Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:04:56 -0700 (PDT) From: T. Chase McPhee Subject: Adventures In Nature 16 The story below is a work of fiction, set in the format of reality. Any resemblances to real people, alive or in the hereafter, is entirely coincidental in nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon persons, in towns, cities, countries, nor governmental areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then you should not read this story. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age, in most state and countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by law. Check with your local laws regarding such. % Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use protection. % Adventures In Nature 16 wriTten by T. Chase McPhee % "I got here as soon as I could!" "Oh thank God!" Tom says out loud, immediately closing in on the comfort of Ethan's embrace. "What all happened with Kev?" Ethan asks, already clued in by Tom's face, the red eyes, tear stains on his face. "I feel like a total fuckin' idiot for blaming him on not being at work." It didn't at all occur to Tom it wasn't closing time for Barr's & Bridges. Even so, Ethan tells him, "I made a call to Chad. He ran right over to the store." Like he never said, Tom tells him, "Ethan, Kev is really a mess. He.. he's.... fuck, I don't know what I'm gonna do if he doesn't make it out of surgery." "Surgery?" Ethan asks, trying to piece together the little information he received on the phone and the bits exposed now. "Yeah. The beating he received might have created internal injuries as well. Ethan, I'm scared. Kev is like all the family I have." Ethan had hoped he could be included in the numbers, but for now, Tom inviting him into his life at a time like now could be a step in that direction. He threw in a hint, "You got me." He didn't know what the implications were, but for now he was satisfied he was being loved back as their arms tackled each other. "Excuse me. Mr. Letterli?" In walked Detective Crew, by himself. "Yes?" Tom answered, but Ethan showed more interest. "Detective Crew. We met at the crime scene?" Sideswiping the second round of introductions, Ethan's alpha male shows through as he sticks out his hand, shaking the detectives, offering, "Ethan Keratis." "Family?" Crew questioned him as if an interrogation. "Friend," Ethan replied, but added, "but things could change." But Tom was not so jovial, stating, "You have something for us?" Ethan caught the plural. "Could very well be," Crew replied. Ethan suggested taking this to the hospital cafeteria, but Tom insisted on staying as close to the surgical wing as possible. Crew delved in, telling them, "Kevin is a very lucky boy. Others have not met with such a favorable outcome." Before either Tom or Ethan could ask what he was talking about, Josh says, "Seems we have a string of crimes setting a pattern as to how we found Kevin." "This has happened before?" Tom asks, sinking down into his chair, Ethan squatting next to him. "Undoubtedly. Not around here, but there is a trail of rape victims, leading from the coast up into the interior of the state, Kevin being the latest victim. Only variation here, is Kevin lived." "So far," Tom adds, before breaking down, tears filling his eyes. Ethan informs Detective Crew, "I think we should hold off on the questioning for now." It wasn't a request, but more like a dictated order. Something which gave Crew a tingling sensation in his loins. "Sure. We can talk about it tomorrow," then trailing off, "or whenever.... yes, well I better get going back over to the environmental center. We're still looking for clues." Rising up, Ethan bid the detective farewell, adding a cordial smile, nothing too cheery asking, "Got a card?" Digging into his jacket pocket, Crew hands it to Ethan saying, "Thanks you for your time, Mr. Keratis." % "Excuse me, but is Mr. Keratis still around?" Being off for nearly two weeks on vacation, Chad hadn't realized the changes, until an employee had asked a question. Fortunately, this young guy had been one of the employees sure to never forget their ID badge. "He had to leave in a hurry." Alert, Jake noticed Chad eyeing up the left side of his chest. "We haven't met. I'm Jake Kallis." Chad couldn't help but smile and accept the hand of the cordial young man. "Mr. Barr," he responded. "Oh, so there really is a Mr. Barr?" Looking confused, Jake adds, "Is there a Mr. Bridges?" He knew Jake wasn't being nosy. "My partner," Chad reveals. Still in the closet, Jake wasn't sure he wanted to ask, so just hinted in an assuming manner, "Like in business partners." "Um, in more ways than one," Chad simply stated it. Getting the message, Jake looks around before saying, "I'm gay too, but one of those guys still in the closet." Not wanting to embarrass the kid, Chad smiled, even though he wanted to laugh his ass off. "Well you're secret is safe with me, Jake. Now is there a reason you wanted to see Mr. Keratis?" "He would understand, but I'm kind of embarrased to tell you." If Chad looked confused before, now he looked doubly so. "Is it something about being gay you want to ask me about. I'm open for debate, if...." "No. Nothing like that Mr. Barr. You see, the other night after Ethan... I mean Mr. Keratis locked up, he was ready to leave. Instead he backed up and found me standing outside my car. I had locked my keys inside. He was nice enough to help me get into my car." There was still something missing. Chad stood there, waiting for the final cadence. "I'm so stupid. I locked them in my car again!" As Chad walked Jake to the back of the store, headed for the stockroom to find something to jimmy the door open, he responded to Jake, "I hardly think you are dumb. After all you are working for Barr's & Bridges. Um, just where do you work?" "Cashier. I'm good at math and computers. I'm like a loser when it comes to lifting weight," Jake filled Chad in in almost one breath. Then, off onto some small chat, Chad asks, "You're in high school?" "Yeah. I'm a junior. I got one more year then I'm off to experience life as I want to." Rummaging through a junk draw, Chad asks, "And what's keeping you from living life the way you want to now?" "Being gay and having parents who think it's a sin." "Oh," is all Chad replied, hearing the same predicament regurgitated over and over. "I suppose you're just busting to be out there in the gay world and yet confined to the thoughts and desires of someone else, because they're holding your room and board over your head?" "That's the gist of it. But when I get to college I'm going to break loose. Start life all over again. Being the person I want to be." "Sounds like a plan," Chad said, working a twisted up coat hanger out of the draw, saying, "I don't know what this is doing here." Giggling, Jake replies, "It's the same coat hanger Ethan.... I mean Mr. Keratis used the last time this happened to me." "Did Mr. Keratis say it was alright for you to address him as Ethan?" "I suppose. I think maybe he meant if I ever wanted to talk to him about home life and stuff. I feel funny calling him Ethan around the store," Jake logically presented, pressing his glasses up onto his nose. "Same goes for me. The name's Chad," Chad reintroduced himself, adding, "Now let's go see if I'm as talented with a coat hanger as Mr. Keratis!" % ©2008 T. Chase McPhee This story may not be sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author. Other stories by T. Chase McPhee TOUGHING IT OUT 'NEW'! nifty/gay/authoritarian/toughing-it-out ROAD TRIP nifty/gay/authoritarian/road-trip/ FOR SALE BY OWNER nifty/gay/highschool/for-sale-by-owner/ FRIENDLY PERSUASION nifty/gay/authoritarian/friendly-persuasion/ DOWNSIDE UP nifty/gay/authoritarian/downside-up MUSCLE JOCKS FOR DOMINATION nifty/gay/authoritarian/muscle-jocks-for-domination/ 5b & 6c nifty/gay/beginnings/5b-6c/ FOR THE LOVE OF MICHAEL nifty/gay/highschool/for-the-love-of-michael/ SENIOR CUT DAY nifty/gay/highschool/senior-cut-day/ STRIPEs nifty/gay/adult-youth/stripes/ iCONS nifty/gay/beginnings/icons OLD-FASHIONED GOOD WILL nifty/gay/beginnings/old-fashioned-good-will/ TIDELIGHT ZONE nifty/gay/adult-friends/tidelight-zone/ BUFFALO BOYS nifty/gay/authoritarian/buffalo-boys/ OUT IN THE WILD, WILD WEST nifty/gay/celebrity/out-in-the-wild-wild-west/ CHRONICLES OF MARK SASSOON nifty/gay/authoritarian/chronicles-of-mark-sasson/