned over Luke's lap and failing miserably as Luke unbuttoned and pulled down his trousers, then his briefs.

"Luke this is ridiculous! One little flight- just a few hours! I was kidding! That was all, it was just a joke!"

"Then you need to think long and hard about your sense of humour kiddo." was all that Luke said before his familiar and hard hand landed hard on Val's bare bottom. Val yelped and squirmed to lever himself up off Luke's lap. It was a hopeless attempt and he knew it. Luke was unmoved and uninterested and the strength behind that smack reminded Val horribly of just how annoyed he had managed to get Luke this morning. By the time the second smack fell, still harder, Mr Quentin was bitterly regretting ever having heard of bananas or gorillas, bloody marys or fans.

"Luke I'm sorry, really I'm sorry!"

"Sorry for what?" Luke demanded, pausing. Val bit at the air.

"For making you mad?"

The pause lasted long enough for Val to gather some hope. Then Luke's hand lifted and Val felt the first of a downpour of spanks that made him wail.

"Luuuuke!"

Luke never paused, just kept the hand falling, rapidly turning the white flesh to pink, then to a darker shade of red. He covered every inch of the wriggling and clenching bottom, making sure to hit every spot hard, and at least three times.

Val moved beyond recognizable language into the pleas and quickly beyond that to the moans and mewls of a well spanked young man. Nothing he did lessened the hand impacting on his backside, no matter how hard he tried to move. He sorely regretted making Luke mad at the airport.

Luke stopped, his hand stinging and hot. He was certain Val was very uncomfortable. He held on to Val, massaging his back while he calmed down some. When Val's heaving cries subsided into jerking breaths, he pulled Val up, then sat him back down in his lap.

Val moaned as his toasted backside made contact with Luke's leg. He threw his arms around Luke and sobbed into the neck as Luke held him tight.

Luke carressed the silky hair and whispered words of comfort into Val's ear until Val was mostly silent. "Why did I just spank you?"

Val remained quiet for a bit, trying to find the right words. "Because I put myself in danger?"

"Yes, kitten, because you put yourself in danger. Mostly that, but being a brat figured into it as well. You've got to learn that I mean I've had enough when I say I've had enough."

Luke heard a soft "gorilla" escape Val's lips and smiled in spite of himself. He easily picked Val up and stood him on his feet. He then got up and kissed Val lightly on the forehead, both thumbs wiping the tears from the cheeks. "Go get yourself cleaned up love, and get dressed. I'll order room service, and then we've got to leave."

The party was like the hotel: discreet, quiet, civilised, and to a young man used to far more dramatic parties, very boring. Max was in the lounge with a collection of suits that Luke recognised as from the advertising company, the alcopop manufacturers and from Orion, the record company. Luke saw the little collection of them as they came down the stairs and snatched a moment to grasp Val's hand and draw him out of sight into the hotel's diningroom. Val's blue eyes lifted to him in surprise. Luke pushed the door to after them.

"Kitten listen to me a moment. Do you know what the regulations are in your contract about getting involved with people?"

Val frowned. "I'm not supposed to be photographed as part of a couplesomething about it gets done in my own time and discreetly, but Orion's got no real control over that."

He was wrong, he was alarmingly naive and this was no time to scare him. Luke pushed his fingers through Val's hair, speaking gently.

"They won't be thrilled about you and I getting too close. It'll affect-"

"Affect the image, I know, but it's nothing to do with them."

"The image is their property, kitten, and it earns them a lot of money. Listen to me. This is no secret from anyone we like or anywhere we're safe from photographers or anyone who'll report back to Orion, but in public this is going to have to be a well kept secret. And I mean that. I won't endanger your career for love."

Val's eyes were very serious. Luke made his own tone still more serious.

"Don't EVER use it because you're annoyed with me or you want a fight. The day you make it a public display because you're having a tantrum, I'll swear to you now I'll take your pants down, turn you over my knee where ever it is we are and no matter who's watching, and I'll spank you until you're wailing. Got me?"

Val flushed and shifted slightly in front of him, still very aware of his well spanked bottom from just a few minutes ago. Luke made his eyes still sharper.

"Do you understand me?"

"Yeah." Val said softly. Luke hesitated, then slipped a hand around the nape of his neck and kissed him gently. It was still so new, and yet it came as easily as if they'd been lovers for months.

"Good boy. Come on then. Behave."

Val rolled his eyes at Luke, but managed a quiet "okay" before they headed towards the reception.

Everyone stood up and introductions were made, Luke disappearing into the background. Val felt a sense of loneliness when he realized Luke wasn't right there, holding his hand. He plastered on his smile and turned on the charm as best he could. He was handed a drink, offered a seat, and the meeting began in earnest.

The advertisers put on a brief presentation of the ads that they wanted to run, and the pictures that they wanted to achieve with Val. The three days of shooting were scheduled, Val being told where to be, what clothes he was going to be wearing, and how he was going to be posed.

Luke stood quietly against the wall in his normal pose, his arms crossed, his legs opened slightly. He observed the meeting, making sure that Val wasn't being asked to do anything untoward or too strenuous, as the "players" always tried to make last minute moves. He was pleased as Max actually put his foot down when the advertisers asked if Val could be shown without his shirt.

The meeting lasted about an hour, with drinks and friendly discussion for another hour after that. Val quickly became bored with the whole thing as there was no music, no photographers, no adoring fans. He searched for and found Luke, nearly camouflaged against the wall. His look of appeal was more than Luke could resist. No one else would have noticed where he was standing or even that he was there, no one looked twice when he approached the table and stooped quietly by Val.

"Phone call for you."

"Thankyou." Val said with open relief and got up. "Excuse me gentlemen."

Luke followed him out into the hallway where Val grabbed his hand and towed him through the foyer and into the hotel garden.

"THANK you! I was about to fall asleep in there!"

"Just ten minutes," Luke warned, "I don't want Max changing the deal the minute I'm not listening."

"Max wouldn't let anyone go out of my best interests." Val said dismissively. Luke didn't argue.

"Do you need a drink?"

"Luke you saw what I was drinking in there-"

"I saw what you were putting away, yes, that's why I want to know if you want a real drink."

Luke expected the half smile and the flash of blue eyes: he didn't expect the arms flung around his neck which made him stagger slightly.

"You are such-"

Luke produced a realistic gorilla growl and swept Val off his feet, making him shriek and then laugh, struggling as Luke bit at his throat.

"Okay, Okay I give up! Get me a stupid drink!"

"The intelligence of fluids is beyond my control." Luke put him down and let him go. "Stay put."

Val grabbed him and snatched a kiss, only brief but enough to make them both fleetingly consider forgetting about the rest of the meeting. Luke pulled himself together with an effort and went inside. Val stretched like a cat in the sunshine. The glint of glass made him jump and whip around. After months of being followed by photographers, he recognised a lense when he saw it. The man on the other side of the hedge gave him a lazy smile.

"That looked interesting."

"Price." Val said with loathing. "I'll call security."

The man laughed. "Give me the exclusive and I won't sell that shot on the open market."

"You didn't see anything." Val spat back. "And you didn't get the picture, I'd have heard it."

"I'm sure I can get some evidence for my story. You're a good friend, Val. You're just about making my career for me."

Val opened his mouth, knowing Luke was out of earshot. "McNeil!"

Price drifted away, waving a hand. Val collapsed on a bench, shaken and furious. Luke jogged down the steps towards him carrying a bottle of water which Val accepted without a word. Luke pushed his chin up anxiously.

"Are you that tired Kitten?"

"No. Just hot out here." Val flipped the top of the bottle and drank deeply. Price was a swine. A dangerous swine. And suddenly he was a tremendous risk.

"I won't endanger your career for love." Val remembered Luke saying.

This was something he'd have to handle on his own. He wasn't about to lose what he just found because of that swine.

"Come on kitten, back to the meeting. Not long now, I promise."

Val took a quick look around before stealing another quick kiss. "Do we HAVE to go back?" He asked playfully.

"Yes, we do. You've got a job to finish then we must get you to bed."

"You'll be coming with me, right?" Val said as he wandered back inside.

"We'll see." Was all Luke said.

Luke again melted into the wallpaper as Val finished up business. The record executives were making plans to wrap up business at the bar, invitingVal to join them.

Luke stepped in. "Val, you need to be fresh for your pictures tomorrow, lets say we get you upstairs, shall we?"

Val looked gratefully up at Luke. "Yes, I am tired. Another time gentlemen?" Val got up and shook hands all around, before finally getting out the door and upstairs, Luke trailing behind.

Halfway up the stairs, Val caught another glimpse of a face watching from the dining room. He touched Luke's sleeve.

"Luke? I've left my watch in the lounge, I won't be a moment."

Luke shrugged and went on upstairs. Val slipped across to the reception desk.

"Excuse me? That gentleman in the diningroom- with the tweed jacket? He looks like an old friend of mine but I don't want to bother him while he's eating-" the charm slipped out without effort. "Is he resident in the hotel?"

The receptionist glanced through the open door and smiled. "Yes sir."

"Wonderful. I'll catch him later- would you mind giving him this?" Val tore a sheet off the hotel writing pad and picked up a pen. The note was short and to the point and would certainly get Price's attention. Val straightened his jacket and ran upstairs after Luke.

The next morning found Val in torn jean shorts, a skin tight white t-shirt practically painted on, and flip flops. He was in a big sandbox, complete with umbrella and lounge chair. They were taking shots for summer ads today.

Luke again stepped back fading into the background as everyone fussed over Val, making sure his makeup was right, the hair right, and that he ALWAYS had one of their drinks in his hands. Luke watched to make certain that Val wasn't drinking them and that he always had a steady supply of water on hand.

After three hours, they took a thirty minute break for lunch. Val looked around for Luke to join him, but Luke shook his head no. Val started to voice a complaint, but shut up at the sternness with which Luke mouthed "no".

After lunch, round two and three more hours of pictures. Val was becoming increasingly bored and frustrated and let his displeasure start to show. And he began to take several sips of the drink he seemed to have glued to his hand.

Luke scowled, but Val was deliberately evading his eye and there wasn't much he could do apart from storm across to Val and rip the glass out of his hand. Which was an attractive idea but not feasible. Instead he found Max and tapped his elbow. Not gently.

"He's getting tired, I think you should call it a day."

"Do you realise how much all this costs per hour?" Max demanded indignantly. "There are people earning thousands on this lot-"

"You can replace everyone but Val, Max. And I'm pretty sure I could talk him into replacing you if I tried hard enough."

Max glowered. Luke nodded at the sandbox.

"Three days? And that almighty London gig at the end of it? Don't push him Max. Not at the moment."

Max stalked across to the director, muttering. Luke found himself wondering if Max had scheduled this shoot deliberately. The publicity was huge when stars pulled out of shows at the last minute- especially under stress or illness. Positive or negative publicity, it made little difference to Max or Orion, either way translated as money to them. Val was replaceable at a cost. Luke looked serious dislike at the agent's back and heard Max's booming voice as he swept across to Val, sounding downright maternal.

"Now I said that's enough! He looks exhausted, I insist we stop here-"

Val so far was keeping his mouth shut and Luke looked at him with affection for how well he was behaving in a situation which would have snapped far more controlled tempers than his. His arms were folded, he looked white and fed up and the explosion was not far away, but he said nothing as Max drew him inside. Luke followed, aware of Max feeding Val several more drinks while the management team discussed retakes and schedules for the following day. It was nearly an hour before Luke managed to extract Val, get him into the coolness of the air conditioned interior and out of sight. There, Val stalked across the hall and kicked the nearest door frame, hard.

"I don't BELIEVE the time these _d_a_m_n_ things take! I've got another two days of THAT?"

"Why don't you change," Luke said softly, "We'll get out of here for a few hours and you can let off some steam? Its finished for today."

Oh that was tempting. Val looked at his watch and only just managed to hang on to the illusion enough to be convincing.

"I'm sorry Luke, I'm just really tired. I could do with a few hours on my own to sleep."

"Fine, I'll come with you."

Val spun on him, stressed enough that he didn't have to try to make himself sound convincing.

"LUKE! _d_a_m_n_it I've had people all over me all day, talking and pawing and carrying on, I just want a few hours to be on my own! Alone! Is that TOO much to ask?"

Inside, Luke's mouth dropped open in complete surprise, and hurt feelings bubbled up. But on the outside, he looked the same as he managed to say "No, not too much to ask. Sleep well, kitten." and turned on his heel and headed to the bar.

Val felt bad for his outburst, and almost went after Luke to apologize. But he held back as he realized that he HAD to take care of Mr. Price tonight if he were to have ANY hope of a relationship with Luke. He'd make it up to him later. He bounded up the stairs and to his room to change.

About 20 minutes later he slowly made his way downstairs. He looked around for any signs of Luke and found none. He headed over to the hallway of guest suites and conference rooms that were located there on the main floor for entertainment purposes. One suite was open, it looked to Val to be a wedding party in full swing. He made his way past that, two doors down to Suite 103. He still wasn't quite sure what he was going to do. He thought if he gave a scream that at least he'd be heard without too much trouble, and that was the only thing that mattered right now. He went in, sat down, and waited for Mr. Price to arrive.

The bastard made him wait. Price excelled in getting his victims in the right frame of mind to spill their guts for cheap journalism. Val looked up at him with open dislike when the reporter finally wandered into the room and gave him a friendly smile.

"Val. What can I do for you?"

Val ran a finger slowly across the top of the desk he was sitting at. "If I talk to you- give you the exclusive you want- will that buy you off?"

"Oh for now, certainly. The story would be worth - well." Price winked. "About the same as they pay you for an hour posing in front of cameras. Do you want to talk business?"

"I'll talk." Val said flatly. "But not here."

"Where then?" Price's eyes narrowed. "I'm not messing about Val. This is a business transaction, I've got a living to make."

"This way." Val indicated the door that opened onto the garden. Price shrugged and moved ahead of him, pulling his jacket off as they moved towards the heat of the patio.

"You have to understand kid. You're public property and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Isn't there?" Val said coldly. Something in his tone made Price stop and look around. Val looked right back.

"There is something I can do Mr Price."

Quite deliberately, Val reached and pushed over a table and a chair. Price's eyes widened with shock.

"What the hell-"

"You're going to learn not to mess with me, Mr Price. Or with my lawyers."

Price suddenly caught on as Val put his own hands to his shirt collar and tore. "Quentin! For God's sake, you wouldn't!"

That sunk any last qualm Val had. "Oh wouldn't I?" he said grimly, and let loose a scream that shook the windows. It was followed by shriek upon shriek, loud enough that there was no hope of it going unheard. Price's immediate and instinctive response was to grab Val, who flailed at him, tearing at his clothes, Price's fumbling hands crushing his sleeves and bruising his wrists as Val yanked against his grasp, struggling as though he was terrified.

"For God's sake!" Price was imploring, scared stiff, "Val PLEASE be quiet-"

The door burst inwards. The hotel, for all it's discretion, kept a well stocked security staff. The scene the staff rushed in on was so self explanatory that there was no hesitation. One terrified, slight and distraught young man was helplessly struggling against the onslaught of a much larger, much older man who was trying hard to intimidate him to silence. Val collapsed to the floor in a limp heap, sobbing breathlessly as two guards grabbed Price and wrestled him to the floor. The third man, a junior manager, grabbed Val's shoulders, near panic.

"Mr Quentin? Dear God what happened? What did he do?"

Val buried his head in his hands and sobbed in rising hysteria.

Just then Luke burst in upon the scene, having heard the screams and thinking he could be of some assistance. When he recognized Val's small form curled in a ball on the floor his heart rushed upwards, nearly choking him. He ran to Val, falling on his knees as soon as he got close. He took Val's hands from his face and brought the tear stained face up to his. "Val, what happened? Are you alright?"

Val's face flooded with relief at the sight of Luke. He had managed to work himself into a true state of near hysteria and knowing Luke was near helped him to calm down somewhat. "Th...that man, Mr....Mr. Price....he at...attacked me." He said, hiccuping.

Luke's face darkened considerably as he rose to his feet. He hadn't had time to think of anyone but Val but now his hard and cold as steel gaze sought out Mr. Price.

Mr. Price was stuttering in frustration as the two security guards hoisted him to his feet, his hands securely handcuffed. When he looked up, he completely lost his voice, and almost his bladder as he spied Luke. Luke looked every inch of his six foot six frame, and just about as broad in muscle. And the look on his face was murderous.

Luke stormed towards Price his voice starting at a menancing grumble and rising rapidly "What have you done TO VAL YOU BASTARD!"

One security guard let go of Mr. Price to catch and hold Luke, who looked like he was about to murder the man. "HOLD IT! STOP!" Luke struggled against the grip of the guard, but sanity returned and he stopped the stuggle.

Mr. Price's eyes were about to bug out of his pudgy face and sweat was dripping onto his shirt. "N..n...nothing! He set me up! I've...I've done nothing, you've got to believe me!"

"Pigs will fly before I believe that _s_h_i_t_! What did you do?!?"

The manager helped Val to his feet. Val was still sobbing, but he had settled down enough to have seen Luke almost go beserk. He saw the muscles rippling in Luke's arms as Luke flexed them. He looked to Val to be a bulldog ready to kill.

Somewhere between frightened at what he'd unleashed, at the raw emotion in Luke's face and a little excitement at the sheer drama of it, Val looked at Price, swallowing on a little satisfaction. This should teach the little wretch to go threatening celebrities and wrecking their private lives.

Luke's fists were still clenching and unclenching. Finally he spun away from Price.

"Call the police."

"Luke.." Val said pitifully. Luke pushed past the manager and put an arm tight around his shoulders.

"It's okay kitten, it's all over. Lets get you out of here."

That suited Val fine. He clung to Luke, letting him steer them both in a wide circle around Price and up the broad stairs. In his room upstairs, Val curled up in the corner of the couch where Luke put him and released the last of the hysteria in several minutes far calmer crying. He was aware of Luke pacing by the window, apparently admiring the view.

Luke was actually fighting the urge to go back downstairs and kill Price. Every sob, every soft sound from the sofa tore at his heart and raised his sense of rage still higher. Val was only a kid- a slight, small kid with no real worldly knowledge and no means of fighting off a man like Price. Anger turned over into self blame. Luke had no other option. He had left Val alone. He had been the one supposed to - paid to- watch and protect him from attacks like this. Few attacks could have been more distressing or damaging for him. Luke shut his eyes, pressed his hands to them and tried to calm down. So much was hammering in his brain he had no idea what to do first, and the hardest task was the one that most needed doing. He steeled himself and sat down on the sofa, making his voice sound calm and reassuring, making his hands gentle when he wanted to grip and clutch. "Allright Val, it's okay. Everything's okay. Listen to me. Come on baby, you've got to tell me. Are you hurt? Are you sure?"

"No.." Val sat up, sniffing. Luke gently peeled his sleeves back and found the bruises, red and purple on his upper arms. "Is this all? Think, love. You were scared as hell, you might not have felt it."

"I don't think so."

Luke pulled his head down and pressed his lips hard to Val's forehead.

"Allright. I want you to get out of those clothes- don't do anything with them, just leave them- have a shower if you want, check yourself over. I'll come and help in just a minute, I've got some calls to make?"

"Who?" Val said shakily. Luke's intensity was starting to scare him. Luke sighed but didn't try to bluff.

"Orion. Max. The hotel manager. There's a lot of balls I've got to set rolling here. Don't you worry about it kitten, leave it with me. The important thing is that you're allright."

"But Lu-"

"The shower kitten, now. Please?"

Val could tell that Luke was already planning his next moves and little that he could say would change things. He got up and slowly walked to the bathroom, wondering exactly what was going to be said, how it was going to be handled. Now that he had time to calm down from the anger and sadness, he began to worry if he had done the right thing. He hadn't thought beyond the immediacy of trying to shut Price up. He hadn't thought about anything really happening other than Price disappearing. He slowly peeled the clothes from his body and jumped in the shower.

Luke thought about all the calls he needed to make. Then he thought of Val in the shower. He was more interested in making sure Val was taken care of now than in the phone calls that would just start a nightmare of more phone calls, inquiries, press, police, and everything else that would accompany that first call. He decided to put off that first phone call until he put Val in bed, make sure he really WAS allright. He headed into the bathroom.

Luke decided he as well could use a shower, and what better way to check Val out. He stripped and entered the oversized shower with Val.

Val looked up in surprise as the curtain opened and in waltzed Luke. "Hey, I thin-" was all he got out before Luke was locked onto his lower lip, nibbling slowly, sucking the moisture from the soft skin. Val almost melted down the drain, as Luke's hands massaged his body, the lips worrying his own.

Luke pulled himself away, not wanting to go any farther. He grabbed the soap and began washing Val from head to toe. Val stood in an almost comatose state, enjoying every bit of the ministrations of Luke. All too soon Luke finished, satisfied and reassured Val was at least unmarked and not too distressed.

"Kitten, put a robe on and go and sit down. Call room service, get yourself a drink or something. Can you do that?"

"Come with me?" Val pleaded. There was something in that tone that made Luke look at him. It implied Mr Quentin had several ways in mind of spending the rest of this day and it wasn't exactly the tone of someone distraught from fighting off an attacker. Val had been jostled plenty of times, he'd been assaulted a time or two when a crowd got out of control, he'd even been shot at- but this seemed blase even for him. Luke wondered just how badly he was in shock. He pulled a robe off the rail and pulled it around Val, towelled himself off and got a pair of jeans on before he steered Val into the sitting room and put him down on the couch once more. Room service responded rapidly with promises of hot tea and a meal. Luke pushed his wet hair out of his eyes with both hands and willed himself to find the right words for this as he sat down beside Val.

"Allright Kitten, listen to me. I need you to tell me what happened. Take your time, you don't have to talk to anyone but me right now, but I need to know exactly what went on between you and Price."

Val looked down at his hands. Luke waited, wanting to touch him and not sure whether that would make things worse. Val drew a few deep breaths.

"Who AM I going to have to talk to, Luke?"

"Certainly someone from Orion." Luke said honestly. "Probably the police too, but Orion's got the legal forces to stand in with you and I'm not going anywhere. It's going to be okay, just talk to me first."

Val hesitated, then took another deep breath and swallowed.

"I - I couldn't sleep up here. It was too hot. I was coming down to look for you and I saw Price in the hallway- he called me over and said he wanted to talk to me- he had a business proposition."

Luke looked at him. Val shrugged. "He's a bastard, Luke! I know him. He's written some terrible things about people I know and he crucified me once before when he caught me drunk somewhere. I thought I could handle him. I thought I could shut him up."

"Why didn't you call me?" Luke said softly. Val shook his head, eyes down on the floor.

"I needed to handle it myself."

"So where did he take you?"

"Into that room- I think it was a conference suite? He started talking- I don't remember much of what he said- and then he grabbed me. I think I started screaming then."

"Val?" Luke tried to catch Val's eyes. "What was he trying to do? Was it a fight?"

Val shook his head mutely. Luke waited.

"Kitten? I need to know, it's going to be something the police want to know. Was he trying to take you somewhere?"

"He was coming onto me." Val looked up defiantly. "All those bloody press are rapists, he was coming on to me Luke!"

He saw with no small sense of satisfaction that he'd made a serious impact. Luke's eyes were once more blazing and there was a kind of exultation in the sheer power and rage Val knew he'd called up. The temptation was too much. Val was a performer, a craftmsman of drama and stage presentation and he was starting to convince himself with every word he said, as though he was performing one of his own songs.

"Look at me! I'm small, I'm not exactly heavily built- you know what the press think of me anyway! That's the way Price always tries to paint mesome sort of empty headed, easy whore. That's how he thinks of me and you know it. It's probably true."

Luke swallowed some of the rage upon hearing that last comment from Val. He willed his body to relax, then gently took Val's hands in his own.

"Kitten, there is nothing to what Price said. You are not, and never have been an empty headed anything, much less a whore. You know you can't believe anything the press says. And Price, the swine, has probably never said anything truthful in his life. Don't believe them, kitten, believe me, and believe in yourself."

Val threw his arms around the shirtless Luke and hugged him tight. Just then a soft knock on the door heralded the arrival of room service. Luke got up and opened the door, allowing the server to bring the cart in and set it up for Val on the couch. The server left, Luke shutting the door behind him.

"Join me? Looks like enough food for an army."

Luke walked back over to Val, ruffling the hair on his head. "No kitten, you eat what you can. I've got some phone calls to make which I'll take care of in the other room."

"Luuuuuuukke."

"Eat." Luke said as he walked into his adjoining bedroom.

Val huffed in frustration, but he was hungry so he quickly began eating. He heard Luke move about in the other room.

As soon as Luke cleared the doorframe and shut it, the rage that he had hidden so well from Val started to bubble over. He paced a couple of times willing himself to calm down, but the rage just kept climbing. He exploded, one quick, violent punch to the wall coupled with a grumble from deep within. The wallboard shattered inward, plaster falling to the floor in a small cloud of dust.

Val heard the impact, and again felt a sort of pride in knowing how upset Luke was. Just thinking of him being that angry because Price had tried to destroy their relationship made him smile, thinking in the back of his head

"You messed with the WRONG bodyguard, swine."

Luke's hand hurt from the impact, though not badly. It hurt just enough to snap him out of his rage. He sat down in the chair, his head in his hands, letting the last of the fury drain away before he made the first phone call to the police.

Orion were not impressed. Neither was Max, whom Luke narrowly managed to keep from racing up to their room. Nor, finally, was Storm Quentin. His message was short and succinct, but Luke put the phone down far from happy. He glanced through to next door where Val was still curled up in the chair, head against the arm, no doubt still too shaky to be paying him much attention.

With a deep breath and more distress than he could handle with Val in sight, Luke retreated to the desk, sat down and began to draft his resignation. It took him 10 minutes to properly put his thoughts down on paper. As soon as he signed his name, he heard a pitiful voice call for him.

"Luke?"

He got up slowly, steeled his nerves and headed into the sitting room.

"What is it kitten?"

"I'm tired, Luke. Will you lay down with me? Rub my back? Please?"

Luke could hardly refuse Val when he was in this state. "Come on." Luke helped Val to stand and let him into the bedroom. He pulled the covers down took the robe from Val.

Val crawled under the covers and patted the bed. "Luke?"

Luke sat down, gently rubbing Val's back in slow circular motions. It hurt him beyond belief that this would be the last night he'd spend with the boy.

Val was aware that Luke was not in a good frame of mind. He captured Luke's hands in his and pulled him down on the bed. He snuggled into Luke's strong shoulder, his body pressing tight against Luke.

Luke let Val cuddle, and hugged him back. Luke was exhausted with the mental struggle going on in his mind, and didn't want to unload on Val right now, not when Val needed the reassurance. Without meaning to, Luke fell asleep.

Val remained snuggled up to Luke for about thirty minutes. He wasn't really tired, just wanted the closeness of Luke. He raised himself up on his elbows and gazed into the face of his sleeping bodyguard. Luke still had a strong face, even when sleeping, but at least now it was unlined and unworried. Val gently nibbled on Luke's lower lip, but his bodyguard remained firmly in dreamland. Val slowly crawled out of bed, making certain he didn't disturb Luke at all. He grabbed his robe and wandered into the sitting room, then into Luke's bedroom. He was wondering if Luke had taken any notes on his phone calls giving Val any idea of what was upcoming. The first thing he spotted on the desk was Luke's resignation.

The first line jumped out and hit Val between the eyes. He dropped into the chair and read it through at maniac speed, then again more slowly, aware of his hands beginning to tremble.

Luke was awakened by a hurricane hitting him, nearly knocking him off the bed.

"Luke you can't!"

There was no need to see the piece of paper to understand what Val Quentin's problem was. Luke cursed himself for having left the letter in sight and rolled over, capturing Val's hands.

"Kitten listen to me."

"You can't, I won't let you!"

"Val. I've got no choice, you've got to understand-"

"I don't understand anything!" Val wrenched free and hit the floor, voice spiralling up in a way Luke knew well and felt in no fit state to deal with. He leaned over and turned the light on, trying to find the words to avert the storm approaching.

"Sit down, calm down and listen."

"Listen to what! You're going to leave! You think I'm going to sit down and listen to that?" Val was trembling, somewhere between tears and rage. Luke started to get out of bed, fixing Val with a look he knew.

"There's no good working yourself up into a fit, kiddo, I can't talk to you while you're screaming."

Val held the look, his chin lifted in outright defiance and he leaned over and swept everything he could reach off the dressingtable and onto the floor. Knowing that was Val's equivalent of the yellow card and a clear indication that he'd better come up with something better than that fast, Luke pulled himself to his feet and stopped trying to be reasonable.

"Val SIT. NOW. Break one more thing and you'll be sorry."

"What do you care, you're going anyway!" Val spat back. He looked around, snatched up the first thing that came to hand- a water jug- raised it high in the air and let it go, looking Luke right in the eyes.

There was no point in trying to sweet talk Val in this sort of mood: it just wound him up to more and more dramatic gestures. Luke grabbed his wrist and cut straight to the chase. Val kicked out at him, struggled, sank his teeth deep into Luke's hand like a terrier and hung on as Luke manhandled him across to the bed. Luke stood still, kept his hand still, refusing to yank away, and was well aware that the sharp teeth were making no real attempt to hurt or to tighten. After ten seconds of waiting, Val slowly released his hand. Luke pulled the boy down across his knees, jerked the robe out of his way and swatted the small, tight behind sharply, eight or ten times. Val burst into tears way out of proportion to the spanking, but that was not the issue and they were both well aware of it. Luke let him go and Val hit him in the chest like an express train, arms strangling around his neck.

"You can't go!"

"Val it doesn't mean I could stop caring about you or wanting to be with you." Luke said quietly, trying to hold his voice together. "You have to understand, kitten. I had a professional responsibility towards you today. I failed and I failed badly. Inexcusably."

"It wasn't that bad!" Val pleaded. Luke shook his head.

"It was something no one should ever have to go through- if you hadn't had the courage to scream and fight, it could have been FAR worse. And I wasn't there, I didn't protect you from that, not because I made a mistake but because I let my personal feelings get in the way of my job. I was in the bar and I was sulking, Val. And you could have been raped. Your father's ready to go for my throat, and I'd stand there and let him bite right now. Orion have already notified me they want an investigation. I'd rather jump than be pushed, kitten- and I have a responsibility to do the honourable thing here and show I'm aware of my own culpability. I know this is hard for you to understand but there's so much more to this than just you and me."

"I'M the one who was attacked!" Val said furiously. "I'M the one who needs a _d_a_m_n_ bodyguard and I'LL say who it _d_a_m_n_ well is!"

"Not everyone is quite as forgiving as you, kitten." Luke said gently. "And you don't see the bigger picture here."

"The big picture? The _f_u_c_k_ing big picture is you're leaving!! You can't leave!" Val tried to get up having worked himself back into a rage, wanting to tear the room apart. He flailed in vain as Luke held him tight against him. Val's voice started to break. "You can't leave....you can't. It wasn't your fault. Price is winning, you're letting Price win. You can't...." Val buried his head into the strong neck and hugged with every bit of strength he had. "You can't leave me...."

"Kitten, I must. You deserve a better bodyguard, one who can protect you from the lunatics. I didn't and I can't in good conscience continue to hold a job that I can't perform. You've got to understand, it's something that I must do." Luke held Val, stroking his head and neck, holding him tight.

Val continued to pitifully talk into Luke's neck. "No, you simply can't go. It's not your fault. You weren't there, I didn't tell you I was there, but you came, you came to me when it counted. When I yelled, you were right there."

"It was my fault, kitten, for letting you go alone. My fault."

"Nooooooooooo, you don't understand. It's not your fault. What will change your mind? What?"

"Nothing, kitten. It IS my fault. I should not have left you unattended."

Val started to cry. "Nooooooo Luke. Nooooooo it's not your fault. You don't understand. It's Price's fault. Not you, him. He tried to get the story. The story of us from me. He was going to tell the whole world, Luke. I had to shut him up. I had to do it. He couldn't tell them about us, I can't lose you. So I shut him up, he's in jail now, he's not a problem. He's gone Luke, now you have to stay. You HAVE to stay. I shut Price up so you'd stay."

"What are you saying?" Luke tried gently to pull Val off him. "Val? Did he threaten you? What do you mean you shut him up?"

"He was going to sell the story! I had to get rid of him, it was the only way-"

"Get rid of him?" Luke's hands gathered strength and peeled Val away from him, his eyes suddenly frowning. "Val what do you mean? What happened in that room? Did you provoke him into attacking you?"

"He told me he was after the story." Val was still sobbing, barely able to talk between breaths, "He was following us, he saw us in the garden- you said you'd leave if anyone made it known to Orion about us!"

Light started to dawn. Luke took a deep, slow breath, a horrible suspicion starting to form in his mind.

"What did you do?"

"I sent him a message- I said to meet me in the conference room-"

"You set that meeting up? To do what?" Luke said sharply.

"To get rid of him!" Val ran hand over his eyes, sweeping tears and hair out of them. "Who's going to take his word over mine! Orion's got more lawyers than any half bit freelance!"

"Who attacked who?" Luke demanded. "Val answer me! What did you do!"

"I screamed blue murder what do you think I did! How else was I going to get rid of him!" Val snapped back.

"But the bruises on your arms, kitten. Answer carefully, did Price attack you?"

"No! I started screaming just to get the police to take him away. He grabbed me then, I tried to back up and he wouldn't let go! He wouldn't let go." Val ended that sentence with a little uncertainty, slowly realizing that Luke's demeanor was changing.

Luke set Val down in front of him before slowly getting up off the bed. He took Val's face in his hands and brought the tear stained face up to meet his very stern one. "Quentin, I want ONE clear and concise answer. Yes or No. Did Price do ANYTHING to you downstairs in that conference room that he could be arrested for." Luke said that slowly and clearly.

Val tried to lower his head, he couldn't stand the stern look he was getting, but Luke's hands made that impossible.

"Quentin, YES OR NO."

There were so many things that Val wanted to say. Yes, so that Price would be locked away and not bother them. No, because that would mean Luke would leave. Yes, because that would mean Luke would go back to holding him. No, because....because that was the truth.

"No."

Luke was speechless for a moment. Anger fought with love to be the first emotion to display itself. He was thoroughly angry at the mess that they were in due to a lie from Val. His heart swelled with love for the kid as he now knew how very much he meant to Val, even if Val went about showing that love in a totally upsetting way.

"So you made this entire story up? Have you any idea of what is happening about now? Do you realise just how many wheels you have set in motion?"

"But you can stop them can't you?" Val said in a small voice. "I didn't mean-"

Luke cut him off, in no mood to deal any further with the perpetrator until he had time to prevent the situation rolling completely out of control.

"I don't want to hear another word from you except that I'll ask you one more time, just to be sure. You tricked Price into meeting with you, and then staged that entire scene to get Price arrested- without Price committing any crime towards you whatsoever?"

He didn't need an answer. Val's face said it all. Luke pointed at the sitting room.

"In there. Sit down. Don't you dare to move."

"Luuuuke-" Val wailed. Luke cut him off with sharply clicked fingers and another point.

"OUT."

Val was intimidated enough to move on the word. Luke sat down and dialled for the police, trying to think of a way to phrase this that wouldn't get Val into still more trouble. He had a long list of people to call.

Just as he finished dialing, he hung up the phone. He couldn't just call the police and tell them that Val made the story up. That would damage Val's reputation and their chance at any sort of relationship. He had to talk to Price himself. He picked the phone back up, dialing hotel security.

"Yes, McNeil here. I need 2 of your personnel to sit with Quentin while I take care of some of this business. Right away, thank you." He hung up the phone, put his shirt and shoes on and went to confront Val.

Val was curled up looking completely miserable. He saw that Luke looked ready to leave.

"Wher-"

"There are two security guards heading up here right now. They will babysit you while I'm gone. Give them even one SECOND of trouble, and you won't sit for a year."

Val blanched at that remark. "Luke, I'm sorry. I -"

"Young man, you don't have any IDEA how sorry you're going to be when I finish with you. In the few short months we've known each other, this is the STUPIDEST stunt you've ever pulled." Just then a knock sounded at the door. "BEHAVE." Luke grumbled, before turning on his heel to open the door. Luke left the guards with instructions that Val was to receive no phone calls or visits, and he was not to leave the room for any reason whatsoever. He jumped into his truck and headed to the police station to cut a deal with Price.