Chapter 16 #2
“Breaker was here because he thought you knew something that could hurt him. And it seems that you could. You knew the name of the ship, even though you didn’t realize it at the time.
That could hurt him and bring the entire operation down, and it did.
But he was trying to get to you before you could tell anyone.
This guy was here just because Evie hurt his friend. ”
Bazel nodded. He had gotten that much.
“It means…,” Atlas said gently, “that there isn’t some important or powerful person who is after you. This should be it. Breaker is dead, and this man is going to answer to federal authorities about what he might know about the whole smuggling operation.”
Shaking his head, Bazel looked through the glass.
“He know nothing. Just let him go and tell him to go home. I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me.
This man is dumb. He rush here to avenge his friend, and what he get is trouble.
Maybe he learn lesson, that friend wasn’t a nice guy.
” He turned to Atlas. “I just want all this to be over. I want to build life and be happy. Not make people sad.” He continued looking at the man, who had lowered his head to the table and might have been crying.
“What did he really do other than scare me?”
Atlas said nothing, and Carter nodded slowly. “We still need to turn him over to the FBI. They want to speak with him because he may know something.”
“Then do it and leave him alone. Let them find out what we know.” Bazel turned away from the man. “Can I go home now? I no want to be here anymore.” He was tired and had been too damned scared for too long.
“Yes. That’s a good idea. Atlas, your shift is almost over. Stop in to speak with the chief and let him know what happened.”
“Did I get you in trouble?” Bazel asked
Carter shrugged. “He just sent a message.” He held up his phone, and Atlas opened the door. Bazel went with him and Evie down to an office with an open door.
“You wanted to see me?” Atlas asked.
“Yes, come in, all of you,” the chief said.
“Close the door.” He turned in his chair.
“This is Agent Phillipson with Immigration.” Bazel took a step back and wanted to hide behind Atlas.
“He called about your application for residency. I told him that not only had you been brought here under terrible circumstances, but you had helped us a great deal.”
Bazel nodded slowly. All he could see was this man taking him away from Atlas and making him go back home. Which was not safe. Maybe he….
“I’m happy to meet you. I understand that you are preparing an application to stay permanently using refugee status.
I think that’s a smart idea. When you’re ready, please send it to me.
” He handed Bazel a card. “And be sure to include all of the things you’ve done to help us while you’re here in your application. ”
Bazel took the card he offered. “Thank you.” He had honestly thought the man was here to throw him out.
He put the card in his collection with the others he had received.
It seemed strange that everything and everyone used cards here, but then he had found that these people were weird sometimes.
Atlas probably found him strange too. But he could live with that.
“So everything is okay as far as Bazel is concerned?” Atlas asked. “He’s been through a lot already, and he’d like to get a job so he can start building a new life.”
“He can use his emergency visa number to apply for jobs.”
Bazel smiled. “I can? Good. I show people through yard and they hire me to make theirs pretty too.” He was practically bouncing.
He could see having his own business and making a real life here.
He turned to Atlas, grinning, and took his hand.
“You make me very happy. I want to be a good American. I want to work hard and be a success and make things really pretty.”
“You should see my yard. He’s made it stunning,” Atlas explained.
“And I not done. Have plans for spring. It be prettier,” Bazel said. “Can I go home now?”
“Yes.”
The chief cleared his throat. “Both of you go on home. Atlas, I’ll need your report in the morning, but go on home.
” He seemed to smile a little, and Bazel liked him.
He saw in the chief’s eyes a man who was happy, and he saw that same reflection in Atlas’s eyes, and he knew he had it too.
After months of hardship, he truly was happy.
“Come on,” Atlas said, leading him and Evie out of the office.
He got some things at his desk, and then they left the station.
The clouds that had hung over the town all day seemed to have broken up, just like Bazel’s hopes now had light peeking through.
They seemed to be brighter, but still some clouds remained on the horizon, threatening to move in.
“I can stay now,” Bazel said once they were in the car and on the way home.
“Yes, you can stay. And you have a home for as long as you want it. I hope you know that.” His voice sounded scratchy.
“Yeah, but a real home, or a stay like guest home?” Bazel asked. He and Atlas had been sleeping together, but Atlas hadn’t actually asked him to stay, like forever, and he wasn’t sure.
Atlas pulled up in front of the house and parked. “Sweetheart, you had a permanent home here almost since I met you. You made my life warm and bright. You brought pretty things into my life.” He got out, and Bazel did too, waiting while Atlas got Evie and then led the way inside.
“So this is my home too?” Bazel asked.
“Yes. Your home, my home, our home.” It was probably a little bit of overkill, but Bazel smiled at Atlas’s effort.
He wanted him to know for sure. They went inside, and Atlas fed Evie and joined him in the living room.
“I know we keep getting interrupted in having this conversation.” He sat down. “But yes. I want you to stay.”
Bazel nodded. “You call me sweetheart.”
“Yes. It’s a term of endearment.” He lightly touched Bazel’s cheek, and warmth spread through him. “It means that I love you. That I care about you most of all.”
“You love me?” Bazel asked.
Atlas nodded. “Yes, I do. You stole my heart, and I didn’t even realize you had done it. I was worried about what you might think, or that you could have thought that being with me was the price for staying here. So I was careful… I hope….”
Bazel leaned closer. “You always show care and concern. You took me in when I needed a home, and you even said no when I thought….” Bazel didn’t want to go back to those times.
He had been so confused and thought he had to pay for everything, and he’d only had one way, then. “I think you no want me.”
Atlas smiled. “I wanted you. Very much. You with your deep eyes and smile that could charm the birds out of the trees. I did. But I had to make sure it was what you wanted too. It is, isn’t it?”
He grinned like an idiot. “I do. I want make family and home here with you.” He grabbed the front of Atlas’s uniform shirt and pulled him to him, then kissed Atlas hard. “I want to make everything here with you.”
Atlas wound his arms around him, holding him tight, making sure Bazel knew that he was safe. Atlas always made him feel like that, and he was convinced that nothing bad could happen as long as he was around. “Me too.”
“That’s good.” Bazel held Atlas’s warm gaze. “I love you too.” Atlas leaned forward, but Bazel pulled away slightly. “Just one question.”
“Only one?” Atlas asked.
“Yes. I want family.”
Atlas’s eyes widened. “You can’t get pregnant, no matter how many times we try.”
Bazel rolled his eyes. “No, silly. I want doggie family. Evie needs friends.”
“Sweetheart, we can look at getting another dog. But we have to be careful and see how Evie reacts to them. Okay? This is her home first, and while she’s very well trained, she can be a little stubborn when she wants to be.”
“Okay. We be careful,” Bazel agreed, then bit his lower lip. “If this home, can I….” He looked around the rather austere rooms.
“You can make any changes you want. But how about if we make them together, okay?” Atlas added.
“Yes. Okay. I not go crazy or something. But yard is pretty. House need to be pretty.” He smiled, and Atlas tugged him down.
“I think you’re pretty, so how about we go upstairs and I can get a really close look.
” He loved it when Atlas got all growly.
It made his insides shake and made him feel warm all over.
Bazel kissed him, and then Atlas held him tighter, lifting him into his arms as he got to his feet.
Bazel wound his legs around Atlas’s waist as he carried him upstairs.
“You really strong. I like that.” He kissed Atlas as they reached the top of the stairs.
Then Atlas carried him into the bedroom that was now their bedroom and looked deeply into his eyes.
Love shone in them, and Bazel basked in it.
That was the one thing he had never thought possible back home.
That love was something that could ever come to him, that it was something he deserved.
And now he reveled in it and freely gave it right back to the man who had taken his heart and treated it as though it were a precious gift.
That alone was worth all the danger and hardship, and he would protect that with everything he had.