Title: Reality Mountain
Author: Phoenix Ghost_PG
Rating: Adults Only
Category: Fanfiction
Characters: Canon American QaF Season 5 characters and very brief mentions of the Brokeback Mountain characters, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist.
Genre: Angst/Romance, dirty comedy, Adult humor
Warnings: Spoilers for QaF Season 5 beyond episode 513 & the movie Brokeback Mountain.
Summary: Friends at the afternoon Cinema see more than just a film.
Disclaimer: ALL CHARACTERS and situations from Queer as Folk belong to their creator Russell T. Davies, as well as it's adaptors/co creators of the US filmed in Canada version, Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, aka 'Cowlip' and Showtime and others. No copyright infringement has been intended by this author, nor this website.
The BBM characters Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist belong to their creator E. Annie Proulx as well as the film's Director Ang Lee and the screenwriters/adapters, Larry McMurtry and Dianna Ossana. The movie is distrubuted by Focus Features, a unit of General Electric Co's NBC Universal.
A/N: This story was whipped up with the 'intent' to entertain for pure pleasure only.
It has been rated by the author for 'adult's only', and not any independent body.
All mistakes belong to me, PG. If you want to blame someone, blame my muse.*g*
~*0*~Reality Mountain, Chapter ONE, The arrival~*0*~
The deep breath of early morning Mountain air felt as crisp in his lungs as the smell of the frying bacon sizzling in the large cast iron skillet.
As the teasing scent of the food being prepared tickled his nose and stirred his taste buds, he smiled.
This surprised Brian Kinney as he carefully stepped out of his 2 man tent, stretched and headed straight for the steaming coffee percolating in an old fashioned coffee pot that was sitting perched on a thin rock slab above the campfire.
Nodding to the bleary eyed skeleton camera crew, he then did his best to ignore the eye of the camera lens now trained on him as he slid a thick quilted rainbow pot holder onto his right hand and then grasping the handle of the large steaming coffee pot, grabbed himself a mug and poured himself a big cup.
After thanking the studio aide for the plate full of fluffy scrambled eggs, buttered Texas toast and thick bacon now being handed to him, trying not to freak out about the calories and spill the fare, he carefully sat down on one of the three thick large logs surrounding the fire pit not far from the mess tent.
Although he had tried his best to avoid it, the fucking cup still sloshed, scalding his hand. But Brian didn't really feel it as he sat his cup down on the ground.
Brushing his wet hand off on the side of his jean clad thigh, he picked up his fork to eat.
After he was finished, he collected his dishes and took them over to the *mess tent.
Snagging himself another cup of the very hot coffee, he walked back to the log and slowly sat down.
This time using both hands, he carefully blew across the rim before taking a cautious sip.
Closing his eyes, Brian swirled the heated liquid around his tongue, savoring the bitter flavor.
After finishing his coffee, peaking at his watch, he noted that it was Sunday and their plane was due in three more hours.
Soon, Justin, Mikey, Ben, Theodore and Emmett, would be arriving with the other contestants.
Pulling out the folded pale paper that held the names and stats of the 6 closeted contestants, Brian studied it once again, recalling the introductory in NY face to face conversations he had privately held with each one of them.
Hoping his Sunshine and his friends would forgive him for lying, another sigh escaped him as he tried to wrap his mind around the last 48.
~*O*~
On Friday, Brian's cell phone had rang 5 times.
Then 10 times more, until in frustration, he barely refrained from slamming it against the wall, and instead just turned it off, transferring everything to his answering machine.
But, when the machine was full to bursting, he called on his efficient girl Friday, Cynthia to take on the umpteen messages.
But, when SHE called him back in the middle of one of Justin's heavenly blow jobs, and threatened to quit?
He offered her a raise and a shopping trip on him to stay.
Although it had cost him a pretty penny, it had been worth every cent to appease his pretty Secretary as good help was hard to find.
Reluctantly Brian turned his cell back on, pulling Justin's grinning mouth back down. Because great head was good to find!
On Saturday, after a gruelling 6 hour shopping spree that his Sunshine and the giddy
5 other contestants demanded, Brian and Justin spent the rest of the day and night in bed, until his 10 pm flight.
Although disappointed, because they THOUGHT he had a business trip, little did they know, HE was the 6th contestant...
~*O*~
~Two Months ago~
It had been confirmed, on the Studio's website that 6 more contestants had been randomly picked for Reality Mountain.
All of the 12 names were being kept under wraps, and only the contestants themselves knew that they had made it.
They had all been contacted separately and given the choice of a gag order, or a forfeit.
All 11 of them chose the G.O.
~~~
The first of the newest 6 was 30 year old Jacobson 'Jake' Patterson. A closeted divorced father of 3, and an Insurance Salesman from Altoona, Georgia, Jake was an avid fisherman, and hunter, and living on his own mountain was his dream.
His X wife Sharee had set him up on a date with a bisexual woman who had a thing for Heath and Jake, the hott young actors of the film, Brokeback Mountain. Jake had bought the 'cozy couple' concession snack, and, when she went to the restroom, he had slipped the 'form' for the contest deep into his pants pocket.
After dropping off the human female equivalent of an octopus, Jake had filled out the form and mailed it off before going home.
When his conformation came in the mail, he was over the moon. And when the phone call came from the Studio's lawyer Allison Marcus, he had almost fell over.
Happily, he agreed to meet her in her New York office to sign the necessary paperwork.
~~~
According to 21 year old Dillon Brant, a young Farmer from Dodge City Kansas and the second contestant, he had went to see the movie with his then fiancée of 2 years, Shelia.
Shelia had a huge crush on the 2 lead actors, and, as both sexy men were not hard on the eyes, Dillon had agreed to see the controversial film with her.
That film had be SO profound for him.
Giving him an inner strength to do something for himself for once.
Something he had been dying to do since his early teens.
Get.The Fuck. Out. Of Dodge. literally.
He didn't want to be a farmer, like his German and English ancestors before him. No, he wanted to be a Rancher.
He was sick of flat plains, he wanted the Mountains! The contest to him, was like a godsend, a deliverance from his current hell.
Shelia was already picking out baby names, and her mother and his had filled the girl's Hope Chest with many of both families cherished heirlooms.
Sneaking the *form out of the cozy couple snack box, after the movie, Dillon had begged off another round of grope and dodge with his panting partner.
Being a virgin was enough of a bitch, having to hide the fact was clearly another.
And being engaged to a hot girl like Shelia, the former town 'ho' who according to his first cousin Jame Anne was VERY experienced, was in a whole nother zip code of reality.
With her sparking green eyes, and long silky red hair, pretty pink pout and sexy body, poor Dillon was constantly being challenged by other men for Shelia's attentions.
But, what he didn't dare let her know, what he could NEVER admit to anyone, especially what he didn't dare let her OR his family find out was this...Dillon could really care less if she screwed the whole fucking town sideways, and twice over, just like she *supposedly* used to, because, he was pretty sure he was either bi or perhaps gay.
So, when the confirmation papers came in the mail he had locked himself in his room and high-fived the air!
And, it had been less than a week, he had been out plowing the field and his little sister had come running, waving him down, to tell him he had an important call from NY.
Dillon wanted out of his engagement, his hum drum existence So badly, that he had lied to his family, to his clinging girl and told them all he had been picked for a modeling gig in the Big Apple. They had bought it hook, line and sinker, especially the little gold digger Shelia. When the time came to board the plane, Dillon had never felt so free...
~~~~~~
Contestant # 3, hailed from Orlando Florida. Little did he know, that when 28 year old Westley Amos accepted the invitation from his new roommates to *catch a flick* the film would be a gay cowboy movie.
100% hetro, and assuming him to be the same, his friends thought it would be fun, and they had wanted to see for themselves what all of the hype was about.
A 'caring friends' snack pack had been ordered, and, when no one was looking, he had slipped the *form deep into his dress pants pocket.
An only son of Oriental immigrants turned citizens, Westley had always been a *good boy, and a caring son* putting the wants, wishes and needs of others before his own. An A student all through school, and then later College, had earned him a GPA that got him noticed and landed him a cushy job as an FBI scientist.
But, while the pay was heavenly, the job was hell.
And he hated it.
He longed to run away, to just start over, and adopt a whole new life.
Ever since he was small, Westley had secretly dreamed of being a cowboy.
And as the rainbow colored *form burnt a desire inside of him so strong, he ditched his new friends.
After calling for a Taxi, he had found an all night service that offered faxing.
And, when the call from the studio's lawyer came in from NY, he didn't say a word, just left a money order for the rest of his half of a two year lease agreement. He also sent his parents a letter stating that he was on a 6 month assignment, and he'd contact them soon.
After all, Westley Amos was a practical man, and he just might NOT win, so, it was wise NOT to burn all of his bridges.
~~~~~~
When contestant # 4, 23 year old Boo Riggs from Mussleshell, found himself on the losing end of a bet, he had drug his cowboy boots all the way to the nearest movie house in Billings, Montana to see the controversial film, Brokeback Mountain.
His posse, consisting of 7 of his closest straight friends, had joked, making rude comments as they ordered the 'concerned group snack box.
But as the snacks were being passed around, no one noticed the brightly colored rainbow *form fall out of the large box and flutter downward, landing on his booted feet, Boo took that as a sign that it was time to make a change. Elated when Allison Marcus had called him, although getting on a plane for the very first time had been a big step, finally admitting to himself he was gay, had been even bigger.
He was looking forward to winning the contest.
Contestants #'s 5 & 6 were unusual as they were twin brothers, who had NO idea, the other was, in fact, gay.
from Newark New Jersey, 18 year old Antonio 'Tony', and Angelo 'Angel' DelMarco were not only the youngest but the most controversial of the 6 closeted contestants.
Born premature to a single mother who happened to have a bad drinking habit, they had been removed from her care by the State of NY, only to be lost in the red tape of the foster care system.
But the boys had been luckier than most siblings stuck in that vicious heartless circle, as for the first 10 years of their young lives, their Social Worker had not only somehow pulled strings to get them fostered out together, she had stayed active as a mentor in their young lives, helping to teach them so many things, as the temporary foster care family had actually been her younger sister and her family.
Unfortunately, one Christmas Eve, Miss Kerry had passed away unexpectedly in her sleep, leaving them both vulnerable to the cruel system.
Now in separate foster homes for the next 5 years, the boys underwent several horrors, and both ran away at the tender age of 15.
Angel had however, experienced the unfortunate sting of jail, when he had been arrested one Christmas Eve for shoplifting food because he was hungry.
When the owner pressed charges at the time, it had seemed like the worst thing ever, and he had curled up in a small ball on the thin jail cot, crying his heart out, missing Miss Kerry and his big brother Tony.
But when Sheriff Smith had seen the little boy's name and then his face, the man had turned white, and then had cried.
Quickly removing Angel from the dank cell, calling the store owner, he began offering the snooty man anything to keep the young boy from a blemished record, and a dismal Holiday.
Swearing to himself the scent of Miss Kerry's lavender perfume had embraced him, Angel had smiled, when the cell door had been opened. Feeling for the first time, in a very long time, safe as he looked up into the caring brown eyes of the older man.
Safe, even when the eccentric older man had driven him through the snowy covered roads to a Toy's R US, and told him to pick out two of 5 of the things he had EVER wanted most for Christmas.
At the time, he had thought the grinning Sheriff to be quite mad, as he had happily shopped for 2 of everything 5 times, as he had been instructed to do.
Watching the cute salesman as he deftly and expertly wrapped the items in the shiny Christmas wrap Angel had picked out, complete with different colors of curly ribbons had been fun too.
But, it wasn't until he and Sheriff Harley Smith burst through the brightly decorated door of the grey and caramel two story house, arms laden with colorfully wrapped gifts, that Angel got an even bigger shock than seeing an 8 foot Christmas tree.
It was what, or rather who was under the tree, patiently threading together popcorn pieces and fat cranberries on a thin white string with a long thin silver needle that had him reeling.
Dropping his burden onto the couch cushions beside a robust blonde haired older lady sitting there beaming with tears in her bright big blue eyes, and an even bigger smile on her round pretty face, when Angel had yelled, "TONY!" And threw himself into his older brothers welcoming and shocked embrace. Popcorn and cranberries went flying as a dark haired boy scrambled for his feet, before a small sobbing blond missile slammed into him.
Once the spacious living room had been put back to rights, the cranberry and popcorn pieces picked up and the 5 long strings threaded and hung, along with several hundred tiny miniature crystal and porcelain ornaments, the light from the crackling fire inside the large fireplace cast off a comfortable cozy glow.
10 colorful packages of different shapes were now nestled underneath the huge tree, and two young boys, identical in every way except their hair, were excitedly playing a computer game, and the old house was once again filled with the sounds of pure childish laughter, ringing through the halls like tiny bells.
After drinking two cups of homemade hot cocoa with his older brother and helping Tony polish off a plate of Christmas cookies that they even had helped to decorate, soon, Tony and Harley and Sarah Smith, were filling Angel in on how they had been looking for him ever since Sarah had found Tony freezing outside a grocery store on very cold Christmas Eve. Morning, 5 years ago, on this very day.
Tony then took over the story, recalling every detail to his baby brother just how he had been SO hungry, after he had ran away from his messed up last foster home that he had even contemplated stealing food, just to fill his tummy, as he had not eaten anything at the time, for nearly two days.
Remembering Miss Kerry, and all she had taught them about right and wrong, Tony had decided to approach the kind looking older woman walking down the sidewalk that reminded him SO much of the generous older woman that had practically raised him and his twin.
But, even thinking of his brother, or Miss Kerry, had brought on a sadness so deep, the little teenager had collapsed at her feet, fainting dead away sideways face first in a snow drift.
Then Harley took over the story as he recalled how Sarah had called him frantically at work, and how he had hurried over with Fred, who just happened to be a Paediatric Doctor, as well as Harley's older twin brother.
But, it was Fred's wife Sallie, who just happened to be Sarah's younger twin sister, who really saved the day.
Sallie Smith was not only a Guardian ad Litum, but a licensed Social worker, and THE Head Supervisor for their county in Newark, New Jersey.
And, in her professional opinion, since the Smith's were already licensed foster care providers, Harley and Sarah had the means to take over and provide the child proper emergency care.
It also hadn't hurt that the girl's older brother just happened to be Judge Gavin Chambers.
Then Tony took the conversation back over as taking his hands and placing them in each of his parent's he proudly told his shocked twin, "It took about a year, but by that next Christmas Eve? I was adopted." Smiling up at the beaming couple, he slowly let go of their hands and grabbing his younger brother, pulled him into his lap.
Red faced and squirming, Angel blushed, wondering just what was going on behind those mysterious bright jewel blue eyes of his twin.
Burying his face in Angel's soft blond curls, Tony lifted his tear streaked little face as he told his parents, "All's I want for Christmas this year, is the same thing I have asked you for EVERY year since you had been kind enough to take me into your lives as part of your family. And, he's sitting in my lap."
Angel's adoption had gone through even faster than Tony's had, after Angel had brought to light just what had been going on in the foster care home he had run away from. It had been his 12th. placement.
Things had been going okay, until one night, one of the boys had killed himself by drowning.
That boy, Shaun had been Angel's bunk mate, and, the night before the suicide, that 12 year old little boy had cried in his arms as he had shared with Angel the *dirty little secrets* that really went on in the Givvans household.
They had been so busy with the dead child's bizarre situation, as the home was under pressure due to a sudden interest by the State to give an inspection, that one night, Mr. Givvans had forgot to lock the door.
Angel had used that opportunity to escape.
All alone, hungry and cold, scared and missing his big brother more than ever, Angel had found a grocery store. It's bright neon lights beckoned him, and once inside, survival instinct took over, and all of Miss Kerry's teaching went right out of the window as he stole, and he got caught.
The twins had graduated early with high GPA's and by age 17, had done their parent's and their family proud by getting accepted into a good College, NYU.
One night, bored out of his skull, Tony had suggested they catch a flick. After a 10 round game of Rock, Scissors Paper had been displayed, Angel had reluctantly went to the controversial show, Brokeback Mountain with his eyebrow raising and giggling twin.
Angel had later admitted to the camera that although he had wanted to see the film, he had NOT wanted to do so with his older brother for fear Tony would figure out that Angel was, in fact, a gay closet case.
When it had been his turn to document the momentous occasion of finding, filling out the *form in his AND his twins names, and after being randomly picked by the computer as the last two contestants, Tony DelMarco had this to say, "Fuckin' AWESOME man! Me and Ange' used to play cowboys ALL the time with Miss Kerry! We'd tie her up in a chair, and she'd be the Indian, or the bank robber! We'd let her go, of course..."His sapphire eyes were sparkling with tears and mirth as he made the cut* sign across his throat.
These were the taped confessions, the true stories that the 6 closeted contestants had shared with Brian Kinney, and then later for the camera, in front of Allison Marcus, whom had already witnessed the taped true statements of Kinney's 5 friends.
Allison had told Brian later that Although each story had been moving, as well as educational concerning the plight of the American gay man, hell, gay men everywhere, Justin's story had opened her eyes even more to the apathetic attitude of the American judicial system as a whole.
After signing an affidavit that protected them as well as the studio, each of the 11 contestants were given a room key, and taken to a very posh hotel.
The days had flown by, with gruelling lessons in Central park on riding and classes held in special area's provided by the Studio, dealing with camping subjects.
Each man was taught CPR, and swimming and other skills, such as the fine art of outdoor cooking.
A crash course in French was taught as well for those that didn't speak the language, or needed a brush up.
Soon, 11 very excited young men were boarding a jet plane headed for the Canadian mountains, and the adventure of a lifetime that awaited them.
~*O*~
*Present day and time, now three hours later*
Being a glutton for punishment had never stopped Brian Kinney before, so why start now, he reasoned as he exited the large white double stretch Limousine that would take them all to the Canadian version of the Studio.
Once there and accounted for and officially on the Canadian version of the Studio's payroll, it would then be on to the waiting Jeeps that would take all 12 of them to the stables where they would be reunited with their NY travel companions as they acquire their horse and *tack* for their journey up the very Mountain that the movie had been filmed at.
It had been the hardest thing he had ever done, watching his lover, but not being able to speak with or touch the kid.
Well, man now, even though, despite his age, Justin Taylor could give those DelMarco twins a run since he still looked as boyishly fresh as the night Brian had picked him up underneath that street lamp on Liberty Avenue nearly 5 years ago.
Pushing the brim of his black Stetson down to shade his eyes, as he walked over to the arrival gate, Brian Kinney's heart dipped to his toes as he heard Justin before actually seeing his beautiful blond.
"Emmett! Stop picking on Teddy!"
"Thank you Justin, but I can handle MY own battles with my so called boyfriend."
Justin Taylor bit his lip and slanted his eyes at the tall thin man dressed in tight black leather jeans with matching boots, vest and bright rainbow shirt.
Hitching his small carry on bag and then pulling on the edge of the neckline of his snow white long sleeved shirt as he straightened it from the trip Justin loudly whispered meaningfully, "IF you keep it up, I predict you sleeping ALONE under said stars, 'pardner'."
9 sets of snickers followed his own as looking down on the small blond head, the flamboyant man choked back his own snickers that threatened to bubble out of his mouth as he just as loudly whispered back, "True, but? The minute any wild creature howls? I'll be INSTANTLY covered with a 'Teddy blanket!"
Justin along with the others just lost it then.
But when the others had quickly toned down following the death ray glare of the uptight accountant, Justin kept right on giggling his ass off helplessly as he was remembering oh too well, the cautious older man's horrified face when the tapes and later slides of any and every wild creature they might encounter on the spacious Mountain top had been shown, as they were briefed on the joys of Ranching. Hell, seeing the man attempt each and every task AFTER being taunted and teased by his driven boyfriend, Justin had to admire the slender man as he watched Ted slowly gain a sense of confidence he had never before displayed.
Still,...That _expression when Ted had heard and then seen a live bear after a jaunt to the Zoo? Priceless.
Ben Bruckner and his husband Michael-Novotny Bruckner has wisely kept quiet as the face of Theodore Schmidt reddened before exploding, "Emmett Honeycutt! YOU, YOUU BITCH! YOU TAKE THAT BACK!"
Brian chucked as he listened to the familiar school yard banter.
"WILL NOT."
"YOU SO WILL SO!"
"NOT, NOT Notttttt!" Emmett sang gleefully.
The tight quay of 11 men 'Oomphed' loudly, then cursed just as loud slamming into one another as Justin Taylor halted in his steps nearly teetering over sideways as he breathed, "Brian?"