Douglas Hammond (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} doug_hammond) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} omega_reality, |
Doug smiled back. "I like it when you play for me." Maybe their co-dependency wasn't the healthiest, but then the entire family was fucked up. His parents, him and his Mom, TJ and Nana. None of them had normal relationships. "Dad probably enjoyed the affairs going public, too, at least in part. It's who he is. He loves the limelight, whether it's positive or negative. I don't think he liked to deal with it privately, but in the press? I'm sure he had a ball" He chuckled. "Good, although I don't know how we're winning that paintball war if we can't shoot." For all of their good intentions, he doubted that they'd follow everything to the letter, but they'd try. "we need to do some of the work, because we are going back." That was a depressing thought. He might actually enjoy living here without responsibilities.
He looked at TJ for a moment. "If you're getting clean? Are you still unsure about that? And yes, I know how hypocritical it is coming from me, but I don't lose it if I don't use." No, he did stupid things when he used. The only positive side was that it didn't matter here, because no one would care and there were no reputations on the line.
"I know you suck, but if you wanted to, you'd be really good." He leaned against TJ, their sides touching even more than before. "Except you trust too much. You wouldn't have told me. Ever. Because he wouldn't have let you. He's a conservative Republican from a red state. It was never going to happen. We both know that, or we should know, and if you had told me, I'd have smacked some sense into you." And then he would have covered for TJ when his brother wouldn't listen. It was the way things went.
"I'm kind of glad that it happened," he said softly. "The son of a bitch would have never come out. He'd have strung you along, until someone wanted his seat badly enough to leak your affair. I know you blame Mom for not covering for you, but once that information is out, there's nothing that anyone can do, not even the president. Sooner or later, he'll find someone and sooner or later, someone will make it public. It's the way it works in DC, even if you don't like it, and that's why I'm glad it happened the way it did. You're free of him and there's no public repercussions on you, and of course, you deserve a lot better than a closeted conservative Republican." He stopped playing all togeher and turned to TJ. "Really what were you thinking? God, TJ, it amazes me how idealistic you've stayed despite the show you put on."
Doug cupped the back of TJ's head and hugged him with the other arm. "I'm glad he's out of your life. You. you're alive, that's all that matters now." He pulled back and looked at TJ. "I don't want your excuses, TJ. I want you to stop doing this to me. I don't care about the kind of job you want, the man you want to date, I don't care if you pick the Energizer Bunny or a blue collar cop from LA. I just care about you, and I know I'm going to regret saying this, but if you like the man, really him, and not some idealized dream version of how things should be, then see where it goes. Don't pull the act on him, don't let him see what he wants to see. Show him the TJ I know and if he likes you back, then fine, and if he doesn't, it doesn't say anything about you, but it's just prove that he has no taste." He turned around and started playing again. "And for God's sake, don't rush."