Picking Up the Pieces (closed)

[ManOSafety]

Jason Foster was tired. This had been a long, trying year. No, not the school year, he'd been teaching long enough that the school year wasn't a problem. And not even the calendar year, it was only June, so that's not even that long into the year. No, it had been a long year since that night. The night that he had come home, sent Megan, the babysitter, home and gone to bed, thinking everything in his life was great. He certainly hadn't expected to be woken up in the dark hours of the morning to hear that his wife had been killed by a drunken driver while on a business trip.

The school administration, his fellow teachers, neighbors, friends, even students had been wonderful and understanding. Helping him with the kids, with the house, with all the changes that had come into his life. Even so, for the past year he had changed, he was no longer the outgoing, fun-loving man that he had been. Instead of going out for an evening, he was much more likely to stay at home, spending time with his children and spending lonely hours in front of the television.

Finally though, that was starting to change. He had stopped in front of a mirror a few weeks ago and hardly recognized himself. He had put on weight, his clothes were a mess. Starting to care again, he became more careful about what he ate and what he fed his two children, he started to work out with the weights in his garage and get himself back into shape. He wasn't sure if anyone else noticed, nobody said anything to him about it, but he did start to feel good about himself again.

He felt so much like his old self, that he even decided that he would go out this weekend. He called a couple of his friends and made plans to go see the new Superman movie. Then, without really thinking about it, picked up the phone to call Megan, to see if she could watch the kids for him.

Megan had been one of his best students, so it had felt natural to ask her to babysit in the old days. The kids, Nathan and Brooke, loved her so she had become pretty much the regular babysitter anytime Jason and his wife weren't going to be home, so it seemed right to call her now. Jason couldn't remember the last time he had even seen Megan, she wasn't in his class this year, but he hoped she'd be available.

 

[MelancholyBaby]

I didn't recognize the number on that showed up on my cell phone; it was familiar yet I couldn’t place it. But once I heard the voice on the other end there was no mistaking who it was. Mr. Foster. It had been awhile since I had heard from him. We were fairly close...well, as close as a student/teacher and babysitter/parent can be. He and his wife were an adorable couple and they had two beautiful children that I loved like I would love my own siblings. But after his wife had been killed in a tragic accident he kind of dropped out of sight. I saw him around school sometimes but he seemed so sad…I didn’t want to be a reminder to him of the old days…of him and his wife coming home from fun evenings out…so I tried to avoid him...I just thought it was better that way.

But now he was calling me and asking me to sit for his children. I was thrilled as I had not seen Nathan and Brooke in what seemed like forever. And I was looking forward to seeing Mr. Foster as well. I hoped that he had started to heal…that he would become the old Mr. Foster again. I didn’t know how you got over something like that. Everytime he looked at her there was this great outpouring of love…I wanted to get married and be just like them.

But that was way off yet. I had just graduated from high school a few weeks ago and was eager to start college in the fall. I was fortunate that I lived in a city that housed a great university and I would be starting there and getting my own apartment. I wanted to try living on my own as I was a pretty independent and responsible girl. I could definitely use the extra money from the sitting job. We agreed on a day and time and I felt myself looking forward to being back in their house.

My friends always said I had a little crush on Mr. Foster. I’ll admit maybe I did. He was such a sweet guy…and the way he treated his wife and children…it was just beautiful to watch. I had never pictured myself with him, but now…No, it wouldn’t be right. He could never love anyone so deeply again…let alone me, a girl much younger than him.

Still I took special care in preparing myself that night. I wanted to look pretty…a little more grown up…yet responsible and like the nice girl he knew I was. As I stood at the door that night and waited for him to answer I silently prayed that the old Mr. Foster would answer the door…

 

[ManOSafety]

Jason

Getting ready for the movie, Jason slid into a pair of khakis that he hadn't been able to wear until the past couple of weeks along with a knit shirt. When he had told the kids that Megan was coming over, Nathan was excited because he remembered her and said that he'd missed her. Little Brooke said that she remembered Megan too, after her brother did, but you could tell that her little five year-old mind wasn't quite recalling the young woman.

He was reminding the kids about bedtime and how to behave for Megan when the doorbell rang. Going towards the door, for some reason, Jason started to feel like his lost self again, did he really want to go out and leave the kids like this? What if something happened to him?

Trying to shake off these feelings, he shakes his head and puts on his best "no really I'm OK thanks for asking" smile and opens the door.

"Megan! It's so good to see you again, I'm glad you were able to make it tonight, the kids are really excited." Just as he finishes saying that, two little blurs push past him.

"Megan! Megan! Megan!" chime out two little voices.

Brooke grabs Megan's hand and pulls her through the doorway, "Come and see my room."

Seeing the excitement on the faces of his children starts to ease some of Jason's concerns. The "smile" on his face begins to change to a genuine smile.

 

[MelancholyBaby]

Megan

I could tell when Mr. Foster opened thedoor he was not back to his old self. I could understand and I felt the deepest sympathy for him. He was a good man who didn't deserve what had happened to him. And neither did Brooke and Nathan. It broke her heart to think that their mother was gone. How terrible it must be to lose a parent.

I was just as excited to see Brooke and Nathan as they were to see me. I barely had time to acknowledge Mr. Foster before Brooke grabbed my hand and pulled me to her room. I smiled as I saw the Disney princesses grace her walls and bed...well, really everwhere in her room. She was so proud of her room.

"No fair! They didn't have stuff like this when I was your age!!" Brooke just giggled and ran toward her toy chest, pulling out a few Barbies. "Just a minute sweetie," I interrupted. "I've got to go talk to your Dad and your brother for a minute. As I remembered Nathan loved playing video games so I usually left him alone most of the time or I would hold Brooke and we would watch him play or join in. He was good, better than me. He always beat me.

Mr. Foster seemed more relaxed when I emerged from Brooke's room. His smile was one I recognized from long ago. I wasn't quite sure what to say to him. It was really a little late to express my sympathy but I wanted him to know I felt for him. Felt for him. What did I feel for him? Seeing him, his children...without a mother and wife, my heart went out to them. I wondered if I could help. Could fill the void, at least a little bit.

"Thanks so much for asking me to babysit, I've really missed Nathan and Brooke and it is good to see you again, too." I smiled warmly, reflecting the sincerity of my words. "Anything knew I need to know about? Bedtimes, snacks? Oh, and what time will you be home?

 

[ManOSafety]

Seeing Megan's smile reminded me that I had missed her also. Something about her smile, the way she carried herself, brought a vitality into the home, a vitality that had been missed even though he hadn't even realized it was gone. The recognition caused him to smile even more.

There was something else about Megan too, something he at first couldn't quite put his finger on. Something he thought he should recognize, but couldn't. Oh well, maybe it would come to him later, he thought.

"Bedtime is 8:30 since it's a weekend. I've left some money for a pizza. Other than that I can't think of anything. I'm sure the kids will tell you lots of things, but I trust you to do the right thing. The movie's supposed to be a long one, about three hours and I'm not sure if we'll do anything afterwards or not. So I guess I'll be home about 10:30, if not I'll call..."

As he was talking, he started to blush a little, he realized what it was about Megan that he had tried to remember. It wasn't actually Megan, but it was this girl he had seen pictures of. As a result of working out again and taking better care of himself, Jason had also found that his desire for sex had returned, but with no one around, he had found an outlet in on-line pornography and erotica. And one of his favorite photo series had been of a young woman, who, he now realized, looked an awful lot like Megan.

"Well, I'll have my cell phone if something comes up. If there's nothing else, I will see you later. Nathan! Brooke! Come tell Daddy goodbye."

 

[MelancholyBaby]

Megan

I nodded responsibly as Mr. Foster rattled off instructions. It tugged at my heart that I knew this must be one of the first times he was going out with friends after the accident. I was glad that he had good friends to help him through his time. He was such a sweet man and had always been to me, even in high school he always made me feel smart and pretty...in a non-creepy, non-leering way of course. I was looking forward to spending some time with him once the children were asleep, I didn't know what we would speak about or even if he would open up to me...but I had to try, I really did.

I smiled as I watched Nathan and Brooke rush past me, bombarding their father with kisses and hugs. I expected them to be overly clingy but they actually were very good about it. Children are so observant, I've noticed, much more than some adults. Perhaps they knew that their father needed to go out and play just as much as they did. I wanted to hug him just at that instant but I decided against it. Instead I called Nathan and Brooke to me. "Let's go outside and wave goodbye to Daddy." Taking their small hands in mine we made our way outside, following him. I knew then I couldn't hug him as much as I wanted to as the children were occupying my arms. "Have fun," we called out as we watched him get into his car as Nathan and Brooke waved energetically at their Daddy. He tooted the horn as he drove away and as he disappeared I walked with the children back into the house.

I chastised myself for even entertaining the idea that I might ask the children if he had a new lady friend in his life. Or how he was improving. I, of course, decided against it. I had to be as normal as possible about this, to provide some stability and consistiency to their already painful lives. I looked at the clock, it was nearing supper time so I ordered us some pizza (only pepperoni) and Brooke and I watched Nathan play his Play Station until the food got here. Brooke seemed to gravitate toward me, silently urging me to hold her. I felt myself holding back to tears as she snuggled up to me. How I wanted to help Nathan and Brooke, and yes; Mr. Foster, too.

The night was pretty uneventful, spending the rest of the time playing Barbies with Brooke while Nathan played his games. We were interrupted by Nathan's excited voice and footsteps. "Megan, I got a high score, come see!!!" I smiled as I ran behind him, Brooke trailing behind, as he pointed to the screen. "See, lookit! I even beat Dad!!"

"Hey, Mister, you rock! Give me a high five!" I felt his hand connect with mine and I couldn't help but reach down and hug him. "I'll make sure to tell your dad about that when he gets home, unless you want to tell him yourself tomorrow."

"No, I wanna tell him."

"Ok, superstar, that is awesome." I looked at the clock it was nearing 8:30. "Can I try?" Brooke and Nathan giggled as they watched me try to navigate my car around the track. I shook my head as I crashed into a wall. No, I wasn't pretending. I was really that bad.

Nathan came over to me, pointing the buttons out. "You gotta use this around the corners and this to go faster and..." I listened to his instructions and nodded.

"I'll practice tonight. Thanks for the advice, buddy." I kissed the top of his head. "You watch out though, I may catch up to you!" Nathan and Brooke laughed.

"No, even Daddy can't beat him," Brooke bragged. "He is the best," she said proudly.

I stood up. "Ok guys, you know what time it is, don't you?" They pleaded with me to stay up later, just as Mr. Foster had told me. "I'll come over again and we'll have fun another time, ok. You can't get rid of me that easily." I supervised the night-time activities, changing into pajamas, brushing teeth, washing face. And finally it was time to tuck them in. I went to Nathan's room first. "Buddy, you are awesome. It'll be hard for me not to tell your Dad how you beat him, but I promise I won't tell." I moved my fingers over my lips, simulating a zipper. He smiled up at me.

"Thanks for coming to see us, Megan."

"Thanks for being so much fun and for letting me come see you. I'll be back, I promise...and you better keep practicing your game because I'll be practicing, too." I kissed him lightly on the forehead and then the cheek and pulled his blue comforter over him. "Sleep tight, Buddy." I left the door open a crack as I always did, just in case they needed me, I could hear them.

I stepped into Brooke's pink room and I could tell getting her to bed would be a little more challenging. Finally I persuaded her to go to sleep, promising "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye" that I would be back. I kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. She was so precious. She didn't deserve this. None of them did. I felt my eyes start to tear up as I pulled the comforter over her and under her chin. "Good night, Angel," I whispered as she seemed to fall asleep almost instantly.

Usually I did my homework or something but tonight I really had nothing to do. As much as I wanted to snoop around the house I simply couldn't bring myself too. I ended up setting the phone on the table beside me and curling up under a quilt and watching CourtTv. I must have drifted off as I heard something and sat straight up. How long had I been sleeping for?

 

[ManOSafety]

Driving to meet his friends at the movie, Jason can't get the resemblance between Megan and that girl in his video off of his mind. He's watched it several times and even, ummm, relieved himself several times while watching it, but he had never thought of the resemblance until tonight. What is his problem? How can he be thinking of little Megan that way? She used to be his student for goodness sake. He shakes his head, trying to get her off of his mind, but instead all he sees is replays of that video, but it's no longer the girl that he sees, it's Megan.

Somewhat relieved, he gets to the theater and sees his friends. Talking to them, then watching the movie finally got his mind off of Megan. It was good to see the guys like this, to get together and actually have a good time. He didn't even feel guilty once during the night for leaving the kids. He was distracted by his friends, plus he knew they were in good hands.

After the movie, he and his buddies went out to get a drink and some nachos and finally said their goodbyes around 11. So it's almost 11:30 when he pulls into the driveway. Parking the car, he does start to wonder what Megan's been up to for the past 3 hours since putting the kids to bed, but fortunately, his mind does not take him down the pathway it did earlier.

Turning the key in the lock and opening the door, he calls out "It's just me." Loudly enough to be heard in the den, but hopefully not so loud as to wake the kids.

Making his way into the den, from which he can see the flickering blue light of a television. He smiles a bit to himself because Megan is sitting straight up, the bleary eyed look of someone who has just woken up on her face. "Hey Megan, so were they good for you?"

 

[MelancholyBaby]

Megan

My eyes struggled to open under the bright light of the TV. I tried to open them to look around when I heard Mr. Foster announce "It's just me." A little surge went through my veins just then and I was a little embrassed for him to see me awaken from a 3 hour nap. I had wanted to look more grown up. Prettier. And now I probably looked like a racoon with a ring of black around my eyes from my mascara. I tried to rub at them as I noticed Mr. Foster walk into the room.

The old Mr. Foster. My heart lept a bit in my chest as I recognized the sparkle in his eyes and the friendliness in his voice. It had been so long since I had seen that. I could tell he had a wonderful time tonight and I was so happy to see him begin to enjoy life again. Mr. Foster smiled at me and I smiled back, hoping mine did not appear too eager.

He walked up to me, sitting on the left side of the couch as I had sat up on the right side . "Hey Megan, so were they good for you?"

"Perfect angels, as usual." I opened my mouth to tell him of Nathan's high score when I remembered how he wanted to tell his Dad himself. Instead I just smiled, recalling all the events of the day. I didn't realize how much I had missed them, all of them; until tonight. "They are the absolute sweetest things in the whole world. We had lots of fun and I managed to get them in bed pretty close to their bedtime." I motioned toward the kitchen. "The change from the pizza is on the counter and there is some leftover pizza in the fridge too, if you're hungry." He didn't move yet so I decided to continue. "And how was *your* night, Mr. Foster? What did you end up doing?" I smiled at him and realized he was smiling at me, too. He had such a lovely smile. I remembered it from school and saw it just now...the life and vitality and warmth to it...and the way his eyes would smile too, and sparkle. He was just so alive. I felt happy just looking at him. Or perhaps I was feeling something more?

 

[ManOSafety]

Jason

Jason smiled as he listened to Megan talking about her evening with the children. He thinks about how responsible she is, making sure they were in bed close to the actual bed time, leaving him change, even making sure there is food for him if he's hungry. She's really not like the other girls her age, she never was. Not in class, not when she sat for them before, and certainly not now.

Without trying to be too obvious about it, he looks her over realizing that she's not really that girl from his class anymore either, she seems older, more mature somehow.

"Well," he begins, "we had a crazy night. First we went to Hooters, then to Cap'n Jack's where they were having a wet t-shirt contest, then we followed that up by going to 'The Dollhouse'," naming one of the more notorious stripjoints in town. When her eyes widen in surprise, he laughs.

"I'm sorry Meg, I was just teasing you." He puts a hand on her knee to reassure her, "We just went to see the new Superman movie and then to Gus's for nachos."

"I am glad you could watch the kids for me tonight, I think this was a good thing for me. What's your schedule like, maybe we could make this a regular thing?"

 

[MelancholyBaby]

Megan

As I talked to Mr. Foster about the children I began to wake up. It was strange to have Mr. Foster near me now, I was older and he was single. I chastised myself for thinking that. I couldn't think of getting involved, he needed a woman who could take care of the children and I was fresh out of high school, casually babysitting, preparing for college. But yet I knew that I would fit right in. I quickly dismissed the thought. Mr. Foster still sees me as a student. There is no way he could see me any other way, ever.

But my thoughts and opinion of Mr. Foster were quickly diminished as he recounted his night. No one went to Hooters for their food and Cap'n Jacks was a sleazy bar. And The Dollhouse? That was just sick. He was a pig, just like all the boys I went to school with except for they were too young to get into all of those places. I felt my eyes widen in surprise as I fully realized I had been completely wrong about him. And then he began to laugh.

"I'm sorry Meg, I was just teasing you." He puts his hand on my knee and I feel an itty bitty tingle going through my body. Perhaps it was his touch or my relief that I had, in fact, been somewhat right about him not being a pig. I had always worshipped him. I had always saw him as the standard of a man. I was so relieved. "We just went to see the new Superman movie and then to Gus's for nachos. I am glad you could watch the kids for me tonight, I think this was a good thing for me. What's your schedule like, maybe we could make this a regular thing?"

I smiled. Of course, I would be crazy not to watch the children. Have fun with them and get paid for it at the same time? Count me in, I would have done it for free! I tried to not appear too anxious as I pursed my lips, pretending I was thinking. "This summer I really don't have much going on. I was going to look for a summer job but watching Brooke and Nathan would be a lot more fun than waiting tables or something." I reached for my purse which I had placed on the end table near the couch. I pulled out a piece of paper and quickly jotted down my cell number. "Just call me at this number whenever you need me to come over." My hand brushed Mr. Foster's as I handed him the slip of paper. "I really missed you guys," my voice softening. I hadn't meant to say that. But I had to. I had to tell him that I did value my relationship with the children as well as with him.

 

[ManOSafety]

Jason Foster

"Just call me at this number whenever you need me to come over. I really missed you guys."

That's what he heard Megan say, but something about the words and the way that her fingers brushed against his hand as she handed him the number distracted him. Did she just mean it like it sounded, or did she mean more?

My god, what is wrong with him, he cannot seriously be thinking that a girl like Megan, a girl who was once one of his students could even possibly think of him like that. Megan was one of the good girls, he's certain she wouldn't be, would she? With an internal shake of his head, he gets those thoughts out of his mind, just focusing on the innocence of her words.

"Well I know that Brooke and Nathan would be excited to see you more often. They've been telling me that I am boring. This might seem strange, but if you want to stop by tomorrow afternoon, I'm sure they'd be happy. We'll probably just be in the pool. It's not to babysit or anything, just if you want to see them..."

 

[MelancholyBaby]

Megan

I couldn't believe I heard Mr. Foster's words correctly. He was asking me to come over. Not to babysit but to be with them. With Nathan and Brooke and, yes, Mr. Foster. The thought of him in his swim trunks flashed through my mind. I shook it away and wondered if he had seen the struggle within me as I was sure I had moved in some way. I tried to keep my voice from sounding too excited. But I was young and unrehearsed. My experience with boys was minimal. So of course I would get giddy at the thought of something that could very very roughly be considered a date. Very roughly, actually.

"Ohhh, Mr. Foster, I'd love that!! We had so much fun tonight and I really missed them and you and yes, I'd really like that." I felt my cheeks flush and turn red as I looked up at him. "Thank you, Mr. Foster." I didn't know what to say next. It was probably so obvious to him that I had a crush on him. It probably always had been. "Well, it's late. I should probably be getting home now. What time would be good for tomorrow?" I gathered my purse up and rummaged around for my car keys. I didn't want to leave.

My mind raced at that instant. I wondered what it would be like for us to come in and pay a different babysitter to watch Nathan and Brooke while we went out. And then to disappear into Mr. Foster's bedroom. I had only been in there once. Next time I would go in there. I would look around. I must. I had to know. I wanted to smell his scent on his sheets. I wanted to feel what he felt when he went to sleep. I wanted him to come home and find me in his bed. I... I've got to stop myself. This was Mr. Foster and he wasn't like that. But I wanted him to be like that. So very much...

 

[ManOSafety]

Jason Foster

The excitement and giddiness of Megan's response throws Jason for a bit of a loop, he thought he was just being nice, but the way she started to babble and then the extremely cute way she blushed made him wonder what was happening here.

"Oh, whenever you can get here. Tomorrow's a lazy day for us, we'll just be sleeping in and laying around the house. So unless you plan on waking us up, don't be here before lunch. I've got some steaks and burgers in the fridge that we'll probably be having for dinner, if you're here that late you're welcome to join us."

As Megan fumbles in her purse, Jason looks at her again, remembering the girl in his video who Megan reminds him of. In his mind, he starts to wonder what Megan would look like sucking someone's cock or screaming in ecstasy as she's beeing fucked. Then, strangely, he starts to feel jealous. He's sure that some boy from the school has seen that, has been there. Gathering his thoughts, he remembers that this is Megan, she's a sweet girl, a good girl, surely she hasn't done those things, but if she has...

Against his will, his cock starts to think for itself and these thoughts of Megan are exciting him. He starts to fill with blood, the bulge in his pants growing, and unfortunately maybe becoming more obvious.

 

[MelancholyBaby]

Megan

I smiled, absolutely delighted by his invitation. I stood up, my keys in hand and purse slung over my shoulder. “Who gets up before noon during the summer, anyway?” I asked, smiling widely at him. “I’ll be over sometime in the afternoon. Don’t have too much fun till I get over here.” I didn’t want to go home but yet I did. I wanted to be in my own bed, to look outside my window at the stars and try to analyze just what I was feeling for Mr. Foster. And the sooner I went to bed the sooner it would be tomorrow and the sooner I could be playing in the pool with Brooke and Nathan and Mr. Foster. I stood awkwardly before him, wanting to hug him but unwilling to be too forward. Instead I just headed to the door. I turned around before I exited. “You know, it was really a lot of fun being with you again. I mean “you” collectively, not just you.” I was frustrated at how I was getting tongue tied. Maybe he would just attribute it to me being sleepy and not that I got all flustered taking to him. I smiled as I stepped out of the door into the night.

The drive back to my house wasn’t a long drive, it only seemed so. I didn’t like driving at nighttime, especially when I had a lot on my mind. Why couldn’t I have a crush on someone my age? Someone I actually had a chance with? I hit my hand dejectedly on the steering wheel as I waited at the light which seemed red for an eternity. And now I was going to be around him more and more. I would probably watch as he got a girlfriend, watch as the kids began to accept and love her…and knowing it would not be me.

This was silly. I was much too young to be attracted to a widower with children. But yet I was. I finally arrived home; my parents had left the light on for me. They were so thoughtful. Such good parents. Just like Mr. Foster. The house was dark except for the hall light and I made my way up the stairs to my room. As I slipped out of my tee and jeans and into my pajamas I stared at myself in the mirror. I wondered if he would think I was attractive. Had he noticed I didn’t have much of a chest? Did he think I was pretty? And…what kind of bathing suit would I wear? I hadn’t thought of that at all!

I slid my pajama top down around my slender frame and pulled the shorts around my waist. I climbed into bed, my thoughts settling into a happy closed-eyes-but-still-awake dream of Mr. Foster.

 

[ManOSafety]

Jason Foster

As he says goodbye to Megan and tells her that whenever she wants to come by tomorrow will be fine, he cannot get his mind off of those thoughts he was having earlier. He's surprised at how angry he feels at the thought of her with some boy her age. Some little twerp who doesn't know what he's doing, fumbling with his hands, mauling poor little Megan, roughly handling her firm breasts and tight ass, unable to control himself and cumming too quickly, not having any clue how to bring pleasure to her.

After watching her walk out to her car and get in and drive off ok, Jason shuts and locks the door, turning off the outside light. Looking in on the kids again, he makes his way to his room. His thoughts continue to pursue these new thoughts of Megan, what is his problem? What is going on with him?

Going into the bathroom, taking out his contacts, brushing his teeth, his mind keeps running images of Megan, but not the Megan from his class, not the Megan who watches his kids, a naked Megan, a sexual Megan. Stepping back into the bedroom, he pulls off his polo shirt and tosses it into the hamper, his khakis soon following. His cock is hard and throbbing in his boxers, as ashamed as he is to know that it's these forbidden thoughts that are causing it.

He slides his boxers off and lays on the bed, he starts to put in the dvd with the girl that reminds him of Megan, but realizes he doesn't need it. Closing his eyes, he imagines her here with him. But again, it's not the Megan that he knows, this is an aggressive Megan, a Megan who is taking control. She's kneeling between his legs, wrapping a hand around his shaft and jerking it as she starts to lick the head of his cock. Slowly she slides her mouth around the head of his cock and then takes more and more of him into her mouth, finally taking all 7" of his cock into her mouth.

With a groan and surprised that it's so quick, Jason cums. Instead of filling Megan's mouth like in his mind, he shoots his sticky cum all over his chest and stomach. Quickly embarassed by what he was thinking, he cleans himself up, slipping back into his boxers and into bed for a restless night's sleep.