Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 08:56:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Tales of a Real Dark Knight Chapter 45 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!! Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. Star Trek and all related characters created by Gene Roddenberry. Copyright Paramount Studios. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!! Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter you are commenting on. Thanks. jmsotc@yahoo.com Chapter 45 Sensitive Moments "What's the problem?" Garrett asked. "Do you know who Lord Bortos is?" "Sounds familiar, but I will have to do some research. Why do you ask?" "Because Batman and I just battled a group of Kailiff who are working for a Lord Bortos. He supposedly has been around for a while and dislikes humanity a bunch." "Let's go to the library and find out." As we walked down his hallway, Garrett said, "By the way, Eric, Lance is looking for you. He did not say what it was about. Perhaps you should call him." "I don't know how well that would go over with his friends." "Why do you say that?" the Huntress asked. "Because JC told Justin about everything. And Justin, who came to me as a patient, got very angry at me." "Do you blame him?" "No, I don't." We arrived in the library and Garrett immediately went to his far wall, which contained most of his very old books. He skimmed the bindings until he came across one and pulled it out. He flipped through the pages and stopped, beginning to read an excerpt out loud. "And the darkness of evil grew to covered the earth, threatening to devour all mankind. Bortos, Lord of all that which is unholy, slaughtered hundreds....I guess we found our man." "What is he?" Jessica asked. "It doesn't say." "Is there a picture of him?" "No." "Great! We don't know what he looks like, what he is, or anything! This is going to be a challenge! I guess next time out we follow the bad guys." "Looks like it." Garrett returned his book to the shelf. "I'll continue researching. Perhaps there is another volume that contains in detail more of what he had done in the past. There may be some reference to what he is and how to stop him." "Let's hope so." "I don't know about you two, but I'm anxious to get home," I said. "And talk to Lance." Jessica smiled. "I really need to get a shower." I turned and headed toward the door. Jessica was not too far behind me. "Eric, what's up? Don't you like Lance? Don't you think he's cute?" "Lance is wonderful! He's gorgeous and sweet. I could not want anything more in a guy. But I'm not quite ready yet to date. I've been through much, as you well know. And I know the dangers of getting too involved with someone right now. I'm not saying that Lance and I don't have a future. It's a good possibility. But right now, all I need are friends." With that I left. I couldn't say anything else. True I was over what I had with Justin. And I was on the mend with the rape. I still had a little bit of fear due to Aaron and his idea of love, the jerk. And I didn't want my insecurity to drive Lance, or anyone else, away. I still had some healing to do. And I knew that I would. I returned home and went to bed. In the morning, I went straight into work. When I got there, I found David waiting for me. He was in tears. "David! What's wrong?" "Mike is in the hospital! He had to be rushed there early this morning!" I turned to my assistant. "Debbie. Have Dr. Allison get down here right away, please." "Sure." "Let's go in my office, David." I took him in and he sat down on the couch. "What happened?" "We were...having sex...and he started to have trouble breathing. When he started to get cold and turn blue, I freaked. He was still conscious, but very cold. I called 9-1-1 and the ambulance came and rushed us to the hospital." "Is he there now?" "Yeah." "Okay. I'll come with you to see him." "Thanks, Eric." My intercom buzzed. "Eric?" I went over and pressed the button. "Yes, Debbie?" "Dr. Allison is here." "I'll be right out." I turned to David. "I'll be right back." He nodded. I went out to meet Dr. Allison. "Hello, Doctor. I have a patient who is very stressed out about a lover being in the hospital. I would like to go with him to the hospital to help him adjust if I can." "All right. Who is on your morning schedule?" I turned to Debbie. She immediately knew what I wanted, pulled out the schedule and handed it to Dr. Allison. He looked over it. "They are all people who have seen the other doctors as well. There won't be a problem." "Thanks, Doctor." I went back into my office. "Let's go, David. I freed up my morning." "Thanks, Eric." We left and got to the hospital not too much later. I followed David to Michael's room. David took a deep breath at the sight of Michael with all kinds of equipment hooked up to him. He gave his sly smile that would melt anyone's heart. I did what I could to hold back my own tears. "Hi, Mike." He attempted to say hi but it came out raspy. David went over to him and stood next to Mike's bed. His hand grabbed Mike's and my heart took a picture. This would make a good advertisement for gays. Lust would not act this compassionate. Love would. Lust would not be so humble and emotional. Love would. Too bad that we live in a society where we have to come up with the best scene possible to advertise that we are just like straight people in our love. I sat with David and Mike as the doctors came in and checked Mike out. I talked with David about anything and everything except what he was feeling. It wasn't so much that he needed my professional opinion for this situation. I think just the fact someone he trusted was present to support him through it was what he needed. When 11:00 came around, a nurse came in to inform Mike that lunch was coming around 12:00 and asked if David and I would be staying. "No, I don't think I can stay. I have classes to go to. But I will come back later tonight to see them." David looked at me. I could tell he didn't want me to leave. I smiled at him to say, "It will be okay". The nurse left. "I will see you gentlemen later. I must go." Mike waved bye to me and David said goodbye. I stepped out of the room and, not too much later, David joined me. "I don't think I can do this, Eric. It's too much. I can't deal. This is too hard for me." "Everything will be fine, David. You and Mike need some time to talk, to be with each other. I will be back later to check on you. Everything will be fine." I grabbed David and brought him close hugging him tight as if the tighter I hugged him the more of my strength would be given to him. I released him and headed off to college reluctantly. When I arrived on campus, I found George and Hailey walking to class. I said hi to them but nothing more. Everyone was still dealing with everything that had happened: Hunter's suicide, Dr. Israel's actions that brought about Hunter's suicide. It was all on everyone's mind. Classes went by without incident, but students were still quiet. The debate from the day before kind of put everyone on edge. The issue was a split issue. And everyone was afraid to speak because no one could trust his or her words would not offend anyone. As much as there were those who had deep beliefs, they were also surprisingly considerate in that they didn't want to offend. The silence was refreshing. When classes were over, Alan met up with me. "Eric, can I talk with you?" "Sure, Alan. About what?" "About what happened with Hunter. It's still kind of bothering me and I was wondering if I could bend your ear for a little while." I remembered David and Mike in the hospital, but Alan was a friend and needed to talk. "Of course you can bend my ear. Where would you like to talk?" "Anywhere is fine." Alan and I went to a coffee shop and sat at a little table in the corner. "I'm worried." "About what, Alan?" "I don't know. Everything. It seems that I've gone through a lot more stuff than I cared to go through. I didn't want Hunter to take his life. I wish I would have known. Maybe I could have helped him." "Don't do this to yourself. There's no use going over all the 'what ifs'. It will only bother you all the more. It will only hurt you. Hunter didn't do this to hurt us, as much as it does. His intentions were to be free of the pain that Dr. Israel was causing. No doubt he had a lot of self-hatred. Being told you are evil because of something you are born with does nothing good for your self-esteem." "Do you believe all that Dr. Israel said? You know, about homosexuality being a choice or that someone can be changed?" "No. One cannot control whom they are attracted to. And as far as being changed, genetic manipulation is the only way, and that has not been perfected. It's not safe to mess with DNA and gene sequencing. It's very delicate and tricky work. Not recommended." "Still. Dr. Israel spouting off those platitudes kind of makes you wonder why people are allowed to say such stuff when it's not possible. Isn't that like lying?" "It seems like it. But if you truly believe something, even though a majority of others do not, does that mean your belief is false?" Alan hesitated a moment. "I guess not. Because what you believe is real to you." "That's right. People have an argument or experience. I know for me, personally, that I've had experiences with things that others don't believe exist." "Like what?" "Well, I have always had a great love for God since I was little. And my family was never seriously into God. My parents never took me to church. They never mentioned God. It was only when there was trouble that they would pray, and then it was when they were alone. But I've always had an intense love for God. All I can say is He must have put it in me." Alan sat quiet for a moment. I was hoping that was enough of an example without me going into anything else. I could mention my experiences in dealing with demons, which many people don't believe exist, but that would get into rocky territory, territory I was not ready to explore with him, or anyone else. It would lead to things I'd rather not mention. "Do you think committing suicide is wrong?" A question I wasn't ready to answer to anyone. Suicide is such a tricky subject. "Suicide is like running from your problems, at least in my eyes. I wouldn't want to commit suicide. For me it's wrong to do. As much of the coward that I am, doing myself in is something I could never do. People have their own reasons and beliefs concerning suicide." "When are you going to say something that will make me feel better about what happened to Hunter?" I looked into his eyes. He was seriously searching for something that would give some kind of relief. My heart went out for him. "The only good thing for Hunter right now is that the trauma he suffered from Dr. Israel's treatments and counseling is over. He can never be hurt by Dr. Israel or anyone else who hates homosexuals. It doesn't lessen our pain of missing him. And it ends any chance of him changing the future for the better. Now it falls to us, his friends, to make sure his death isn't in vain." "How can we do that? We are supposed to carry what he put in us. But I can't show any kind of mercy or love right now. All I feel is anger and hate. I feel nothing good. What can I do?" "Let your grief run its course." Alan wiped a tear from his eye. I put my hand out and he looked at it, then at me. Finally he took it and I squeezed. "Everything will work out, Alan. It will take time, and we will never be the same, but life will work out." Alan and I just sat there letting our strength flow to each other, being a support for each other. An hour later, I was on my way to the hospital to see David and Michael. When I arrived David and Mike were eating. "Hey," David said, his face lighting up at my presence. "Hi, Eric," Michael replied. "Hi, guys. How goes it?" "Okay," David said with relief. "Mike can come home tomorrow." "Good. I'm glad to hear it." "Me, too," Mike said. A knock came at the door and it slowly opened. "Lance!" David said with surprise. I turned around and it was all I could do to keep my jaw from dropping. "Hi, David." "Lance, this is Michael Cuccione. He's my boyfriend." "Nice to meet you, Michael. I watch your show sometimes. It's funny." "Thanks," Michael replied. Lance turned to me. "Can I talk to you, Eric?" "Sure." I turned to David and Michael. "I'll be right back, guys." I followed Lance out into the hall. "Let's walk," he said, so we walked down the hall. "I've been trying to talk to you since you left the hotel." "Yeah?" "Yeah. I wanted to tell you that the guys are not mad about what happened, you know, you not telling Justin about everything. Well, let me rephrase that. They are mad, but they are not holding a grudge. They hope that you will be more honest with them upfront instead of waiting for a while. And that disappearing stuff where you don't come around for a couple months. We want that to stop, too." "Okay," I said in as unemotional voice as I could. I was trying so hard not to be emotional at the moment. I'm sure you are wondering why. It's because I knew how Lance felt and I was not ready for a relationship with anyone, even if I wanted to be in one, I could not do it. Not yet. "Is something wrong, Eric?" "No. Nothing is wrong." "Then why are you acting like this?" "Like what?" "Like you don't care one lick about us." "Us?" I asked. Was he referring to him and I? "About us guys, you know the band. You were such a great help to us, so open and trustworthy. You saved our lives from a bloodthirsty vampire who would not have hesitated to drink from all of us. Now you are acting as if it's something you deal with everyday, like saving someone's life is ordinary. Worse yet, you are treating us like people you don't know. What's up with that?" To Be Continued... Am I bad or what? I'm sure some of you are frustrated about me ending this chapter here. I know, I'm bad! Ha, ha, ha! Don't worry, there will be more. Lots more. I'm going to try and devote the next chapter to nothing but Lance and Eric talking, beginning a friendship. And don't worry, you haven't seen the last of the X-MEN. Even a favorite will be showing up soon.