The request was that of a rather pleasant song; one the male enjoyed playing immensely. “As you wish,” He softly said moving across the room to the desk situated in a small corner. Going through his drawer he soon found the lovely, enchanting, piece. Slipping it out of its covering he also grabbed the stand that was neatly folded up underneath the desk. Carrying the items back to the bed he made the final preparations. His mind was occupied on setting up his things that it had taken him a moment to fully comprehend that Elise was speaking, those words trailing off before he could finish a sentence. “Tell me afterwards.” Taylor situated himself on the bed and placed the phone on the corner of the stand for Ellis.

With a deep breath he brought the instrument up to his shoulder, his chin landing on the black strip. For a moment he did not look at the music and then with another breath he shifted his chin so that it hardly rested on the chin rest. Bringing his bow to the strong he moved his arm down the right hand lightly shaking, causing the note to lightly vibrate. As he played brown eyes carelessly followed the notes. He had played this song on numerous occasions therefore his fingers naturally found their place on the board. While the music dragged out he found himself entranced until the very last note that gracefully died from his bow.

After the song was finished he sat there for a moment, sinking it all in. Taylor was never able to explain how music touched him to the very core and this song always managed to touch his core. Releasing the wooden instrument from his shoulder he laid the violin and bow across his lap. Taking the phone he switched the phone off of speaker. “Was that satisfactory?” He asked his free hand grazing the sap covered strings.

Rubbing away the white residue from each string he waited for the response. His kids having tumbled into the room as he sat there. It was rare for them to hear their father play and they greatly enjoyed it. Settling the instrument in its case he patted his lap and the two devils were soon snuggled on him. Danny looked at Taylor curiously wondering who her father was talking about. Taylor look down at his daughter and mouthed Ellis’ name as he brushed away one of her stubborn strands from her eyes. The girl mouth created a big o in understanding before she went back to her own thoughts of forcing her father and brother to play tea party with her after Taylor finished up on the phone.

((Sorry for all the delays. I wish I could say it will stop happening but I am a rather lazy person by nature. If I was not at school then, and only then, could I assure you more frequent posting but school demands my attention [a.k.a my procrastination]. On another note thank you for staying even if I am painfully slow when it comes to posting. I do enjoy the roleplay and you as my partner but my laziness is a crippling disease. Thank you.))

"So come over here?" Ellis suggested with the casual abashment of the sick, uncaring for any repercussions. It was enough to hear the other's voice at the moment, though facing Taylor would have been even better. Of course, that brought other predicaments about, like him having been stuck in bed without a shower for a lost number of days already, though Ellis didn't have the energy to get majorly concerned with those random facts. Running a hand down his sweaty face, the manager closed his eyes and turned onto his back, uncomfortable either which way he laid.
"Uhm ..." his scratchy voice bought him some time, but Taylor didn't appear to care, and Ellis could imagine the other man's hands running across the wood, the bow and strings, testing the elasticity and pitch, carefully tuning the fine instrument -fiddle. Ellis snorted at the memory and flinched as his stomach got unruly at that motion.
Shifting again, he turned back onto his side and focused on the poor quality sound on the other side of the phone. Despite that, there was meticulous care waving from the tuning session. Thoughts of making Taylor famous came to mind -had there been a market left for classical music nowadays.
Again the same question, repeated and Ellis' mind was as empty as it had been a moment ago, frankly, though being of keen sanity, the manager closed his eyes and just spurted out the first thing which came to mind, "Adagio ... something ... Albinoni? Do you know that?"

Even if the teacher didn't, it didn't really matter what was played, frankly, as long as he could imagine those slender fingers work those strings with perfect control, the way Taylor had at the party they first met at. The medicine which had been lodged at his throat before finally took some hold, absolving some of the ache Ellis hadn't realized was tormenting his body into a pleasurable heat, making his mind feel like it was sinking into the plush of the bed.
Or maybe it was his mind convincing his body that everything was alright now, he wasn't alone, and it was Taylor's company making him feel better.
Realizing meekly how deranged that thought sounded, Ellis remained quiet, waiting with bated, ragged breaths, for the other to start playing -anything, really. Maybe afterwards he could call in a Thai massage, or at least something warm to lie against.
Lies. That they were.
Mind preoccupied, whilst his body distracted itself elsewhere in the false belief of conforming to the general consensus. Even the mere thought made him feel nauseous all over again.
"I don't- ..." Don't what?
That he wouldn't make it to the Starbucks that Friday? Or didn't care what was played? Didn't want to be alone? Pushing a hand by his face's skin, Ellis swallowed back bile and words.
He couldn't tell Taylor, not like this, and besides, the man was taken.

The sound of Vivaldi filled his ears, removing his attention from the papers in front of him. Reaching at his phone he glanced at the caller ID. Ellis. Hitting answer on the last ring he brought the phone to his ear, mouth ready to greet the other when a sick miserable voice came to his ear. “An interesting request. I doubt it will sound well over the phone,” He said. Most people, when they are sick, would request something like chicken soup or medicine not the sound of a violin.

Standing up the teacher, however, felt the need to indulge the sick man. Making his way to his room he shifted the phone to the other ear, “Any request?” he asked as he grabbed the violin case and rested it on his bed. For such a tattered case a beautiful (and expensive) instrument laid inside. Carefully he removed the latch that kept the case shut and flipped the lid open. Inside a sea of red velvet laid the beautiful wooden instrument. Removing his hand from the phone he held the device to his shoulder as pale long fingers down from the beautifully carved scroll down to the bridge; caressing it as if a lover. Ending his attention to the instrument itself he looked at the bow that loomed above. Removing it from its hold he turned the small screw, tightening the hairs. Once that was accomplished he opened one of the compartments that hid many secret goodies. Taking the rosin he ran it up and down the bow hair until there was just enough to keep the bow from sliding all over the strings.

Laying the bow on top of the violin he rested the phone on bed and put it on speaker. With the phone not stopping his movements he finally went in and grabbed the instrument. Resting it on his shoulder he plucked the four strings, listening to them carefully. They were all out of tune, which was to be expecting, but not terribly. Bringing the instrument down he went through his secret compartment and removed a device; a tuner. With that he successfully tuned the instrument to near perfection (nothing ever being perfect). Putting the tunner away he grabbed the bow, hand instinctively moving into position even though the bow just laid limply at his side.

“Well Ellis, any request at all?” He asked again. If Taylor did not have the kids with him he probably would have gone over to give the sick man a private concert but he did have the kids and no one to watch them. Therefore Ellis would be forced to accept this last minute plan instead but at least he would hear Taylor play.

"Just drink it," Estelle sighed, running a hand through her hair with a sigh, sat on the edge of the bed with a glass of water. The doctor had been by, though her little brother had hardly been cognitive to cooperate, let alone notice and the female Law had begged Cynthia to fetch the medicine since she wasn't keen on leaving Ellis alone just yet. The executive's laptop was too close within reach, and the phone had been beeping at a near constant melody. Each time, though fevered and drowsy, Ellis reached for the device almost on instinct.
"No," she admonished the pouting man, trying to put on a stern face. Between the couch and Ellis' deranged sleeping habits though, she was tired and impatient too.
"...might be important," Ellis managed hoarsely, trying to keep his stomach from tossing back up the medicine lodged somewhere between his throat and tract on the way down.
"They can live without you for a day, Eli," Estelle said, giving up on the water and leaving it on the nightstand. "I need to get to work -do I need to ask Cyn to stay?"
Giving his sister the best glare he could manage, Ellis deflated and sank back into his pillows. At least he wasn't being made to drink more water.
The moment she left, the manager squirmed towards his phone, feeling awkwardly light-headed for being up, squinting down at the tiny screen of the sleek device. Why didn't they make these things bigger? And lighter, he thought to himself, his arms drained and sore, feigning some slinky food he really didn't want to consider right then for feeling nauseous.

His breathing was heavy by the time Ellis reached the couch and sank down, daylight assaulting his senses. The broad new day felt like a hangover without deserving one, all pale and sallow. Opting for the bed's warmth in spite of his freedom, Ellis dialled Madison while inching back underneath the blankets, forcing his secretary to give him an update. Reluctantly, she indulged the sick man, though emphasized he take rest and not to worry, since she had everything under control and yes, she was sufficient when Fred was her sole adversary. Less than reassured, the manager surrendered to the woman's wisdom and promised he'd be back by tomorrow, even though that was by no means realistic.

Making a face at Estelle's water left behind, Ellis sighed out, tired and drained, but thoroughly awake now and decidedly miserable.
Catching Taylor's message, a flush which had nothing to do with his fever crept at the edge of his awareness, but, uncertain whether it was the fever still, or just being pitiable, Ellis pressed 'call', instead of reply. He couldn't get the man's hands out of his mind, how those fingers played with the violin's string, as if making love, expertly practiced and with fluid ease bending those notes to some secret will.
Maybe he could get the man to play.
Zoned out on the dialling tone, Ellis hadn't realized it had stopped, and couldn't give a shit whether it was voicemail or anything else, "I want to hear you play," he said, voice not really any better than the other day, though by small margin a little less lost than last night -or had it been the night before that?

An eyebrow arched upwards when he heard the voice on the other line. Ellis. To be exact an Ellis who sounded absolutely and terrifyingly sick with a side of miserable. "From?" The teacher asked deciding to humor the man a bit. He was even planning on being a good guy and thinking about helping the other man. Stephan on the other hand was not willing to humor whoever was on the other side of the line. "Who is it?" He asked running a hand down Taylor's spine.

Taylor glanced over his shoulder and could see the distaste oozing off the man. Moving the mouth piece away he responded to the man, "A friend," was all Taylor said about who was on the other line. Stephan huffed at being told nothing. To get his way he moved closer to Taylor, trying to hear something.

As the struggle happened he patiently listened till someone else picked up the phone. "Okay," was all he said following suit and hanging up. Turning his phone off he rolled over in Stephan's arms. Yawning he snuggle closer to his abuser and proceeded to close his eyes. Stephan just held onto the man tighter a smile crossing his lips. He had succeeded in winning Taylor over once again. Pressing a small kiss to Taylor's forehead he too followed Taylor to sleep.

Taylor sighed as the kids ran around the house. Stephan had been called away for a drug bust for some gang and had left soon after the two terrors had woken up. The lucky bastard had the perfect timing it would seem because a moment after he left all hell had broken loose and Taylor was at the peak of his tolerance. Pinching the bridge of his nose he silently repeated the elements of the periodic table in his head, trying to find some happy place in the information. Somewhere at lead the kids fell onto his lap; both narrowly missing what had been there home several years ago. Looking at both of them they just smiled up at him. "Little punks," he affectionately said as they both giggled.

Danny quickly and efficiently slipped the remote away from her father to turn on some Barbie fairy movie. In turn Zachary groaned and went to go play in their room. Now that the kids had cooled down there would be some peace in the household. Grabbing the papers he had originally been grading he retreated to the dining room. A small thought popped into his head and said thought was Ellis and his well being. Removing his cellphone he firstly deleted his full inbox and then went to compose a message. 'How are you feeling today?' Taylor read the message a few times to assure that he was not sounding to noisy before sending it. After that he settled down to finish going through homework assignments.

"You need to rescue me," Ellis breathed, only then realizing how scratchy his voice sounded, and he tried clearing it without alerting Estelle to the fact he had found his phone and was using it to place a call which would hopefully undo himself from her clutches. Making his older sister fetch aspirin was fine and everything, but the actual caring part was something Ellis rather left in someone else's hands, like say, Amber's, for example, a conclusion which wasn't really aiding the logic behind his call placed to Taylor. Trying to recall his initial thought-process behind the ill-placed call, Ellis scrunched up his face, aware he hadn't been thinking straight and probably still wasn't.
Running a hand down his face to alleviate the soreness which came from abused muscles, the businessman was tempted to just hang up and bury himself, especially when he caught on the darkness wasn't because he had his eyes closed up until then, but actually because time had passed, turned around, twisted and created what was better known as night.
Fred was probably having a field-day right now scouting out new talents in his place, hiring the deadbeat nobodies which would tow down their company as if the man had added a concrete weight himself, before tossing them into the ocean of stupidity.

"Ellis, who are you talking to- Did you-?" Estelle started, putting down the tea before leaning down and trying to pry the phone from his fevered fingers. She was probably doing it to protect him or whatever, but Ellis wasn't relenting. "You'll have to wrestle it from my dead fingers," he threatened, snatching one of her arms, but with considerably less force than expected.
"Is that right?" Estelle said triumphantly.
"Shit," Ellis breathed out, giving a half-hearted protest before giving up. There just wasn't any energy to work with to begin with. "Stell...?" he begged her, reaching for the device. Estelle simply stood up and pressed the device against her ear, "Hello? I'm sorry to inform you my little brother isn't feeling well, right now, so you'll have to call back later if it's important," she said, performing a perfect 'Madison', complete with expertly practiced secretary-tone and formality. Groaning in embarrassment, Ellis resigned to listening in on what Estelle was spouting in terms of nonsense, already halfway back to sleeping, frankly.
"Hey, you're not sleeping here," Estelle interrupted her conversation, shaking her brother's shoulder, and ushering him to sit up and crawl back to bed, if that was what it took. Ellis only cooperated barely, listlessly dragging himself, and the blankets out of the den and back to his bed, although only because his annoying sister was luring him with his phone.

Taylor laid his head on the pillow soon after a long day. Stephan sat next to him in bed, threading his fingers through Taylor’s long brown hair, reading on of the books he had just received. Closing his eyes Taylor forced himself to forget about how that dreadful dinner had gone. Well at less it was dreadful for Taylor.

The kids were being their loud selves, talking about everything and anything while their grandfather started an argument with their grandmother. Stephan’s hand was under the table the whole time pressing against the worse of Taylor’s wounds all while adding to the argument, if not feeding it. By the time dinner was over with Taylor’s head was painfully pounding but of course his misery could not end there. The kids and their grandfather had to go into the living room and watch Spongebob very loudly and with much complaint. It was when the kids finally fell asleep that Taylor became free from the hellish time and did not take long to leave. Once in the car Stephan became extremely silent and did nothing to aggravate Taylor’s wounds.

Opening one eye he glanced at the clock. Two thirty in the morning. At less he had nothing to do in the morning besides sit the two demons in front of the TV and take a little cat nap. Closing the eye again he heard the click of the light and soft rustling behind him. Soon enough Stephan had an arm wrapped around the teacher, pulling him close and mumbling some endearments. It was Stephan’s normal ritual. Be an abusive asshole for a day and than a bastard for half of another day then just whisper things about love. And sadly Taylor was the foolish one for sometimes he did fall into that trap. Stephan made it so convincing and so real that at times Taylor could not help but believe that the officer actually loved him and felt some guilt for the abuse he had inflicted.

These little whispers lasted twenty minutes when his cell phone went off. An annoyed sigh left both men’s lips but for different reasons. Taylor had been on the brink of falling asleep while Stephan was about to win Taylor’s trust all over again. Wiggling out of Stephan’s arms he grabbed his phone and answered the call without much of a thought or a glance at the number. “Hello?”

"Yes. He's sick, I can't just- Yes, I've been watchin'-yes ... Cynthia!" Estelle replied her elder sister, heaving a sigh. Cynthia had Emily, and in that respect Ellis wasn't all that different, what with being all shades of childish while sick. As for Ellis, his life was proven to be on standstill. Estelle watched her little brother's flushed face from the side of the bed where she was perched on, content he was finally asleep. It had taken a whole night of deliriums, nightly passages towards the bathroom and trying to keep the man from his phone as well as laptop for him to finally succumb to sleep.
And now a worried Cynthia was asking her ears off about whether she'd taken proper care of their little brother, what with her being unable to ditch obligations in the form of one, absolutely terrified for her uncle, Emily and her family.
"He's sleeping now, Cyn, it's fine," Estelle said, motherly pushing back some of Ellis' bed head, still jealous of the man's thick black hair.

Ellis peeled open his eyes several hours later, found the world wasn't doing any more swirling and sickening hoops, was quiet and dark for a change and finally settled enough for him to make sense of it all. Breathing out a thick sigh, the businessman reached out an aching arm to flick on the light, realized just that action all but drained his energy and pushed through regardless. Work wouldn't wait; business was booming and meant to stay ahead.
If Fred had the audacity to stick out one muggy paw at any of his bands, Ellis was certain he would pretend the living dead to infect the man with what he had, if not worse.
Managing to heave into a sit, Ellis tried piecing together just exactly how he had ended up in bed in the first place. There was Starbucks, the rerun of coffee and then Estelle.
Rubbing at his face, the businessman staggered to a stand and shuffled towards the den, spying a lump of blankets on the couch -so she'd stayed over.
Shaking his head carefully, Ellis spotted his phone on the saloon table and plucked it up, knees just about giving out, shaky at best, when he relaxed into the couch's welcoming arms.

"You shouldn't be up," Estelle's sleep-drowsed voice scratched out, sitting up halfway, hair sticking out, dropping down her face, blankets covering one shoulder. She looked all too much like one of the girls he usually brought back home.
Putting a finger to his lips, Ellis made a hushing sound, checking on his phone.
Estelle's cool hand clutched at his wrist, "don't hush me, I'll get you some tea."
Groaning at the memory of trying to heave up his innards, the businessman shook his head, "I don't think-"
"You'll drink something, Ellis Law," she chastised him, and got up, leaving the blanket to her little brother. Feeling cold, the businessman drew it closer, abusing the lingering warmth left behind by his sister, gradually leaning over to the side to lie down entirely. Still wasn't up to par. Cursing his fortune, Ellis recalled meeting Taylor Friday. Grimacing at the thought, the businessman flipped through his logs to check the callers, finding the violinist's number before pressing dial. With some luck, the man could relieve Estelle and grant him some peace to get around to work.
It hadn't really sprang to mind now wasn't such an opportune time to call, least of all because he was still feverish, and it couldn't be earlier than three AM.

Taylor silently watched the retreating figure until it slipped away into the cab. Returning his attention to the bratty kids he adored he rolled his eyes at their childish arguing. “Let’s go,” he said knowing that dinner had hardly been started but he had no reason to remain in Starbucks. The kids nodded and clambered off the chair, gathering their trash. While they threw away their trash Taylor fiddled with his phone for a moment and came upon one rather unpleasant message. Stephan wanted to be picked up and brought along to dinner. That was a rare thing for the man could hardly stand the families constantly bickering. Biting inside his cheek he hit the call button and brought the phone up to his ear. It rang three times before the other picked up. “Hey, so you want to join us?” He asked as he herded his two kids out of the coffee shop and to the car. “Yeah-… I will be there in five minutes. Okay. Yes. See you soon.” Taylor was about to hang up when he heard three words that seemed taunting; I love you. Taylor took a small breath, the teacher hesitated a second longer before replying, “Love you too.” Then they were disconnected.

True to his words Taylor pulled up in front of the police station five minutes later. Stephan was already there with a wide smile and in civilian clothes. Slipping into the vehicle the officer leaned over and bestowed a kiss on Taylor’s cheek before glancing behind him and at the kids. “How was school?” he asked as he pulled the seat belt on. “Boring,” Zach said in response. “We learn nothing. Why do we have to go?” Danny whined slightly. Taylor readjusted his rear view mirror so he could see the two. “Because I say so and because education is important,” The teacher responded. Both of them were not satisfied with Taylor’s response and were about to complain a bit more but Taylor effectively cut them off. “How was work?” He asked Stephan.

A hand fell onto Taylor’s poor and abused thigh, a thumb drawing little circles on the bruised skin. “Okay. I had to go down to McClough because of some gang violence. Other than that nothing too interesting. How about you?” he asked adding some pressure and causing Taylor to wince. “The same but instead with a meeting about budget cuts,” he said removing his eyes from the road for a second before returning it to where it belonged. Stephan only nodded and turned on the radio all while the thumb moved across abused flesh.

The rest of the ride was in silence. Both of the kids at some time fell asleep while Stephan had nothing to say. No apologies, no accusatory statements, nothing. He just sat there causing mild pain before he got bored and decided to check his email. Dinner was going to be a long and painful event.