"Joseph?" He heard Owens say from outside his door.

"Yes sir?" Tyler replied quietly.

Owens opened the door to find tyler sitting on his bed, strands of hair all around him.

"Look, I know this Dun thing has been really hard on you," Owens said. "But I really, really appreciate you not letting it impact your numbers. I um... I thought you might want this," he said, pulling Tyler's phone out of his pocket and handing it to him.

"O-oh, t-thanks," Tyler said.

He hadn't seen his phone for five months.

Since Josh moved.

"Dun has his, too," Owens said with a slight smile.

"Ok," Tyler said. "Wait... what?!"

"Yeah," Owens said. "But, you cannot let anyone, and I mean anyone, know you have the phone. Both of our asses will be dead if someone finds out."

Tyler quickly nodded. "T-thank you, sir."

"You have an hour with it," Owens said. "Call him. Don't let your time go to waste," he said with a smile.

Tyler quickly nodded, and Owens started walking out of the room. "Oh, and Joseph?"

"Y-yes sir?"

"Take care of yourself. I don't like seeing you like this," he said.

Tyler nodded. "Yes sir."

Owens closed the door and Tyler quickly turned on his phone for the first time.

30 missed calls from Josh, 14 missed texts.

Joshua💕: baby

Joshua💕: baby, I've missed you so much.

Joshua💕: please answer me, honey.

Joshua💕: it's been hell without you.

Joshua💕: I love you so much, Tyler.

Joshua💕: so, so much, Tyler.

Joshua💕: you're the love of my life.

Joshua💕: I wouldn't trade you for anything.

Joshua💕: call me when you can, baby.

Joshua💕: please

Joshua💕: I have to hear your voice

Joshua💕: just for my sanity

Joshua💕: I love you so so so much, Ty

Joshua💕: call me when you can

Tyler immediately called Josh, his boyfriend picking up within the first ring.

"Baby???" Josh asked.

"Hi, Joshua," Tyler smiled, tears already rolling down his cheeks.

"Oh, Tyler..." Josh said into the phone. "I've missed you so much, love."

"I've missed you more, J," Tyler said, wiping his tears with his hands. "I love you so much."

"I love you more, Ty," Josh said. "Maybe we could find a way to meet up."

Tyler's eyes widened. "Yes. Please, Joshie. We have to. I have to see you."

"Tonight, baby," Josh said. "I remember exactly how to get back to the base. It's only a couple miles away. I'll meet you in the forest area about a mile behind it."

It was a huge risk, but it was completely worth it to both boys.

"What time?" Tyler asked.

"As soon as we have to give our phones back," Josh said. "That way we don't have to hurry back to be on time."

"Sounds perfect, Joshie."

"I'm gonna kiss you so hard," Josh chuckled breathily.

Tyler laughed for the first time in nine months. "Please do, baby. Please do."

"I'm in love with you," Josh smiled into the phone.

"I'm in love with you too, Joshua," Tyler grinned.

"How's that jackass Murphy holding up?" Josh said.

"He's uh... he's actually being kinda nice. The first night he came in and apologized, I screamed at him, called him disgusting and a lowlife, and now he comes in once or twice a day to ask if I need anything. He covers for me a lot, too," Tyler said.

"At least he's being nice to you," Josh sighed.

"Yeah. But, enough about him. More about us," Tyler smiled softly.

Josh grinned widely and chuckled. "What about us?"

"How've you been?" Tyler asked.

"Absolute hell without you."

"It's been hell without you, Joshua."

"Please tell me you've been taking care of yourself, baby," Josh's said.

"The best that I can, J," Tyler sighed. "What about you? Are you getting enough sleep."

"Four or five hours a night."

"That's not enough, babe," Tyler sighed.

"I know, i know. It's just... I can't sleep without knowing I can take a few steps and be in your room and protect you. I hate it."

"I love you, Joshua. I promise you, I'm safe."

About thirty minutes later, Josh said Owens pulled up outside his house to take his phone back.

"Remember, baby, in the forest about a mile behind the unit," Josh said.

"I got it, baby. As soon as I give him my phone, I'm leaving. I'll see you soon, love. Be careful."

"You too, honey. Love you so so so much," Josh said.

"Love you more, Joshie."

"See you soon, Ty."

And with that, Josh hung up.

About fifteen minutes later, Owens showed up to his own unit.

"Enjoy your time?" He asked as Tyler sighed, handing him his phone.

"More than you could ever know," Tyler said. "Really General, thank you."

Owens smiled slightly and nodded. "Keep is the good work and you could have it again in as soon as a month. Maybe even for two hours."

Tyler smiled and nodded. "Thank you, sir."

"Get some sleep," Owens said, walking out of the room.

Tyler ran to the window to watch Owens drive away, making sure he was completely gone.

And, when he was, he put on shoes and snuck out, making the mile hike behind the forest.

He'd see his love soon.