A special thanks to both Joanne and Sibyl...without whom this would have been a terrible mess of badly done grammar. *G* Also, thanks to the fellow slashers that egged me on enough to go through with this and its many parts to come. And lastly, but equally important, thanks to Kevin Smith. May he never find out I did this...or if he does, may he have a sense of humor. Without further ado, I give you the fic: Title: Stranger Destiny Part 1: Matchmaking Author: Taylor Jameson Fandom: Kevin Smith Film XO (Dogma & Mallrats here) Pairing: Jay/Bob Rating: PG for strong language Summary: Jay and Silent Bob (our heroes!) have only begun their destiny as prophets. Archive: Sure, why not. Only the preapproved (Rareslash, WWOMB, CKOS, etc.) unless asked Email: taylorjameson@yahoo.com Series/Sequel: Part 1 of the Stranger Destiny series set in the Kevin Smith universe Web Page: http://www.angelfire.com/az2/taylorjameson Disclaimer: Don't own them...the wonderful Kevin Smith does! I'm just borrowing them to act out my ideas. Warnings: Lots of cursing (What the fucking hell? Cursing! Is that like saying fuck and shit! Dope nooch!), that kind of stuff. Notes: This did not start out to be a series, I mean it! It was started out as a sappy schmoop (snoochie schmoopies?)...the whole 'making-it-a-series' thing in which our heroes go on to fulfill their destiny...well...that just kinda happened (Yeah, Silent Bob's mom said the same thing). You'll have to pardon the interjections...Jay seems to have gotten a hold of my mind for the moment...Expect characters from all four movies to pop in and out (Its like a fucking porno flick in here!). Mind you, I'm not the authority on Jay and Bob, so this is merely my interpretation (Yeah, I'll show you fucking interpretation). Dedicated to all my fellow Jay/Bob smut (Um...yeah...like fucking.) fans. Oh, and my Silent Bob (fucking tubby bitch) talks a lot compared to the flicks. But its (yeah, in your fucking opinion!) mostly in character. Date: "Yo Tubby! Check out that action!" Jay smiled and sprinted away after a couple of girls in short skirts. "How could you stand spending almost every waking moment with that man..." Rufus shook his head as Bethany stood by, watching Jay and Silent Bob being reintroduced to their mall habitat. Bob just shrugged gently. "The things you people do for..." Rufus looked to the apparently spaced out Bethany, "for love." Bob shot Rufus a menacing look. "Hey, I'm not going to say another word." Rufus wandered off to check out the music store, taking Bethany with him. Bob shrugged again and made his way to the food court. Jay would catch up easily. "Hey, long time no see!" Brodie smiled, practically running up to the big guy, T.S. trailing close behind. Bob smiled and let the duo escort him to a table. "Hey, fucking tubby bitch! What digs?! Fuckin running off without me!" Jay came storming up, "I swear, if you pull that shit one more time..." He sat down, "So snoochies, what did we miss while we traveled abroad?" "Not much." T.S. shrugged, "Just going through the motions of love." "Yeah, love. Dig that shit..." Jay's attention was once again diverted to a fine young chick in a leather mini, "baby..." He was once again gone like a flash. "I don't know man..." Brodie trailed off, "I mean, this whole love thing is kinda over rated...all I really do is sit here while she shops. I mean, I could put this time to good use..." T.S. rolled his eyes; "Bob will back me up, right? It's all about love man." Bob shrugged and nodded a little, running his hand over one of many coat pockets. "Yeah, but I bet Bob's been through his share of chicks..." Brodie replied, "We're stuck with ours...not that that's a bad thing, I just wonder." Bob watched the exchange and took a folded up piece of paper from his pocket, then tenderly placed it on the table. "What's that?" T.S. gladly changed the subject. Bob thought about sharing it, then shrugged to himself and pushed it across the table to the pair. Brodie intercepted and unfolded it, then read it out loud almost in a whisper to T.S., "I can only write of words unspoken/But know what I want to say/If I did not ponder myself/I would sound like him/I do not speak for many reasons/Not for of lack of ideas/Merely for introspection I pause/Let it be known there is a thing I would say/The tender words would tumble easily/If only to fall on his ears/I love you." "What?" T.S. folded the paper up and slid it back. "I think it was a love poem." Brodie was puzzled. "You don't mean...Geeze Bob! You've fallen too?" T.S. rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. "Please don't tell me it was the chick at the Orange Julius..." Brodie began. "It says 'him', right?" T.S. asked hesitantly. Bob blushed and nodded slightly, keeping an eye out for the rapidly approaching Jay. "You don't mean..." Brodie began. "No, not him...not..." T.S. started. "And the Jayman returns!" Jay smiled, taking his seat with a pretzel in hand. Bob blushed deeper and smirked, nodding very slightly. Brodie spat out the sip of orange soda he'd taken, his eyes growing wide. "Always one to make an entrance." Jay grinned, "What'd I miss?" T.S. swallowed hard, then composed himself, "Just talking about love." "And how stupid some people can be..." Brodie added. "Nah man," Jay shook his head, "that love stuff's for pussies. All I need is a bowl and lay and I'm a happy man." T.S. shrugged, "Hey Brodie, I think that's our ladies, getting ready to leave." "If you will excuse us..." Brodie smiled as he and T.S. made a hasty exit. "Fuckin pussies." Jay slid over beside Bob, "Good to be back though..." he leered at some passing teens, "not bad at all." * * * * * "Do you realize what that meant?!" T.S. threw his arms up as they walked into the men's room. Brodie checked and made sure the place was empty, "Yeah...I can't believe Silent Bob's gay." T.S. threw up his arms in frustration; "I don't give a flying fuck about that! He likes Jay!" "Well, they *did* grow up together...and he's the only one that can stand Jay for more than an hour..." Brodie shrugged, "it really explains a lot..." "And even worse...he's got it bad for the jerk." Rufus exited the back stall. "Hey, you weren't there when I..." Brodie began. "Look guys, I've got it on good authority that our boys have a...special destiny." Rufus shrugged, "And on the way their supposed to...well, fall in love...with each other." "Who are you? And why Jay and Silent Bob?!" T.S. puzzled. "I...am a friend." Rufus shot back, "Those two...its a little more complicated." he pushed himself up to sit on the sink, "See, Bob is a very introspective guy...he spends most of his time either thinking our listening to Jay. He puts all his trust in the dick." Rufus shook his head, "Somehow Bob just sees that deep down Jay just needs someone to be there for him, and love him unconditionally." "But how does he stand it? Jay treats him like shit..." Brodie interjected. "Jay means well." Rufus continued on, "he's just a little confused about life...and hasn't really reacted in the best way." He paused for a moment to try and make a complete thought, "Jay doesn't really know what's going on inside him, let alone in the world around him." "So he resorts to being an ass and doing drugs..." T.S. interjected. "Good, I've got a live one here." Rufus shot a dirty look at Brodie, "Anyway, he's a sex maniac too...he's so busy trying to figure everything out while at the same time trying to hide." "So they're both gay?" Brodie asked, seriously. "Is that all you can think about!" Rufus jumped down, "I'm filling you in on top secret stuff and all you can do is ask about labels!" He threw up his arms, "Screw this, I'll let you take this one man." He looked up at the ceiling. A dark plume of smoke filled the room and the Metatron appeared. "You sure know how to pick a meeting place..." he looked at Rufus. "Don't blame me." the black man shrugged. "I'm going to catch up to the scion...I just can't handle these 20th century morons." The Metatron smirked dryly, "I suppose I can take over." "Hey," Rufus smiled as he left the smoky room, "if they'll listen to anyone, it would be the voice of God." The Metatron shrugged, then looked to the pair, "Any questions before I start?" "Who the hell are you?" Brodie asked, waving away the smoke. T.S. coughed lightly, then responded, "What's going on?" "I am the voice of God." The Metatron smoothed out his jacket; His real voice would cause immediate death to any mortal." "The voice of God is English?" Brodie raised an eyebrow. "I don't like you very much..." The Metatron grumbled. "What's going on?" T.S. repeated himself. "I was getting to that." The Metatron looked with hostility at young man, "The ones you call Jay and Silent Bob, are prophets." A puzzled look came over Brodie's face, but he didn't speak. T.S. wrinkled his brow, "You mean like God's personal assistants?" "Closer to His assistants, assistants, assistants...but in a way, you're right." The Metatron continued, "As prophets they have a destiny to fulfill, however they are being...rather uncooperative. That's where you two come in." "God needs our help?" Brodie smiled. "No, God does not need your help!" The Metatron was getting quite annoyed, "God has better things to do, like say...running a universe, than mess with what's going on down here." "Oh, but you guy's don't?" Brodie shot back. The Metatron heaved a deep sigh, determined not to let them get the best of him; "Rufus and myself are in charge of protecting the last known relatives of Christ." "And what does this have to with Jay and Silent Bob?" T.S. interjected before Brodie could open his mouth again. "The prophets must complete their destiny, then come back from where it leads them to take their rightful place among the other successful prophets. Under normal circumstances, prophets are not so highly regarded, but their tasks could very well shape the future of existence." The Metatron smiled as Brodie and T.S. stood in awe, "We need you two flunkies to make sure they don't fuck it up." "And where does them falling in love fit in?" T.S. asked hesitantly. "It is most crucial that they express their mutual feelings, or their future as a whole looks rather grim." The Metatron responded, "That is, if they make it that far." "None of this makes any sense!" Brodie threw his arms up. "Oh, but it does." The Metatron smiled a belittling grin; "Of course, a person like you wouldn't understand it at first." "I think that was an insult..." Brodie took a menacing step toward the taller man. "Though I am thoroughly enjoying playing your little game, I must be going. I do, after all, have a scion to protect." The Metatron readied to leave as he had came. "Wait..." T.S. spoke up, "If you don't mind me asking...what is the destiny of Jay and Silent Bob?" "That is not important to you right now, I'll be in touch." The Metatron smirked wryly again, then was gone. "Shit..." Brodie waved a hand where the man had disappeared, "That was weird." T.S. stepped back against the tile wall and slid to the floor, "Did you even get one word of what we were just asked to do?" "My take is that supposedly 'God' wants us to play matchmaker with Jay and Silent Bob." Brodie shrugged, "If its true, He's not much of God..." "The fate of the future...of the whole universe...rests in our hands. Brodie," T.S. stood and grabbed his friend by the shoulders, "this is big." "Sure, whatever." Brodie shrugged, "I guess I don't have anything better to do." T.S. shrugged, it was better than nothing. * * * * * Metatron looked over at Rufus and Bethany as they watched the duo leave the bathroom. "How long until they screw it up?" Rufus grinned, "Nah, I think they can handle it..." Bethany shrugged, "Why is it so important that they get together?" "I wouldn't worry about it." The Metatron tried to smile despite the circumstances. "Yeah." Rufus added, "You'll know soon enough." "So, who gets to stay here and take care of the prophets?" Bethany looked at the men. The Metatron looked at Rufus, who only shrugged, then rolled his eyes, "I suppose I could do it...but Rufus has already made *friends* with young Jay..." Rufus threw up his arms, "Just like you! Put the work on a brother..." He looked at Bethany and caved, "Fine...fine. Just don't expect a miracle or anything." He began walking to find a suitable post to keep an eye out as the other two went the other way, back toward Illinois. * * * * * "Hey tubby," Jay looked over at his lifelong friend, "wonder what Beth's up to?" Bob nodded; he liked Bethany...she was almost like a sister. "Yeah man, me too." Jay looked almost morose, then shook out of it, "I mean, she was some fine pussy! And we let her go with Blackie and Dickless." Bob smirked, that was Jay all right, always thinking about sex. "Here come those pussies." Jay looked up at Brodie and T.S., "Where's the bitches?" "Um, it wasn't them." Brodie shrugged, "Then I had to piss and..." "Just spare me the details." Jay interjected, "Hey, its Rufus." He spotted the black man standing near the escalator, then looked to Bob and lowered his voice, "I'm gonna go ask about...Bethany." Bob nodded somberly and watched Jay go. Brodie and T.S. looked at each other nervously, on the way back to the food court, they had decided it would be best for T.S. to do most of the talking. "I'm going to go browse my store. I'll be back." He left T.S. and Bob to themselves. T.S. gave a quick glance around to insure privacy, then leaned in closer to Bob, "So what gives, you really like him...like that?" Bob shrugged and nodded his head, shamefacedly admitting his secret. "Really? Wow." T.S. tried to look surprised, "So, you gonna tell him? Maybe show him that pretty poem?" Bob blushed and shook his head negative, Jay wouldn't understand. "I couldn't..." "Oh come on, this macho straight act he's got...it isn't fooling anyone." T.S. smiled softly, "In fact, even Brodie is starting to wonder..." Bob pulled back with an expression that could have been either revulsion or wonder. "I'm just saying...you should do something...its better than just sitting on it." T.S. shrugged, "Who knows, as big of an ass as he is to you...if he didn't like you he should have ditched you a long time ago." "He's not like that." Bob tried to protest. "I'm just saying..." T.S. meant to finish, but Brodie was rapidly approaching with a look of near terror on his face. "We'll talk later." * * * * * "So, um, how is She?" Jay looked to Rufus, trying not to look out of character. "Bethany is fine, if that's who you mean." Rufus rolled his eyes, "A little worried about you though." "She shouldn't worry about me! She's got the kid to worry about, and I've got...well, I've got Silent Bob." Jay replied. Rufus smiled, "Really? I had no idea..." "Fuck man, it's not like that!" Jay stood up defensively. "Remember, I know things about you that you don't even know." Rufus smiled. "And if my memory suits me..." "Shit man! You can't use that mind shit against me! That's not fair!" Jay retorted, trying not to raise his voice. "I'm just saying that maybe you should drop this macho bullshit...maybe tell him what you're really thinking." Rufus smirked; he liked seeing Jay squirm a little. "Fuck that shit." Jay tried to look distracted, then looked back to Rufus, "I...man, fuck you!" "Just cut that shit out Jay." Rufus rolled his eyes, "Did you ever think that maybe I understand what's going on and what to help you?" Jay looked menacingly and raised his fist at a couple of teen girls that had stopped to watch his conversation, then turned back to Rufus as they ran off. "Just fuck that." "Come on, you know you want to talk to someone about it." Rufus tried not to cross the invisible line of going too far. Jay was a very special case...he needed a friend, someone to listen, but needed some coercing first. "Well what if I do? What makes me think I fuckin wanna talk to you?" Jay spat back in reply. Rufus tried to think of the most intelligent thing to say and went with the obvious, "Because I know what's going on. I know...everything." Jay shook his head and turned away from the black man, he had to admit that the apostle had a point. He did need someone to talk to about it. All his life, Bob had been his confidante and now that he needed to talk about Bob, there was nobody in his corner. He gave in, "Not here." Rufus smiled, then gave a neutral expression as Jay turned back to face him, "Okay, I'll meet you in an hour...in the far corner of the parking lot...alone." "Nobody else." Jay looked threateningly at Rufus. "Not a soul." Rufus swore. Jay nodded, then looked back to the table and saw Brodie running over, "Shit, I'll see you in one fucking hour." Then ran off to see what was going on. * * * * * "Shit man..." Brodie slid into his chair just moments ahead of Jay. "You guys will never believe what's going on outside." The group looked at Brodie, expectantly. Brodie sat back, "Freak storm...just came up out of nowhere!" "Not a problem." T.S. smiled, "I'm sure we've seen worse." "We're stuck here." Brodie shrugged, "I heard the security guards talking, they're going to completely lock down the mall in a matter of moments. They said the parking lot looks like a swimming pool." "What the fuck?" Jay was confused; "We were just out there like half an hour ago...right Bob? Not a fucking cloud..." Bob shrugged and looked up, then to Jay. Jay was taken aback, "No shit...you think it could...Her?" Bob nodded. "Fuck...I gotta go find someone." Jay bolted up and was gone. "What was that about?" Brodie was now the puzzled one. Bob shrugged, then stood up and went to go get himself a soda and some chocolate covered pretzels. * * * * * "Hey, what the fuck's up with this shit?" Jay located Rufus standing by an exit staring out the glass doors into the rain filled lot. Rufus didn't turn; he wasn't surprised that Jay had come to him first. "I don't know...I guess God decided to let one go." "Fuck, I thought you wanted to talk to me! Now She goes and does this, what the hell is up with you people?" Jay's frustration was only growing. "Hey, I don't give the orders." Rufus turned to the skittish young man, "But we can still have a little chat." "No fuckin way." Jay shook his head, quieting in the growing crowd by the door, "Not fuckin here." "Come on, there has to be *somewhere* we can go and talk." Rufus was getting frustrated with Jay's attitude, but knew it wouldn't be too hard to keep his cool considering the importance of his situation. "Yeah..." Jay thought about it, then hesitantly nodded, "I know a place." * * * * * T.S. looked to Brodie and shrugged, "Think this was that Metatron guy's idea? This storm." Brodie rolled his eyes and slid down into his chair as the PA system clicked on. "Attention shoppers, we are afraid that because of the storm we will have to go to lock down status. Starting right now, nobody leaves the mall until further notice." the voice clicked off, then returned, "And we have doubled the security staff...so don't even think of causing trouble." "Great, now we're stranded in the mall." Brodie sighed. "I thought it was your dream to get stranded in the mall." T.S. replied. "Not when we have to convince Jay and Bob that they are meant for each other!" Brodie put his hands over his eyes, "I wonder if that black guy and the 'voice of god' are still around..." "I think they think we can do this alone." T.S. smiled hopefully. "Yeah right! We're a couple of losers that can barely keep our own relationships intact...how the hell are we going to pull this one off?" Brodie was obviously getting frustrated. "Wait!" T.S. sat up quickly; "I have an idea just crazy enough to work..." * * * * * "This is my thinking place." Jay sighed as he led Rufus into a well-hidden walkway in the mall. Rufus was going to make a witty comment, but held his tongue. "So, what's going on up in that mind of yours?" Jay slumped into a sitting position against the wall on the cement floor, "I don't know." Rufus slid down across from Jay in the narrow corridor. "Its obviously bothering you..." "Well, you can like read my thoughts and shit...why don't you tell me what's wrong?" Jay didn't look at Rufus, instead just studied the ground. "I can't read thoughts, just actions..." Rufus replied. "Then how come you knew that I think about guys when I whack off?!" Jay shot back. "I didn't. I knew you thought about *him* because you say his name when you...well, you know." Rufus was frustrated with Jay's attitude still, but holding himself back. "I just said that you think about *guys* so I wouldn't embarrass you." "I don't say his name when I whack off!" Jay retorted. Rufus rolled his eyes, only that would matter to Jay..."Yes you do. When you...orgasm...you usually whisper something." "What the fuck?" Jay looked up; "You're full of shit..." "I am not! I'm telling you, it's beautiful!" Rufus resisted the urge to bite back his less than honest words, "When you're just laying there, tenderly loving yourself, the name of your beloved on your lips..." "Fuck man! You *actually* watch me jerk off?" Jay was getting a little grossed out himself. Rufus shrugged, "Like I said, you guys, being prophets and all, require special attention." "A fuckin free moment would be nice." Jay looked back down. Rufus took a deep breath, then continued, "I'm telling you, telling Bob how you feel would...it would free you!" "What the fuck are you talking about?" Jay was confused. "Come on, be honest here Jay. This is just between me, you and God right now. We both know that this whole macho, hetero-slacker jerk attitude is mostly a cover." Rufus looked Jay directly in the face. "You don't have to be that way with him." Jay swallowed, feeling the tears beginning to form and his throat starting to prepare a sob, "You...you don't know what its like to be me." He took another deep breath forcing the sob back; "I have to be like this to survive!" Rufus was on a roll, he could tell Jay was close, "I won't lie and tell you that I understand, but Bob does. He likes you, loves you even, for who you are. He knows the side you've never shown him...he understands that deep down you're just a hurting scared little boy that needs love...needs to be told and shown what love is." Jay couldn't hold back much longer, small drops slid down his red cheeks...the near darkness in the passage showing through them. "He does?" Rufus nodded, making sure Jay's tear-stained eyes were locked on his, "He loves who you are, not who you pretend to be." Then, in a valiant effort, Rufus scooted up beside Jay and let his arm wrap around the suddenly frail seeming man-child. Jay let Rufus comfort him, then cried into his shoulder. When he could speak again, the tears still coming but the sobs subsiding, he spoke in a near whisper, "I don't cry that much...but you knew that." Rufus hesitantly stroked the ends of Jay's blonde hair, "Shh...It's okay." He understood that more than anything; Jay needed a gentle hand. "Do you think I should maybe talk to him while we're still stuck here?" Jay asked, understanding he would have to be the one to say the words. Rufus shrugged, "Why don't you get this out of your system, then we'll take the elevator back down and find them? You can take it from there...when it feels right." Jay nodded into the black man's side, "Okay..." * * * * * "Okay, so what we do is take this notepad." T.S. set a notepad purchased at the office supply store on the table, then a pencil, "And we talk Bob into writing another poem!" "How are we going to do that?" Brodie was skeptical of the plan. T.S. rolled his eyes, "The same way I talk you into a rematch every time you beat me at a video game." A quizzical look crossed Brodie's face, "By telling him that we're better than him no matter what, and that we can prove it?" "Exactly." T.S. smirked and produced two more pencils, "A poem writing contest." "But we can't win that...I can barely write a note, how am I going to write a poem?" Brodie was still confused. "Do I have to spell it out for you?" T.S. sighed in frustration; "We're supposed to lose, then tell him how wonderful his poem is and threaten to show it to Jay. You snag the paper and start running, he'll follow you...hopefully you can find Jay easily enough." "Then what?" Brodie was starting to like the plan, "Then you give the note to Jay, run off and let it happen." "You really think that will work?" Brodie noticed Bob coming back. T.S. nodded, "It's just crazy enough..." "Hey Bob!" Brodie smiled as the large man sat down. Bob lifted his chin, acknowledging the pair, then pointed questioningly to the paper and pencils. "Oh, that." T.S. smiled, "I figured that since we're going to be trapped here for a while...all three of us could each write a poem, then compare, maybe get some pointers." Bob shrugged and took up a pencil, then began to write slowly, as if imagining each word as he wrote. Brodie and T.S. looked at each other, then shrugged and went to work on their poems. Brodie finished first, then T.S. and Bob wrote for at least ten more minutes, when all was done Brodie picked up the sheet of paper he'd written on. "I'll go first." T.S. and Bob both nodded in agreement. "If I were Superman/you would be my Lois Lane/If I Cyclops, in the first issues/you would be my Jean Grey, before she became The Phoenix/You are one of the few that understand my shortcomings/You are the superhero." Brodie smiled when finished. Bob pondered over the words a little, then shook his head as if to say "not bad". T.S. laughed a little, "Enough of that...my turn." He cleared his throat then began to recite, "Sometimes I do crazy things/But I do them all for love/You make me a mad man/A mad man that's fallen for you." He finished. "That's it?" Brodie lifted an eyebrow, "Four lines?" "A poem doesn't have to be long to have meaning!" T.S. shot back, then both looked on in silence as Silent Bob prepared to speak. "Some dream of perfect moments with their love/I don't need to dream/Every moment we are together...and it is perfection/The only thing that could make it better/The words I never speak and let hold me/The words that hold the warmth in my love for you/Those that go unspoken...though they should be said/I wish I could say them now." Bob read his words, his voice cracking slightly, as if holding back tears. "That was beautiful!" T.S. smiled, then looked at Brodie. Quickly, Brodie reached across the table, then grabbed the paper and ran off. "I think he wants to show Jay..." T.S. smiled. A horrified look came over Bob's face and in a flash he took off after Brodie, with T.S. running behind him. * * * * * "You feeling any better?" Rufus helped Jay back up. Jay sniffed and wiped his face, "Yeah, I think so. I needed that." "Sometimes just letting it all out helps." Rufus smiled, pleased with his accomplishment. "I...I really don't...shit man, I don't know how to thank you." Jay smiled slightly. Rufus shrugged and led Jay out of the walkway to the elevator, then they entered and went pressed the proper button. "I'm sure it will come back around." Then, in a beam of light he was gone. Jay shook his head..."Weird shit man...", then settled in as the elevator moved. * * * * * Brodie stopped and reverently pressed the elevator button, Jay was nowhere to be found and he could hear Bob close behind. Clutching the paper tightly in his fist, he heaved a sigh of relief as the doors slid open and he saw Jay standing there, looking rather pale and scared to see him. "What the fuck?" Jay pulled back as Brodie tossed the paper at him. Bob ran into the elevator just as the doors were closing and it began to move up. Then, suddenly, all the power went off in the whole mall and the security bars came down over the storefronts. * * * * * Rufus looked to God and shook his head, "Was all that really necessary?" God smiled smugly and pointed down at the elevator, letting Rufus get a view inside. * * * * * Bob snatched the paper from Jay's hands. "What's up with him?" Jay shrugged. Bob looked down at his poem, then thrust it at Jay. Jay took the paper, then looked his long time friend and companion in the face, "I think we need to talk." Bob took the other poem from his pocket and handed it to Jay as well, "Read." Jay accepted the papers, then read the first few lines and slumped against the side of the elevator, sliding to the floor as he read. Bob stood silently, awaiting judgment. * * * * * Brodie looked to T.S. and shrugged, "Either that was a major coincidence..." T.S. shook his head, "I think this one was God's idea..." Brodie's eyes grew wide and he nodded slightly, then both young men took a seat outside the elevator to wait. ***** To Be Continued... *****