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I wrote this awhile back but never got around to archiving it until now.

The Return

by Anne


`Almost done, Tobias?" Sister Pete asked for the second time in the last 10 minutes. She was acting agitated, nervous.

"Yeah, sure. I'm finishing up Omar White's file right now," he said as he continued typing onto the computer.

"Okay. Let me know when you're done."

"Sister, what's up?"

"I need to talk to you but I want you to finish up your work for the day first," she said. A moment later, Father Mukada walked in the door.

"Hello, Tobias," he said, without looking directly at the prisoner.

"Father."

"Oh good. Ray," Sr. Pete said. "Come in. Sit down."

They exchanged glances. Toby stopped typing. "Something is going on here and I feel kind of left out. So you can you please tell me?"

Sr. Pete took a deep breath. "Alright, Tobias. Why don't you shut down the computer? You can finish that tomorrow."

"I can finish it after you say whatever it is you have to tell me."

"I doubt it," Mukada remarked.

Toby looked puzzled and then, slowly, alarm spread across his face. "Is this bad news? Something about Holly? Or my parents?"

"No, no, not at all," Pete said, trying to make her voice sound soothing. "It's actually....well...rather good news. I think." She looked to Ray for reassurance.

Mukada nodded. "Yes, good news. But it's going to be rather...surprising. Jarring, even."

"For the love of God, will you tell me already?"

"Alright. Alright. It's about Chris," Pete started but Toby interrupted her.

"Chris? Is he okay?"

"Yes, he's fine. He's coming back to Oz," Mukada said and stopped, letting the news sink in.

Toby looked puzzled for a moment, his brow scrunched up in concentration. As his brain absorbed the information, his expression changed to surprise and then shock. "Chris is coming back to Oz?"

"Yes, Tobias. He's arriving tomorrow."

Toby slumped in his chair. "What? But how? Why?"

"His conviction in the Schillinger murder was overturned. His confession didn't stand up when he couldn't provide the name of the gunman."

Toby's mind was spinning with thoughts and he didn't really hear what Sr. Pete was saying. "He's coming back? Tomorrow?"

"Yes, Tobias. Are you okay?" Pete asked.

"I...uh...I don't know. I never thought I'd see him again."

"I know you didn't. But do you want to see him? How do you feel about this?" Mukada asked.

But Toby couldn't answer. His mouth was open and his face wore the stunned expression of someone who had been struck.

"Tobias, when Chris comes back, he's going to be in ad seg to keep him safe from Schillinger. At least temporarily," Pete said. "If you want to see him, we can arrange that. But it's up to you."

Toby shook his head, trying to clear it. "Of course I want to see him. I haven't stopped thinking about him since he left."

"Yes," Ray said. "But if you need time to get used to him being back, that's fine too."

"Ray's right, Tobias. You're still in shock. You may need time to adjust. The last time you two spoke..."

"He told me not to visit him in Massachusetts. I know. But he said that because he loves me."

"Of course he did, Tobias. But it still had a devastating effect on you. You felt hurt and lost," Pete reminded him. "And you even responded to Katherine McClain when she reached out to you."

Toby cringed at the memory. "I know."

"Just take some time to think about it. You can let me know in the morning if you still want to see him," she said.

"Okay, I'll think about it," he said and stood up.

"Do you want to talk some more?"

"No. I need to be alone," he said and left Pete's office.

_________________

Back in his pod, Toby paced. His podmate, Jonas Muir, was thankfully doing some time in the hole for getting into a fight with one of the hacks. Toby could at least think without being disturbed. He knew he wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight.

Chris is coming back to Oz. It echoed over and over in his head but he couldn't quite wrap his brain around it. He hadn't seen Chris in almost a year. Would he look the same as Toby remembered him? He didn't even have a picture of Chris to refresh his memory. And he couldn't remember his lover's smell; just recalled it left him intoxicated.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll get to see Chris. Hopefully, touch him. Please, God. A day hadn't passed that he hadn't thought of Chris. Sometimes he had dreams about his lover, but not as often as he would have liked. Toby wondered if Chris dreamed of him.

What if Chris still felt the same way he did when he told Toby not to visit him at Cedar Junction. Even though Toby hadn't gotten paroled last year, it could happen this year. Chris might want to keep his distance, knowing Toby could be leaving. I guess there's only one way to find out.

Toby climbed onto his bunk at lights out but he still felt restless. He began to imagine all the things he wanted to say to Chris. He knew, of course, that he was going to bring up that phone call. He also knew that it was going to piss off Chris. Toby believed that even if swore to himself that he wouldn't do it, it would come out anyway. He just couldn't let go of things that were bothering him.

Several hours later, he finally drifted into sleep out of sheer exhaustion. He woke up feeling over-tired and very tense. Chris could be arriving this very minute, he thought and smiled to himself. He got up to shower and let the steam ease some of his tension away. Then he returned to his pod and got dressed. He arrived at Sr. Pete's office around 9.

"Good morning, Tobias."

"Morning. Sister, I've decided I do want to see Chris. Can you arrange it?"

"Yes, of course. He'll probably be arriving in the late morning and he has to be processed. I'll see if I can set something up for mid-afternoon. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, that'd be great, sister. Thanks."

"Tobias?"

"What?"

"I...uh...was thinking that you and Chris might want some...um...privacy to...talk. I think Tim will approve the use of a conjugal room for a couple of hours. If you feel comfortable with that, of course."

Toby was stunned. A conjugal room? Alone with Chris? He didn't know whether to hide or jump for joy. If he agreed, would Chris think Toby expected something? He didn't even know where they stood at this point. Yeah, he knew Chris loved him enough to make the sacrifice that sent him to Cedar Junction. But he didn't know if Chris wanted to pick up where they left off. Truth be told, Toby didn't know either.

"Tobias?"

"Oh, sorry, Sister. I was just thinking," Toby said, coming out of his reverie. "Sister, do you know if Chris even wants to see me?"

"Well, I didn't speak to him but I would certainly think he would want to see you."

"But after that phone call..."

"Tobias, you need to talk to him, whatever the outcome."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Okay, talk to McManus for me, please."

Pete nodded. "Now, do you think you can get any work done today?"

Toby smiled. "I'll give it a try."

Sr. Pete left the office at 10 am to see Tim McManus. Toby looked at the clock every ten minutes until she returned almost 50 minutes later.

She smiled when he looked at her. "He said yes."

Toby breathed a sigh of relief at the same moment his stomach did a flip-flop. "Really?"

"Yeah, but the warden doesn't know anything about this so we have to keep this quiet, okay?"

Toby nodded.

__________

Toby left Sr. Pete's office at noon and headed to the cafeteria. He found Rebadow and Busmalis sitting together.

"Hello, Tobias," Rebadow greeted him. Busmalis just nodded.

"Hey," he said, without really looking at them.

"What's wrong, Tobias?" Rebadow asked.

"Nothing."

"If you say so."

He looked up at them then. "Chris is coming back. Today."

"Really?" Busmalis asked, surprised.

"That's wonderful news, Tobias. Is he coming to Em City?"

"No. Ad seg."

"Will you get to see him?" Rebadow asked.

"Yeah. I'm kind of nervous."

"Hey, Beechball!" the voice rang through the cafeteria and hit Toby right between the shoulder blades. "I hear your boyfriend's back in town." Vern headed right for Toby and leaned over the table. "Better enjoy your happy reunion. It ain't gonna last long.

"Oh, and don't bother telling me he's innocent. Cause if he is, then my only other suspect is you. And you know what that means, don't you?"

Toby looked at him defiantly, refusing to let his fear show. "Vern, you do recall your promise in the intervention?"

Schillinger pretended to think back. "Hey, ya know, I do. I believe I said something about not hurting your daughter or your family. What I *didn't* promise was not to hurt you, sweetpea. Better grow some eyes in the back of your head," he said and then walked away with Robson and some other Nazis.

Toby clenched his hand to control the shaking that was threatening to take over his body. Damn Schillinger! Like I don't have enough on my mind today!

"Don't let him get to you, Tobias," Rebadow reassured him. "Just try to focus on seeing Chris."

Toby nodded. "Thanks, Bob." He took his tray and got up. He was too nervous to finish eating.

________________

He arrived back at Sr. Pete's office at 12:30 p.m.

"Oh, good, Tobias. I have news."

"What?"

"Chris is here and is going through processing. Tim's going to escort you to the conjugal area around 2 p.m. How does that sound?"

"Uh, fine. Sister, did you see Chris?"

"Actually, I did."

"Did you ask him if he even wants to see me?"

"Yes, I did. And he most emphatically does."

"And he agreed to see me in the...uh...conjugal room?"

"Yes, he did."

Toby's heart started to beat faster and his stomach groaned. Jesus, why am I so nervous? "Thanks, Sister."

"Toby, you seem very tense."

"I am, Sister. I feel like I'm going to explode."

"Would you like to go to the gym, work it off a little?"

"That's probably a good idea, Sister. Are you sure you don't need me here?"

She laughed. "As if you'd get any work done."

Toby spent a half-hour in the gym working up a heavy sweat. At one point, he took off his shirt to use as a sweat rag. By the time he was finished, his body was glistening and the waistband of his shorts were soaked.

"Jesus, Beecher, what'd you do - run a marathon?" Ryan O'Reily asked as he entered the gym.

"Nah. Just a good work out," he said, rubbing the t-shirt across his moist neck and chest.

"I heard K-boy's back."

"Yeah."

"You seen him yet?"

"Nope. Going to soon."

"Don`t do anything I wouldn`t do," O'Reily said and laughed.

Toby went back to his pod and grabbed a towel before heading for the showers.

_______________________

"McManus, why are you doing this?" Toby asked the leader of Em City as they walked down the hall together toward the long-unused conjugal area.

"I think you already know."

"Still feeling guilty about the Schillinger business," Toby said, stating rather than asking. "Well, whatever the reason, I appreciate it."

Tim nodded.

Beecher got quiet, his mind wrapped up in this thoughts. He was practicing, for about the 100th time, what he would say to Chris when they finally saw each other.

They arrived at the room where Chris was waiting for him. Tim unlocked it and opened it. Toby stepped into the doorway and saw Chris standing there, across the room. He looked exactly the same as the last time Toby saw him. He was wearing his usual gray prison pants and white wifebeater. Toby's breath caught in his throat and felt his knees starting to shake.

Somewhere in the recesses of his brain, Toby heard McManus mumble something, then close and lock the door.

"Hey."

"Hey."

Toby's eyes darted around the room, not wanting to stay on Chris. He could feel an artery in his neck throbbing.

"So, I'm surprised you wanted to see me." He had to say it. He had to get it over with.

"Toby..."

"No, I mean after that last chat we had, I thought you had decided you were bad for me, right?"

"Toby, do we have to do this now?"

"Yeah, we do, Chris. Cause it hurt when you told me not to come see you if I got paroled. I was missing you so badly and then Sr. Pete arranged that phone call. It was the first time I'd felt happy since you left. I can't even begin to describe the joy I felt when I heard your voice over the telephone. And then you cut my legs right out from under me."

"I'm sorry, Toby. But when you told me about the parole hearing, I just...I don't know. I wanted you to be able to walk away from Oz without any baggage. To start fresh."

"So you decided to do the selfless thing, huh? Give me up? Let me live a normal life with...who? Some woman? Another man? Huh? How did you picture it in your mind, Chris?"

"Toby, don't. I thought it was the right thing to do."

"Yeah, well, I'm a grown man. I think I can make my own decisions. I don't need you to make'em for me. Thanks anyway."

"I was scared," Chris said so quietly that Toby didn't hear the words.

"What did you say?"

"I said I was scared."

"Of what?"

"Of you forgetting me."

"What? I don't understand. Then why did you push me away?"

"Because I figured you'd forget me anyway. If not right away, then after awhile. I mean, how long could come to visit me without the whole thing getting tired?"

Toby sighed and shook his head. "You listen to me, Chris Keller. I am never gonna forget you. And I'm never gonna stop loving you. Jesus Christ! Do you have any idea the torment I've been through since you left? Wondering if you're alive or dead? Wondering if you're thinking about me? Wondering if I was ever going to hear from you again?"

Chris smiled sadly and took a step toward Toby. "Beecher, come here," he said softly and waited.

Toby hesitated for a moment and then walked into Chris' waiting arms. They embraced and Toby buried his face in Chris' neck. He inhaled his lover's scent until he was dizzy with it "Oh God, I missed your smell," he whispered.

Toby's words sent a delicious pain through Chris . He lifted his hands to Toby's face and looked into his lover's eyes. "I missed you," he said and brushed his lips against Toby`s forehead.

"Me, too," Toby whispered, resting his forehead against Chris. They stayed that way for several minutes, holding each other; rocking back and forth.

"Toby, you're shaking."

Toby`s lifted his head so he was looking at Chris. They kept their hands on each other, touching. "I've been so nervous ever since they told me you were coming back. I hardly sleep last night. I feel like a coiled wire."

"I think I might know a way to help you relieve your tension," Chris said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

Toby laughed. "Still the same old Keller."

"Hey! Watch who you're calling old!"

Toby smiled but it quickly faded when he saw Keller's expression change. His dark eyes became serious and he was looking at Toby with desire and longing. He touched Toby's cheek, stroking the freshly shaved skin. Chris leaned in and Toby's entire body anticipated his movement. Mere moments felt like hours and then finally, finally, their lips met. The soft brush sent a shock wave through Toby, setting all his nerve endings on fire.

He moaned softly at the long-delayed contact. All the weeks, months and days they'd been apart came together in his mind. The anticipation of this moment, which he had dreamt of for so long, was almost too much to bear now that it was here.

Chris pressed himself against Toby, feeling his lover's arousal. He growled and slammed Toby back against the door he had entered. Chris seized Toby's mouth, possessing and taking what was his.

Toby, caught up in the frenzy of Chris' hunger, thrust his hips forward, grinding his still-covered erection against his lover. His hands slipped under Chris's shirt and started to tug it upwards. Taking Toby's cue, Chris moved back slightly and the shirt was off in seconds. Chris kissed his lover again quickly and then removed Toby's shirt.

Their mouths came together again, and Toby felt Chris' warm chest against his own. Chris' skin glided against Chris, each touchpoint sending delicious tingles through him. Toby's hands slid across his skin like firm silk. Toby felt like he might explode from the sensual overload.

"Toby," Chris breathed against Toby's mouth. "Make me come. I need you to make me come. I don't wanna wait."

Toby's body reacted, shuddering at the heated words. He quickly found the waist of Chris' pants and undid them, slipping the cotton down and over his lover's firm, rounded ass. He placed his hands on Chris' erection and felt his own pants being loosened and pulled down.

Chris pushed Toby's hands out of the way and reached around to cup his lover's bottom, pulling him forcefully against Chris. The contact was blistering, causing them both to groan in pleasure. They ground against each other frantically, the pressure building quickly. Toby felt all the stress in his body gather and pool in his groin.

The humming traveled up his legs and Toby reveled in that rapturous feeling just before orgasm. "Oh God," he whispered, leaning his head back slightly. He felt Chris' lips on his neck, sucking his Adam's apple. All the tension of the last 24 hours quivered through him, growing and finally exploding as his body jerked and trembled against Chris.

The vibration traveled to Chris, whose own body echoed Toby's spasms. They held each tightly as the shudders subsided. Chris rested his head on Toby's shoulders as he waited for his breathing to return to normal. The warm puffs across Toby's skin comforted him. He wasn't dreaming this time. It was really Chris here in the flesh.

"Hey," Toby whispered. "What do you say we get cleaned up?"

Chris lifted his head, a smile on his face. He moved back and slipped off his shoes and took off the pants that were bunched at his ankles. Then he headed into the bathroom, giving Toby a nice view of his firm bottom. It's been way too long since I've seen that, Toby thought, chuckling to himself.

Toby finished removing his own shoes and pants, then joined Chris in the bathroom.

"Need any help?" Toby asked, taking the washcloth from Chris' hand. He squeezed it out and gently ran it over Chris' stomach, wiping away the their mixed fluids. He let the cloth trace a wet, cleansing trail through the hair and over Chris' now-sleeping cock. Chris closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensations of Toby's ministrations.

"Jesus, Toby, it feels good to have you touching me again," Chris whispered. Toby kissed him, tasting his lips too briefly. Then he rinsed the washcloth and cleaned himself while Chris watched.

"Come on," Toby said when he was finished. He took Chris' hand and brought him back into the main room and led him to the bed.

Chris slipped into the bed, the sheets cool against his skin. Toby joined him, snuggling up against Chris. He ran his hand across Chris' chest and belly, reveling in the feel of his lover's skin.

"So, you glad to be back, Keller?" Toby asked, his hand continuing it's circuitous motion over Chris' abdomen.

"When you do things like that, you'd better believe I am," Chris said, smiling.

"What was it like at Cedar Junction?"

"Lonely."

"For me, too."

"I used to dream about you, though. Nice dreams. Some hot dreams, too," Chris said, combing Toby's curly hair with his fingers. "You'd feel so real right up until the moment I woke up."

"Tell me one."

Chris smiled.

"Well, in one of my favorites, we're in a car. You're driving and we haven't seen each other in awhile. I can't wait to get my hands on you, so I don't," he said, smiling wolfishly. His voice send luscious shivers through Toby.

"So, what happens? If I'm driving?"

"I kiss you when you stop at a red light. And I'm so hot for you that I practically devour you. And you are just as hungry for me," he continued, his eyes alight with mischief.

"Then what?" Toby asked, excited to hear more.

"Well, I'm leaning on your seat and my hand slips and my hand accidentally brushes against your balls and then I notice that you're hard. Kinda like now," Chris said, feeling Toby's erection growing against his hip.

Toby blushed then but didn't look away. He leaned over and captured Chris' lips in a sweet, languorous kiss. His tongue darted out, caressing Chris' mouth; exploring and tasting. He slid his body atop Chris and began to slide against him. "Mmmm. Please, continue," he whispered, licking a path across his lover's jaw, chin and neck.

"Uh, well, I, uh, slipped your shorts down," Chris said, his breath coming in short gasps. Toby's kisses and the feel of his hard lover draped across his body were making him lightheaded.

"And then?" Toby asked, tracing the hollow at the base of Chris' throat.

"Well, maybe," Chris said, encircling Toby in his arms and flipping him over. "I could demonstrate." He grabbed Toby's wrists and pinned them to the mattress, sliding down his lover's body. He paused when his face was suspended over Toby's erection.

"Mmm," he said, inhaling Toby's scent. "It looked a lot like this. A hot, hard, glistening cock. And I leaned over and tasted it. Tasted you," Chris whispered, his breath tantalizing Toby. Then he gasped when he felt Chris' tongue on him.

"I licked you like this," he said and traced the veins of the shaft. "Then I sucked you like this." His lips covered Toby's head, running up and down, changing the pressure. Toby moaned aloud and freed his hands. He grabbed a hold of the bed frame for support, lifting his hips, fucking Chris' beautiful mouth.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Keller," Toby hissed, his body bucking with months of pent up passion and lust.

Chris lifted his head then, causing Toby to whimper. "How about me instead?" Chris asked, smirking. Toby was too aroused to even answer. Chris hopped off the bed and walked over to where he'd left his pants. Toby groaned at the loss of Chris' warmth and willed him to come back quickly.

Chris dug around in his pocket and brought out a small tube of Vaseline lip guard and held it up. He walked back to the bed and squeezed some of the gel on his hand and then coated Toby's erection with it. Toby closed his eyes and moaned at the renewed contact.

"Toby?"

Toby opened his eyes. They were glassy with lust.

"What should we do now?"

"Jesus, Keller! Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

Chris grinned. "Nope. Just wanna hear you say it."

Toby reached over and cupped Chris' balls. He moaned. Two could play this game, Toby thought. "I want you to slide your hot little ass over my cock and ride me until I come," he growled. "Happy now?"

"Ecstatic, baby," he said and poised himself over Toby's throbbing erection, easing slowly down. Chris' body swallowed Toby's flesh one delicious centimeter at a time. He heard Toby hitch and gasp and he knew exactly what Toby was feeling.

"Oh god...Chris...it just feels so..."

"Good?" he finished for Toby.

"Mmmmm," was all Toby said.

Chris' bottom rested lightly on Toby's sharp hips. Toby was breathing shallowly, his eyes closed and his head was tilted back a little. Chris leaned over and tasted Toby there.

The shift in position and the feel of Chris' tongue on him caused Toby to let out an appreciative groan. He reached up to touch Chris, running his hand along his lover's jaw and throat, murmuring his name. Chris took hold of Toby's hands, encasing them in his own. He pressed against Toby's hands, using them as a brace and began to move again.

The squeeze and pull of Chris' body over his erection was driving Toby mad with its intense pleasure. The movements were slow and wonderfully torturous. Toby's body trembled with need, a light sweat breaking across his forehead.

Chris began to move more quickly. The increased pressure sent waves of delight through Toby's groin. He lunged his hips up to meet Chris' thrusts, panting for every breath. "Oh, Chris, I'm gonna..."

Chris let go of Toby's hand and guided it toward his cock. Toby encircled Chris' hard shaft and stroked, just as he felt his own body begin to shudder its release. Chris followed suit, shouting Toby's name.

"Oh, god, ohhhhh," Toby muttered as his spasms subsided. Toby let his body fall back limply on the bed. Chris lay down next to him, his leg draped over Toby.

"That was..." Toby started but couldn't find the right word so he sighed contentedly instead.

"Yeah," Chris agreed. They lay silently for several minutes, their arms and legs entwined.

"Chris?"

"Yeah?"

Toby turned his head to look at his lover. "I love you. This all feels so...right. *I* feel right for the first time in almost a year."

Chris cupped the back of Toby's head and pulled him close, kissing him deeply. "I love you too, Toby," he said and snuggled back into Toby's arms.

"So tell me more about Cedar Junction. What was it like?"

"Well, it was a lot safer than Oz but a lot more boring, too. Spent most of the time in my cell."

"Yeah? Must have made you crazy."

"Well, the first few months I was climbing the walls. But I guess people can get used to anything."

Toby nodded. "There were nights since you've been gone that I didn't think I was going to make it through the night locked in that damn pod. I can't imagine it all day long."

"Why don't you tell me what's different around Oz," Chris said, trying to change the subject.

"Well, not much, really. Lots of a new guys. Some killings."

"Yeah? Who bought it?"

"Jeez, some of the guys who've been killed didn't even come to Oz until you left. Let's see. Guys you would know. Uh, oh! Johnny Basil was killed by Hughes. Then he somehow got control of solitary and later got killed by a guard."

"Yeah? Must have pissed off Glynn."

"Yeah." Toby talked on awhile about some of the new prisoners; shake ups in leaderships while Chris listened, absorbing it all. It felt good to lay next to Toby and hear his lover's voice, the way he had in his dreams at Cedar Junction. He became so relaxed, he almost fell asleep.

"Hey! I'm not keeping you up, am I?" Toby said, poking him in the side.

"Sorry. I was just relaxed. It feels so good to be here with you, Toby."

Toby nodded, swallowing an unexpected sob. No need to spoil a perfectly good moment by turning on the waterworks, he thought.

"Hey, how much time we got left?" Chris asked, sitting up.

"I don't know. Maybe an hour left, I guess."

"Let's go shower." He got up and walked across the room.

Shower? With Chris? In private? With no interruptions? I think I've died and gone to heaven, he thought as he got off the bed and followed Chris to the bathroom.

Part 2

The hot water glided over Chris' back, easing some of the anxiety there. He had been just as nervous about this meeting as Toby; he just knew how to hide it better.

Toby stepped in a moment later, pressing himself against Chris, their wet skin making contact. Chris sighed as he felt Toby's arms wrap around his neck. Toby held Chris' head and pulled it toward him for a deep, loving kiss. Toby slipped his tongue inside his lover's mouth and Chris felt his cock harden.

It oughta be illegal for something to feel this good, Toby thought to himself. Just a few hours ago, he'd been worried he wouldn't even get to see Chris; never mind make love to him.

And now here they were touching and kissing. Chriss hands slipped down Toby's muscled back and over his beautifully curved bottom.

"It feels so good to touch you again; to know that you wanna be here with me," Chris said.

Toby looked into Chris' eyes. He was too choked up to speak, so he just nodded.

They kissed like old lovers come together again. It was both new and familiar. The memories made the kisses all the more sweet.

Toby's hands caressed Chris' skin, remembering and re-learning. He touched the old gunshot scar, barely visible now, and Chris shivered. He leaned over and kissed it. "Do you ever have pain from that anymore?"

"Nah, not really."

Toby let his tongue glide over Chris' wet skin, tasting and licking. He knelt down and wrapped his hand around Chris' cock. Chris groaned as Toby took it in his mouth. The only two things he was aware of were the warm spray on his back and Toby's teasing tongue.

Chris' hands cradled Toby's head as he moved. He felt the wet curls tickling his fingers. "Oh, Toby, that feels good," Chris said and his hips began gyrating slowly.

Hearing Chris voice his desire made him shiver. Toby needed to give his lover pleasure; to be the only one Chris wanted. Toby's hands held Chris' ass, guiding his movements. His mouth slid up and down the shaft, changing the pressure with each stroke. He moved one hand to his own aching erection and began to move it in sync with his mouth.

Moments later, he felt Chris' muscles tense and Toby knew his lover was ready to come. Toby took Chris as deeply as he could without choking and waited until he felt Chris' cock pulsing; his body trembling. Toby withdrew his mouth slowly, lingering long enough to enjoy Chris' taste; the feel of flesh against his tongue.

He felt Chris' hands pulling him up and into another delicious kiss. Toby got a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach when he realized they'd kissed so much that he'd lost count of how many times.

When they broke, Chris grabbed the damp washcloth off the sink, rinsed it and used it to soap himself. Toby watched the cloth glide over his lover's olive skin, mesmerized. Chris was here; really here. The taste in his mouth reminded him that this wasn't a dream.

He shook his head to clear it and grabbed the bar of soap, rubbing it into his hands. Then it was Chris' turn to watch. When Toby was done, Chris pulled him close again for another kiss.

"We should get out of here before we start pruning," Toby said.

__________________

Toby padded out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist. He walked over the door, where he had left his clothes in a heap.

"Toby? Don't get dressed yet." Chris said, standing in the doorway. He didn't even bother with a towel.

"What do you want me to do? Just walk around naked?"

"I could think of worse things. Besides, I haven't a chance yet to gaze at you in your unadorned glory," Chris said, teasing him.

Toby blushed then and picked up his shirt.

Chris walked over to him and took the shirt out of his hand, dropping it on the nearest surface, which just happened to be a table. He took Toby in his arms and held him close.

"Come on, let's just lie down together. I want to hold you." Chris maneuvered Toby toward the bed. The blond offered no resistance.

Chris lay down and pulled Toby into his arms. They lay quiet and still for several minutes. Chris stroked Toby's arm, almost absentmindedly.

"Chris? Is something wrong? You seem awfully quiet."

"Just thinking, I guess," he said, kissing Toby softly, not wanting to break the mood.

"About what?"

"About how weird it feels to be back. About how different it's going to be."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure I can explain it. Cedar Junction was just so...unusual."

"You don't want to talk about it?"

"I don't even know if it would make sense," he said and paused. "There wasn't much chance to talk to other people; not even the other prisoners. I spent way too much time inside my head. I didn't really like it too much in there."

"I'm sorry that it was so hard for you."

"Not hard, really. More like lonely; isolating. Empty."

Toby pulled Chris closer. "Do you think it's going to be hard to get used to being back at Oz?"

"I don't know, really. Time will tell I guess. I'll probably be in the same boat for awhile while they figure out what to do about Schillinger," Chris said and looked at Toby. "He been giving you any trouble?"

Toby decided to fib about that but his hesitation gave him away.

"What did he say?" Chris demanded, his ire stirred. "Tell me, Toby."

"Don't worry about him, Chris. I've been dealing with Vern for five years and he hasn't killed me yet."

Chris sat up then. "Did he threaten to kill you?"

"Not in so many words but he did say something like, if Chris is innocent then I'm his only other suspect."

"Damn him! You have to ask McManus to put you in protective custody."

"I doubt he would agree to that; especially with you there. Besides Said and the Muslims are watching my back. Said already shanked Vern once for threatening me."

"Yeah?" Chris said, smiling. "Who knew he had it in him? What happened?"

"Well, it was right after my parole was denied last year. Vern came up to me in the library, taunting me. He had Robson grab me, got real close like he was going to kiss me and then Said surprised him from behind. He shanked Vern and then Robson. They both spent some time in the hospital. It was nice and quiet for awhile."

"Well, I guess Said's good for something after all."

"Chris..." Toby started, a warning note in his voice.

"Okay, okay," Chris said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. He lay back, slipping his arm behind Beecher's head; pulling his lover close again.

"Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we going to be okay? I mean, I could come up for another parole hearing in a few months. You're not going to start pushing me away again, are you?" Toby asked, his voice resigned.

Chris sighed. "Tell you what. I won't push you away if you promise not to paint a rosy picture of life outside Oz."

Toby frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"Aw, Toby, don't look at me like that. I'm just saying, let's not talk about the future. Let's just take one day at a time."

Toby opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it. It would only lead to a disagreement and that was the last thing he wanted right now. "Okay, but I reserve the right to bring this up at a later date."

"Toby..."

"I'm shutting up, okay?"

Chris smiled and leaned over, kissing Toby's neck, his tongue darting out across the cool, clean skin. Toby shivered and draped his leg over Chris` hip, pulling their bodies together. He felt Chris growing hard against his own erection.

Chris' mouth traced a trail along Toby's throat. He stopped to taste the hollow and let his fingers slide along the collarbone. When Chris reached his nipple, Toby gasped, his breath shallow. He felt a hot blaze course through his body.

"Christ," he whispered, as Chris' tongue teased and licked the sensitive bud. He brought his teeth together gently and grazed it. Toby's body bucked, bringing him hard against Chris.

He moved over Toby's abdomen, planting kisses along the way; tasting his bellybutton. As he moved, Toby drew his hands lightly over his lover's back and neck.

Chris reached the patch of light hair at Toby's groin. He breathed deeply, smelling the clean, musky scent of Toby.

His tongue flicked out, running along Toby's rigid stem. He circled the head and Toby thrust his hips forward involuntarily. Chris moved further down, licking Toby's perineum. He grinned when he heard Toby let out a long moan. Chris spread Toby's legs further apart and let his tongue slide to the puckered hole.

Toby gasped, his legs twitching. Without thinking, Toby began stroking his erection. Chris used his tongue to lave and tease, working Toby into a frenzy. Toby panted, his hips thrusting in heated passion.

"Oh, God, Chris. Oh my God," he said, his chest heaving. He started to tense and Chris noticed Toby's hand moving methodically on his penis.

"Oh, no you don't," Chris said, moving Toby's hand. "Not without me." He smiled and searched quickly for the tube of Vaseline. He coated himself with it; watching Toby lying there, flushed and heated, waiting for him.

He positioned himself between Toby's thighs, lifted his legs and looked into his lover's eyes.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Fuck, yes," Toby said through gritted teeth.

Toby hissed when Chris entered him, the muscles of his neck stretched and straining. Chris stopped for a moment, waiting for his lover to relax. Toby nodded and Chris slipped in a little further and then Toby was making little grunting sounds.

He reached up, ran his hands over Chris' chest, brushing the nipples and moving around his lover's neck. Toby pulled Chris to him for a hungry kiss. His teeth nipped Chris' lip and then he crushed Chris against his mouth, as if trying to devour him.

Sheathed inside of Toby's heat, Chris resisted the urge to plunge forward, knowing it had been some time since Toby had been fucked.

"Harder, Chris. Faster, please."

"Are you sure?"

As an answer, Toby reached around and cupped his lover's ass, pulling hard, causing Chris to drive hard into the blond man. Toby cried out in ecstasy as Chris struck his prostate.

"Christ, Toby, you're sexy when you're screaming," Chris said, between panting breaths.

Toby grinned devilishly. "Fuck me harder, Keller, and they'll hear me all over Oz."

Chris drove himself into Toby with speed and force, the friction nearly driving him mad. Both of them were shiny with sweat. Chris pressed himself against Toby as he moved, trapping Toby's erection between their slippery bodies.

Their mouths met again in a ferocious, almost painful kiss. Toby sucked Chris' tongue hard inside his mouth, his hand locking his lover's head in place. He fed on Chris' mouth while Chris pumped his lifeblood into Toby. Time seemed almost to stand still for the lovers as they frantically tried to both hold off their climax and force it to come faster.

"I love you, Toby," Chris said, as the first spasms shook his body.

"Oh, Chris. Oh God. Oh God, Chris. CHRIS!" Toby screamed, his voice reverberating off the walls of the room and then echoing into silence. He came seconds later, his release spurting between them, mixing with their sweat.

Chris held himself up on shaky arms so he wouldn't collapse onto Toby's torso. They were both still panting, waiting for their heartbeats to return to normal.

Toby studied Chris' face for a several moments. "We've been through a lot together," he noted, not expecting any response from Chris.

"Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I know you do, Tobe," he said, smiling. He felt his penis slip out of Toby then and finally he let himself lie down. He wrapped his arm around Toby's waist and snuggled close to him.

"I don't want this to end, Chris."

"Me, either. How much time we got left?"

"I don't know. Maybe 10, 15 minutes."

"Should we try to take a quick shower?"

"Nah, I'd rather just stay like this a little longer."

"Yeah, me too."

"Besides, I wanna keep your smell on me when I go back to my pod tonight. Don't know when we'll be close like this again."

Chris cleared his throat. "Toby, you don't always say the right thing, but when you do, you hit the nail right on the head," he said, his voice hoarse.

They lay there quietly for a few minutes, touching and kissing, wishing they could freeze time. When they heard a knock on the door, Toby called out, asking for a few minutes.

They leisurely got dressed and shared sweet, lingering kisses. Tim opened the door about five minutes after his knock.

"You boys decent?" he asked before pushing the door open all the way. "Keller, you come with me. Beecher, I'll be back for you in a few minutes."

Toby nodded and looked at Chris one last time. His eyes shared a promise of hope for the future. Toby's heart swelled with love for this man with whom he'd been at odds too often but could not break from. He knew with they were bound together, no matter what the future held.

While he waited for McManus to come back, Toby straightened up the room, stripping the sheets off the bed and gathering the wet towels from the bathroom.

"Did you clean up, Beecher?" McManus asked when he returned 15 minutes later.

"Yeah, well what else did I have to do? Besides, I figured you shouldn't have to clean my mess."

"Thanks. Listen, Keller said Schillinger threatened you."

"Well, not in so many words."

"Do you want to go into protective custody?"

"Nah. Being so closer to Keller but in a different cell would drive me crazy. Besides, I have Said and Muslims watching my back. I think Vern learned his lesson already, anyway. I'm more worried about Chris."

"Yeah, well, we'll keep an eye on him."

"I know but he can't stay in ad seg forever."

"We'll just take it one day at a time, okay?"

Toby nodded. "Thanks, by the way, for what you did. It meant a lot to me. And to Chris."

McManus shook his head, dismissing the sentiment as unnecessary. They remained quiet all the way back to Sr. Pete's office. Sr. Pete greeted him but didn't ask any questions, for which he was grateful. He sat down at his desk, just as he had six hours earlier. Only now he was much more relaxed and at peace.

end

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