A week later James was beginning to feel like himself again. Better than himself. He had Sammy. The boy was still frightened and nervous, but he knew he had him wrapped around his little finger. He had his mind, and it wouldn't be long until his body followed. James was patient, he knew good things came to those who waited and although he would never admit it, he had grown very fond of the kid.
Every night after lights out he would clamber up into his bed without a word and nestle into him, his head on his chest. Some nights they might kiss, fondle and grind on each other, other nights they just slept, enjoying each others warmth and presence.
That morning Sam had already left for his now assigned afternoon duties, duties James was still on leave from for a further three days. This enabled him to set his affairs in order.
'I'd like to make a phone call,' he called to a guard outside his cell, after some deliberations over a walkie talkie, he was escorted to a phone booth.
'Hello?' the familiar gruff voice answered.
'Hey Ferg- its James,' he said, smiling slightly to be talking to his old friend again.
'J! Been a while man, how you doing?' Fergus replied, his voice sounding tinny and distant over the prison phone line.
'I'm good, I'm good,' he said trying to cut the small talk.
'You still feeding all my pets?' he asked. The childish code for his drug deals was necessary over tapped lines, and was so far working well.
'Yeah, the pets are all still kicking here. Your dog Nelly is getting a bit aggressive, he was... er... barking a lot when we last fed him, I think he wants more food.'
Fucking Neil. Of course he was getting difficult. Prison guards don't cope too well with authority from those who they see as inferiors. Well we'll see about that.
'No, reduce his food, he still needs to be trained appropriately. If he's still giving you trouble we'll have a talk about putting him down if we have to.'
'Yeah, I was thinking the same to be honest. Don't want anyone getting hurt if he lashes out.'
'Of course not. Everything else good with you?'
'Yeah man, we miss you here though. How much longer you got, about another year?'
'Nearer two.'
'Fuck man, well, we're thinking of ya.'
'Thanks Ferg, I'll call again soon.'
'Bye J,' he said, and James hung up.
'Boss says you're well enough for yard time,' the guard with the walkie talkie said as he approached him.
James smiled.
'Perfect, lead the way,' he said. He had several matters that needed attending to.
To his immense pleasure when he entered the yard he saw Neil was one of the supervisors by the far fence. The fat bastard was squinting at the inmates through his little dark eyes and James felt the ripple of dislike. Dodgy coppers and guards were useful, but a lying rat is a lying rat, whatever side you are on.
James made a lazy path towards him, and casually leaned on the fence a few feet from him and Neil waddled closer in his direction.
'You're up and about again then?' he said gruffly.
'Seems that way, yes,' James said, not looking at him but rather at the inmates milling around the yard. 'I hear you've been giving my boys some trouble Neil.'
James didn't have to be looking at him to see the bristle of indignation his words caused.
'W-wh- I merely-' he spluttered, reddening in the face.
'Want more?' James asked, turning a sudden cold stare on him. Neil pursed his lips.
'Yes. Yes, I want more. If you want me to turn a blind eye to what is happening here-'
'And what is that exactly?' James said icily.
'The mind-games! The grooming of that kid for Christ''s sake! I shouldn't have helped you, I should never have... Did he really call you Sir? Sir! It's not natural, and if you expect me-'
'I expect you to keep your mouth shut Neil. Don't think for a second that I couldn't get rid of you in a moment if I wanted to.'
'Is that a threat!?' Neil said getting angry and gripping his baton.
'You can take it however you like honey, but if you want to keep getting your product, you play nice. Blab and well...' James straightened up and began to cross the yard, but turned briefly to the visibly shaking guard, 'at least you wont have to worry about the withdrawal symptoms.'
James left Neil for a while to simmer, smirking to himself. He was wrapped around his little finger, the weak spineless man. But as the bell rang he saw Neil walking in his direction, his eyes were frighteningly calm. Just as he was about to walk past James to the door he hesitated.
'I don't do threats James, I think it's time you earned a little respect,' he hissed, and with one icy glare walked away. James felt a flicker of concern, but pushed it from his mind. What would he, could he, do?
*
Sam yawned, he had had a long day and was looking forward to returning to his bed, and James. He was nice to him, unlike the other inmates and officers who either ignored him or treated him like crap. But thankfully for fear of James no one tried to hurt him.
A bell rang and he jumped to his feet, finally time to go.
Just as he was about to shuffle out of the door with the rest of the inmates he felt a tap on his shoulder and two officers were looking at him. One of them he recognised as Neil, the one who helped James, the one he knew he could trust.
'Theres been an issue, you have to be moved from your cell for the night,' said the unfamiliar officer.
'What?' Sam said 'what issue?'
'Nothing serious,' Neil reassured him, 'just some misbehaviour so he is being given enforced isolation for the next 48 hours.'
'Oh,' Sam said sadly. 'So where am I going instead?'
'There's a spare bunk in cell block B,' Neil said, 'I'm to take you there.'
Neil took Sam's arm and led him away, the other guard escorted the rest of his block to their cells and Sam looked hopelessly for a sign of James, but he was nowhere to be seen. They walked out into the chilly early evening air and towards the adjacent block.
A set of large green double set doors greeted them, which opened as they approached. Neil nodded at the guards inside who approached a nearby cell and opened it, at which Neil shoved Sam inside.
It was empty and chilly, with a single bed that had a large suspicious stain, and when the door slammed behind him he felt so incredibly lonely, wishing desperately for James to be here. He imagined his warmth pressed against his body and couldn't deny the twinge of pleasure it brought him.
He imagined the hard pressure that he would sometimes feel when James was close brushing against his leg. He liked it. He liked knowing someone was into him that much, the physical evidence of it made him feel warm inside. Affection was not something he was used to and he found all the emotions it brought him confusing. Was he gay? He thought about James dick, how it had felt in his mouth, how it might feel elsewhere, the warmth he would feel as their sweaty bodies became one. He felt his own genitals begin to react to his sex daydreams and he blushed, looking to the door as if someone was watching him. But there was no one. He was alone, and it was so so cold.
*
When it came to lock down and Sammy wasn't back James began to worry. Where was he? He felt uneasy. It wasn't normal for an inmate to be out of their cell this long. Not without a clear reason.
