Title: "Romeo & Juliet Were Italians" (3/6)
Author/pseudonym:  Mistress Marilyn camelotslash-2 at qwest.net
Fandom: 'Magnum P.I.'
Pairing: Thomas Magnum/Rick Wright
Rating: NC-17, although there may be parts without graphic sex
Date: Written in the early 1980s
Archive: Yes, contact me first
Series: Six-part novel
Category: Slash
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, not to me. Just borrowing them and speculating on their fictional lives.
Summary: Magnum and Rick become lovers and deal with the outcome, including the reaction of their friends and their own feelings. This story was evidently set during the first season of 'Magnum P.I.' and references many characters from
that series.
Warnings: Explicit m/m sex and some violence.

Part Three

Magnum sat on Rick's terrace at the King Kamehameha Club, enjoying a late breakfast. Several feet away Rick sat in a meeting with the members of the Club's Board of Directors, which included Jonathan Higgins, Robin Masters' surrogate. Magnum was eating very slowly, taking time to watch Rick between bites and swallows. He was fascinated. He had never really observed Rick during a meeting of the Board, eve though he had been present on the terrace during other outdoor meetings. He watched Rick had acted as though unaware of Magnum's presence, although he had given Magnum permission to be there. Magnum enjoyed Rick's professional attitude, feeling more possessive than ever. He hoped that Rick could get away for at least an hour after the meeting.

It was about three degrees over Honolulu's median temperature, a breezy 79. Magnum had awakened earlier than usual, taken his morning swim, and then hurried to the Club. He and Rick hadn't spent the night together, since Rick had things he needed to prepare for the meeting. This made Magnum even more anxious to get Rick alone. It was the first time that they hadn't spent the night together in the two weeks of their affair.

Rick's voice was raising angrily. It was only the third or fourth time he had spoken during the meeting. Magnum watched him -- evidently arguing with Higgins over some question of membership eligibility -- feeling more and more excited. Rick's face took on an entirely new quality when angry, one that Magnum found very attractive. Rick's eyes darkened and narrowed, and the boyish look of his cheeks hollowed out. Evidently the subject was one that Rick cared about.

Rick stood up, waving his arms in a finishing gesture, and walked quickly off the terrace. Magnum watched the rest of the Board members begin to stir and rise from their seats before he moved to follow Rick.

"Wait a moment, Magnum," called Higgins.

Magnum turned impatiently. "What is it?"

Higgins approached him slowly. He moved very close to Magnum before he spoke to him in a low voice. "I hope you find some way to calm him down. He's being quite unreasonable."

"Higgins, you know it's none of my business."

"Oh, come now, Magnum. There is no reason in the world you couldn't take a hand in this. Perhaps use some special form of persuasion." Higgins raised his eyebrows slightly. "Of course, you might be the cause of his perturbability, for all I know. Perhaps there's some problem that I'm not aware of."

Magnum smiled. "Well, he did sleep at the Club last night. Maybe that has him a little cranky. It hasn't done me much good."

"Well, then, lad, I won't keep you."

"Thanks," Magnum said, stepping around Higgins.

Rick was not in his office, so Magnum looked around the dining room and the kitchen before asking Kimo, one of Rick's assistants, where Rick might be found.

"He was hopping mad, brou, and I think he went to his own digs."

"Thanks."

Magnum hurried to Rick's quarters, finding the door unlocked. Rick was sitting just inside, tapping his fingers on his knee.

"Where you been?" he asked in an impatient voice.

"Looking for you."

"Well, I'll tell you, Thomas, I'm really pissed off."

Magnum sat down beside Rick with a little laugh. "No kidding."

"I'm so sick of some of this crap, Thomas! I mean, we got seven new members last month. That's seven new paying members! What the hell do they want? I can't go out on the street and recruit members, y'know."

Magnum sat back with a sigh. "I'm sure the Board appreciates your efforts, Rick. What has you so upset?"

"Appreciates my efforts? Sure, sure they do. That's a laugh."

"Come on, Rick."

Rick sighed. "Well, it's aggravation, Thomas. Constant aggravation."

"It's not that bad."

Rick stared at Magnum, his eyes going from angry to very soft in just a few seconds. "No, maybe not."

Magnum reached out a hand to touch Rick's cheek. "What is it?"

"I don't know, Thomas. I just feel down today."

"Well, let me help."

Rick smiled. "You can help. You're the only one. I just missed you so much last night."

Magnum laughed. "Is that all? It was your idea to stay here last night."

"Well, I shoulda let you stay, too. I just thought it wouldn't bother me. But it  did. And that bothers me even more."

Magnum pulled Rick to him. "It's natural, Rick. Why do you fight it?"

"It's not natural. It's not natural for me!"

"Well, think about this. Have you ever been on a honeymoon before? I don't think the honeymoon's over yet, and that makes it tough."

Rick pulled away. "Damn it, will you cut that marriage crap!"

"Sure."

"Ah, hell, Thomas. Let's go up to bed. I'm just dyin' to have you next to me."

"Sounds like a great idea to me."

Magnum and Rick stood up, Magnum folding Rick in his right arm. They walked to the stairs and Magnum pushed Rick up in front of him, patting the small, round buttocks as Rick climbed. "I like you from the back almost as well as from the front," he said, giggling.

"Cut it out! You're gettin' me all worked up."

"I hope so."

Magnum grabbed Rick and hustled him into the bedroom.

*  *  *  *  *

The sound of the phone woke Magnum. He stirred, reluctantly, thinking that he would just let Rick's service take the call. On the fourth ring he finally reached out a bare arm and grabbed up the receiver.

"Hullo," he said in a barely audible voice.

"Rick? Did I wake you? You sound funny." It was a low-pitched female voice.

"No. I mean, just a minute." Magnum sat up, rubbing his face.

"Rick. If there's someone there with you, I'll be quick. This is Lisa. Lisa Paige? I'm in Hawaii for a few days and I wanted to see you, if you have the time."

"Lisa? This is Magnum, not Rick. Rick's at the Club. I was just taking a nap."

"Magnum? Well, hello! How have you been? I thought Rick sounded a little strange."

"Yeah. I was trying to tell you."

"You must sleep pretty hard. You still sound funny. Will you tell Rick I called? I'm staying at the Hilton, Rainbow Towers. Tell him to leave a message for me there."

"Are you here to promote your book? I heard it was coming out."

"No, actually I'm here to see about the estate. We're selling it."

"Oh."

"If you want to go out there with me, Magnum, maybe you can see a ghost or something." Her voice held a little chuckle.

Magnum laughed in return. "No, that's okay, Lisa. I'll pass."

"Well, good talking to you, Magnum. I'm sure I'll see you while I'm here. Give Rick the message.

"I sure will."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Magnum hung up the phone, allowing himself a large yawn. He considered getting up, but fell back against the pillows instead. The bed was in comfortable disarray and Magnum could see his feet sticking out at the bottom where the sheets had pulled free.

Rick had evidently gone back to work without waking him. They had made love quickly and unconsciously, with no design to interfere with their passion; it had been much like the first night, only less protracted. Magnum had fallen into an exhausted sleep after an hour and a half.

Now Magnum stretched and forced himself to sit up. He wished a little wistfully that Rick would come in to snuggle for a while, but he knew that he might as well get up and go looking for the man. Rick was back on the job; whatever tiny vulnerability that had created his urgent need for Magnum's presence was probably well under wraps again by now. Still, Magnum felt confident that Rick wouldn't suggest they sleep apart tonight.

Magnum ambled into the bathroom; he paused by the sink to stare at his reflection in the mirror and to then wash his mouth out under the tap and brush his heavy eyes with cool water. Then he stepped into the shower and turned the water on hard; the blast hit him directly in the lower chest. He smiled and adjusted the stream higher, burying his face in the warm flow. After a moment he grabbed for the soap and began to lather the hair on his chest and under his arms, moving down to his crotch, which he knew, needed the cleaning the most. When he had finished these necessary ablutions, he reached for Rick's expensive shampoo to wash his hair.

Ten minutes later Magnum stepped, dripping, from the shower, wrapping a towel around his lower body and using another to soak up the water from his hair.

He felt much better, as he always did after a shower. He walked into the bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed. His clothes were in a neat pile on Rick's dresser; evidently Rick had put them there when he got up. The last Magnum had seen of them, they had bee strewn around the bedroom floor where he and Rick had thrown them while they were hurriedly stripping. He smiled, looking at the clothes on the dresser, appreciating Rick's organization and neatness. The differences in Rick and himself were what made them so suited, he decided. Magnum's enforced neatness of years in the Navy had made him almost deliberately sloppy. Rick's opposite qualities were self-taught, Magnum knew; Rick simply lived the way he wanted himself to.

Magnum got up and dressed quickly, thinking for the first time about Rick's phone call. Lisa Paige. One of Rick's old girl friends. Magnum wondered if Rick would want to see her; he reluctantly considered that Rick might even want to sleep with the girl. He knew that the two had been lovers when Lisa had lived in Hawaii, before she had left for New York to finish her book. But that had been months before, long before he and Rick had become so close, long before Rick had considered a relationship with Magnum. Magnum counted slowly -- one, two, three, four, five, five and a half months. It had been nearly six months since Rick had been involved with Lisa. It was a long time; yet it wasn't all that long. Had Rick ever thought back then of going to bed with his best friend? Magnum wished he could get Rick to talk to him about it.

Magnum sighed as he tied his shoes. He didn't like the thought of Rick dating Lisa Paige again, even only briefly. He knew that if he put any pressure on Rick about the subject, Rick would balk. It was a wait and see situation; Magnum knew he needed to discover what Rick would do and how he -- Magnum -- would handle whatever Rick did. But it was not going to be easy. Magnum realized that the circumstances would have sooner or later occurred; still, he couldn't help wishing that it had been later, when Rick had finally opened up a little more to him.

Magnum looked back at the disheveled bed, then snapped off the light. It was time to go and find Rick, and to tell him that Lisa Paige was in town and wanted to see him.

*  *  *  *  *

Rick tightened his tie, adjusting his collar a little. Then he reached for his jacket and slipped it on. Magnum sat on the bed watching him dress. Rick picked up a brush and smoothed his well-cut hair; then he turned to Magnum.

"Well, Thomas. How do I look?"

"You look great. Beautiful."

Rick laughed. "Beautiful?"

"Well, handsome I guess."

Rick moved to the bed and sat down beside Magnum. Magnum could smell the richness of his cologne faintly.

"I can't wait to see Lisa again!" Rick said. "It's been a long time."

"Five and a half months, about," Magnum added.

"Yeah. At least that. God, have things changed since then."

"Yeah."

Rick stood up briskly. "Well, I'd better get downstairs. She should be here any second."

Magnum got up and followed Rick out of the bedroom. He slowly descended the stairs behind Rick, watching Rick's light step with something close to dismay. Rick was really excited to see Lisa Paige.

"Check and see if I have any brandy, will you, Thomas? Lisa likes brandy."

Magnum walked to the liquor cabinet. "Yeah. There's plenty. Unless she's turned into an alcoholic or something."

"Great. You want a Scotch?"

Magnum shook his head. "I guess I'd better get going."

"Huh? How come?"

"Well, I figured you wanted to see her alone."

Rick grinned. "Don't act that way, silly. Have a drink. Lisa would love to see you again. You saved her life, didn't ya'?"

"Yeah, I guess. But I didn't notice her calling me when she got to town."

Rick's eyebrows came together. "Did you have a thing for Lisa? I didn't think you did."

"No. Hell, no. You were the one who was crazy about her."

Rick smiled again. "Yeah, I sure was. That was one hell of a case."

"My case or yours?"

"Both." Rick chuckled. "Pour me one, will ya'?"

"Sure."

Magnum poured two small glasses of Scotch. He took a long drink out of his before handing one to Rick.

"What's the matter, Thomas? You seem down."

"Huh? No, I'm fine."

"You're quiet. Something's wrong."

Magnum sat down, glancing at his watch. "No."

"Suit yourself. We'll talk about it later."

Will we, Magnum wondered. Would Rick spend the night with him, or with Lisa Paige?

Rick hurried to the door at the sound of the knock. Magnum took another drink preparing to greet Lisa Paige. He watched Rick motion her inside, kissing her on the cheek as she came in.

"Hello, Magnum!" she called to him, in her throaty, articulate voice.

"Hi, Lisa. Good to see you."

"God, you men look wonderful! Better than ever, if possible."

"You look pretty great yourself," Rick commented, obviously appraising her. "You could use a little sunshine, but that's nothing that a few days here won't fix."

Lisa grimaced. "Oh, Rick. You know I never tan." She walked to the sofa and sat down, placing a white straw purse on the table beside her. She was dressed in soft white slacks and an expensive looking pink silk blouse. Magnum could smell her light perfume.

"Will you be an angel, Rick, and get me an ashtray? I'm afraid I haven't given it up yet."

Rick walked in the next room, returning in a moment with a large shell shaped object. "I think I've finally kicked it for good," he said. "But then again, who knows?"

"Right. Well, with all the smoky meetings I've been forced to attend, and the sweating over deadlines, I'm lucky I haven't turned into a chimney." She lit a cigarette.

Rick walked to the sideboard. "Let me get you a brandy, Lisa."

"That will be marvelous."

"How's your book going, Lisa?" Magnum asked. "I mean, do they expect it to be a success?"

"They're rushing it," Lisa explained to Magnum, "to get it on the stands as soon as possible, before all the publicity dies down. People were pretty into Aunt Sarah's death after Henry Ellison was convicted. Old murders are always popular, but you never know never know when something new will come along. So, my publishers are hurrying things along."

"I'm sure it'll be a big success," Rick said, handing her a large glass.

"Thank you."

He sat down next to her, looking appreciatively into her large blue eyes.

"So, tell me what's been happening with you," she said. "Have you helped Magnum on any of his cases?"

"Oh, sure," Rick answered, nodding.

"Anything interesting?" she asked, looking at Magnum.

Magnum shook his head slowly. "Just cases."

"What about that ballerina. What's her name? Didn't you guard her?"

"Kendall Chase. Yes. I guarded her for Robin."

Lisa smiled. "She's very beautiful. Did you fall in love with her?"

Magnum laughed. "No. But I liked her a lot."

"Of course."

Rick sat forward. "Thomas nearly got himself killed a couple months ago. You should have seen how banged up he was," he told her.

"Isn't that always happening?" she asked.

"This time was a little closer than some," Magnum said.

"Let's see," Rick began. "Since I last saw you I've been beat up a couple times -- working with Thomas -- and had my jaw busted -- over another of Thomas' cases. I got a new car -- a beauty. And I grew an inch."

"Really?" Lisa smiled, her eyes glowing. "Where?"

Magnum stood up nervously. "Golly, Lisa, it's been great to see you, but I think I better get going." He finished his Scotch.

"It was lovely seeing you," she told him. "I hope I see you again before I leave."

Rick stood up, looking at Magnum strangely. He walked over to the taller man who was nearing the door. "Where you goin', Thomas?" he asked in a low voice.

"The estate."

"How come?"

"Rick, I thought you two might like to be alone."

Rick took Magnum by the arm and drew him back. "Before Thomas goes, we have something really unbelievable we want to tell you."

Magnum stared at Rick with wide eyes.

"What in the world is it?" Lisa asked, sitting forward.

"Our relationship has had a drastic change since you last saw us," Rick explained. "We've sort of been living together for the past couple of weeks."

"Really? As lovers?"

"Yep. Pretty wild, huh?"

Magnum looked at Rick with disbelief; had Rick actually just told one of his former girlfriends that the two of them were lovers? Rick smiled at him, his eyes a deep green shade.

Lisa cleared her throat. "Well, I can see it. Looking at you. It's really almost obvious."

"Is it?" Rick asked.

She nodded.

Magnum watched Rick, wishing that he could grab the man and kiss him, carry him upstairs and bury him beneath his large body. He was surprised at his own strong reaction to Rick's words. He couldn't speak.

The room remained silent for several minutes. Then Rick urged Magnum down beside Lisa and went across the room to make him another drink. Lisa was staring at Magnum with interest.

"You know," she said, "it would really make a marvelous book. Two men, so different, and yet sharing the same past. Two war buddies, both single and roaming, yet tied to one another through a loyalty difficult for normal men to understand." She warmed to the subject, her cultured voice caressing the words. "Two men, both lonely despite their close friendship. Who could need one another more?"

Rick squeezed down beside Magnum, handing him a drink. "Right. Some story."

"More like a fairy tale," Lisa said softly.

Rick laughed. "Well, I don't exactly know if I like that way of puttin' it!"

"Oh, God. I didn't mean it that way!" Lisa smiled over her own faux pas. "I meant it was too romantic to really happen."

"Well, it did. Finally," Rick said.

Magnum shook his head, his mind whirring. It was difficult for him to follow the conversation. He drank down the Scotch and handed the glass back to Rick.

"You okay?" Rick asked.

Magnum nodded, uncertainly.

"Perhaps Magnum didn't want you to tell me," Lisa said. "I imagine you're keeping it very private."

"Thomas doesn't care if you know. Do you?"

Magnum again shook his head. "Not if you want her to," he finally said.

"Well, I admit a certain personal disappointment," Lisa said. "But, I'm very pleased for the two of you. Rick is a marvelous lover, and I'm sure that you two complement one another very well."

"Very," Rick agreed. Magnum felt his cheeks flush. Was he actually blushing?

"Well, I want you to both have copies of my book, as soon as it's ready for the stands," Lisa said, changing the subject. "You both figure in the ending. I'll probably make another trip to the islands as soon as it's ready for promotion."

"What about the estate?" Rick asked. "Do you have a buyer?"

"Yes, a prospective buyer. But if I can hold off the sale until after the book is published, we should be able to make a better deal ..."

Their voices blended together. Magnum lost track of the conversation. It was difficult to be casual with Rick pressed so close to him, having just declared their relationship to this beautiful young woman. Magnum was amazed at Rick.  It was the first time that Rick had ever seemed comfortable about being Magnum's lover when anyone else was around. Magnum could feel a sense of euphoria creeping through the initial numbness.

"Say goodnight to Lisa, Thomas," Rick was saying as Magnum's attention returned.

"What? Is she leaving already?"

Lisa laughed. "Yes, Magnum. I have to be up early tomorrow."

Rick rose from the couch to help Lisa up. Magnum rose awkwardly. He wondered whether Lisa would have been so concerned about getting enough sleep if she hadn't known about his and Rick's relationship.

Rick kissed Lisa on the cheek again, opening the door. "It was so good to see you," he said.

"It was wonderful to see you, Rick. I'll call before I leave."

"Please do."

She looked toward Magnum. "It was good to see you, too," she said.

"Yeah. Same here."

"Well, you two take care of yourselves. And one another," Lisa said, moving out the door.

"We will. You, too," Rick answered, watching her go. He sighed as he shut the door. Then he turned to Magnum.

"You sure you're okay, Thomas?" he asked.

Magnum nodded. "Come here, Rick. Please."

"Sure," Rick said, walking to Magnum. He reached up to the large man, their arms locking. Magnum lowered his face to Rick's shoulder.

"What is it, baby?" Rick asked in a low voice.

Magnum felt tears pressing behind his closed eyes. He shuddered. He felt Rick's hand rub through his hair.

"It's okay, Thomas. Talk to me," Rick crooned.

"I'm just ... so -- so damn happy." Magnum stopped as he realized that he was beginning to cry.

"Sit down here. Sit down. Take it easy."

Magnum slumped back down on the couch, his right hand in Rick's. He felt silly, but contented. Rick fiddled with the team ring on Magnum's third finger.

"I didn't expect you to get so upset by my telling Lisa. I thought you'd be happy. Are you really?"

Magnum nodded. "I couldn't believe you told her. Why did you?"

"Well, it was obvious, wasn't it? I mean, it was as good a reason as any as to why I couldn't get it up with her. If I took her to bed tonight and then lied and said I was tired, what would I say tomorrow morning? Or if I told her I was in love with some chick, what would I say when she wanted to meet the girl? I mean, Lisa's a friend, Thomas. Plus, she used to be a lover. I just think she had a right to know."

"You told her for her own sake."

Rick smiled. "Partly. Partly for mine, too."

"I know," Magnum said. "I understand, Rick."

Magnum pulled Rick close, rubbing his chin on the top of Rick's soft, fluffy head. "I love you so much, Rick. Sometimes it hurts like hell."

"Good," Rick answered in a muffled tone. "I want you to feel it, too."

Magnum closed his eyes, two more tears squeezing out. Rick was becoming more and more his. Things couldn't get much better, Magnum thought. Then, as Rick moved so that Magnum could reach down and kiss him, he wondered. Maybe they could.

End Part Three