Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 09:27:44 -0400 (EDT) From: T Chase Subject: Nature Walk 36 The following story is a work of fiction set in the format of reality. Any resemblance to real people is entirely coincidental in nature, and is not meant to accurately reflect persons in towns, cities, or governmental areas, in which the story is staged. If sexual scenes 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 states and countries, you are not allowed to read this by law. This is fiction. Don't forget, in real life, to think about 'sexual safety matters'; got condom? "Nature Walk" 36 (M/t oral) wriTten by T. Chase McPhee % "Daddy, is Mr. Donovon in heaven?" "I would think so, with all the free stuff he gave away!" Chad replies. "You don't get into heaven for just being good like that, Chad." "Oh, I guess you've been a good little boy and have gone to Sunday school, Matty?" "Look, I'm no authority on the subject, but I know it's more than doing your good deed for the day!" Philip adds, in Matty's defense, "He's gotta do stuff like pray too, right Matty?" "Yup, you're right, Squirt." Seemed like a good start, so Matty took Philip up on the offering. "Well, look," Chad continued, "nobody prayed before we ate, so does that mean we're all going to...to the 'hot place'?" Chad's lucky that Bernice had gone to the kitchen to help Alberto clean up. Matty knew his mom wouldn't coddle up to an attitude like Chad's, for one moment. "Um, Chad, don't you think there is at least a God?" "Why? Do you Sean?" "Sure. How else would I have wound up with an understanding dad, instead of rotting away in some orphanage, plus I got myself a real man to love," Sean spelled out. Diego says, "Yeah and I got me a man to love too," putting his arm around Frankie and hugging him. "Isn't that right, Frankie?" "Yup," Frankie agreed, not really sure what he thought, but he really liked Diego a lot, so maybe. "I'm just not sure about all this God and Jesus stuff, okay?" "I think that's a fair enough answer," Jacq stated, more as if he advised a patient. "Dad, can we go home?" "Yeah, we want to finish our Monopoly game." "I guess, but before we leave, make sure you say 'ankthay ouyay' to Aunt Bernice!" "Dad, you know how to speak that pig latin?" Aidan asks. Steve replies to his son, "Well, it's not tough to figure out." "Steve, do me a favor?" "Sure Barry. What?" "Stick to English, please?" "No problem, arrybay! Hee hee heeee!" "Oooh Gawd!" Barry answers, shaking his head. "I know the feeling," Matty directs to Barry. % "So you say that Noah jumped right behind the register and starting taking customers?" "That's right, Gary," Patrick reported, "this guy, who I thought kind of cute, puts in his ID, well not his ID, this girl's ID and Noah starts scanning stuff like he's done it all his life!" Gary picked up on the 'kind of cute' usage by Patrick. He figured while it was only the three of them there, Mike having been called to report, that he would pry and see where it led. "So, you thought this guy cute, Patrick?" "Cute?" "Yeah, you described the guy that helped Noah, as 'cute'." "Okay, Uncle Gary," Zach said, gesturing the 'T' signature with his hands, "Time out." Patrick looked at Zach, whom knew more than he did of what Gary fished for. "Huh?" "Listen Uncle Gary, ever since this morning, Noah and I have been trying to figure out something about Patrick." "Oh thaaaat!" Patrick says, now knowing what this is all about. "I think I can handle this, Zack." "Sure, Patick?" "Yeah. It's about me and I think I can relay to Uncle Gary... is it alright I call you that?" "Sure, Patrick. As you were saying?" "Okay. I wasn't sure about myself and this, but here goes. I think it came out about me because of Noah stripping his clothes." "Noah? No clothes?" "Yeah, and Zack too. But Noah seems more open about not worrying if anybody sees him stripped down to his briefs." Zach ventures forth, "I would say further than that!" "Well yeah. I mean he didn't think anything of standing there with his... his..." "His cock and balls hanging out, Patrick?" Zach helps out. "Um, yeah and well.... I kinda kept staring." "So, you have an interest in the male physique, in other words, Patrick?" "More than an interest just to look, Uncle Gary." "So, is what you're trying to say is that you might be bisexual, Patrick?" "No, Uncle Gary. I think more like gay?" "Oh?" Once more Zach adopts the knight in shining armor, "Yeah, Patick's gay." "And what is your part in all this, Zach?" Patrick looks over to the twenty-one year old. "Uncle Gary, I know that Patrick and I have known each other only a short while, but..." Going through the usual speech, Gary knows exactly where this is going! "...and we both more or less said it instantaneously. We love each other." "Love each other, do you?" Patrick comandeers the helm, saying, "It's true. I know it's true because I saw it, Uncle Gary." "Saw it, Patrick?" "Yeah. Do you believe you can look in a guy's eyes and see that the love is there?" "Very perceptive, Patrick. I don't deny that. I think with Mike and I, I've experienced something of that nature." "So you believe me... um, us, Uncle Gary?" "Patrick, you're seventeen years old." "Like yeah, I know and I know you're going to say that I'm just a kid." "No. You're a senior in high school, about to embark on the rest of your life. I want you to make sure you... sure that both or you are doing the right thing." "I am, believe me, Uncle Gary," Patrick assures him. The thing that Gary picks up on is that both, his nephew and Patrick have such a conviction about their love for each other that he knows in his own heart that they both are right. "Alright, well this is how I feel about this. Patrick, you're still seventeen, which makes you a minor, until your eighteenth birthday." "Right." "I have no problem with you two staying under my roof, even sleeping in the same bed." "Really Uncle Gary? That's mighty understanding of you." "Hear me out, Zach," then repositioning his gaze, "Patrick, outside of this house, you both have this keep this relationship hushed." "Why?" "Because of your age. You're my responsibility, and Mike's. Now anybody that knows that two people that love each other should be together. However, not everybody thinks about two guys sleeping together. One of each of the opposite sex would be much more accepted. But as you have learned yourself, Patrick, that it is not so true of two of the same sex." "I couldn't agree more Uncle Gary," Patrick says, looking towards Zach. Sitting back, Gary senses something more than their love for each other. "Something else, Patrick?" The two exchange glances. Zach nods his head as if to tell Patrick, 'go ahead and tell him'. "Actually, there's something else bothering me." As he told Noah and Zach, Patrick laid down the whole truth of the 'gay bashing' incident with Gary. "So you see, Uncle Gary, even though I'm supposed to be a man, I didn't think like one. I've failed at trying to be one." "Patrick, you might think that you failed, but coming out and telling me what you did, just proved how much of a man you really are." "Oh? How does that go, Uncle Gary?" "It takes 'balls', to put it plainly, for you to confess your involvement in Bill Wade's assault on Conner Matthews. Secondly, it took more guts to take on a guy you knew you couldn't win with. You knew the chances of risking your own health, yet you perservered, Patrick and you paid the price of going to Conner's rescue." "I still feel guilty." "I think I know how I can help you out with those feelings, Patrick." "You do?" "Yes. If you're willing and this has to be your decision, I'll arrange a meeting with you and Conner Matthews." "What for?" Zach interrupts, moving his hand under the table to the seventeen year old's, "Patrick, listen to Uncle Gary. It's his business." "It's not only my business for doing this, even though Zach is right. I care about you and Zach, Patrick. I want you to know that." "We do," Zach replies. "Patrick, if you want to find some peace in this situation, you need to tell Conner what you just told me." "He'll punch me out!" "No he wouldn't. You were in the same room as Conner. Now what are your impressions of him? Do you think he is the type that seeks revenge?" "I think he could get angry." "Patrick, not only did I try to analyze things on your's and Conner's behalf, but I've had a chance to meet his mom, as well. Conner comes from a very well bred family. He lost his dad when a toddler and raised by his mom, who did a fine job in his upbringing. I doubt very much that Conner is the type that would be vengeful." "Zach, what do you think?" Patrick pleaded for some help in his decision. "I think we should go with what Uncle Gary says to do." Turning back to the thirty-six year old psychiatrist, Patrick requests, "Can Zach be there with me?" "I can't see why not, Patick, but it's you that needs to do the talking. It's fine if, like now, Zach is there to hold your hand." Realizing that Gary knows why shoulders are moving, resulting from under the table actions, the two boys smile back at him. "Oh, the phone. Excuse me, please fellas." "So, what do you think Zach?" "Like I said, Patrick... like Uncle Gary said. In order to find some piece of mind, I think he's right. We should go for it." "I like how you say that, Zach and thanks." "It's a part of why we love each other." Hands come from underneath, to the table top. "Um, guys, I think it might be nice if you came with me." "Where, Uncle Gary?" "The hospital." "Hospital?" both boys repeat. "Yes. That was Mrs. Matthews on the phone. Conner's boyfriend.. ahem... 'lover' was in that accident on the hill, where Mr. Donovon was killed. His mom says Conner is extremely upset." "No problem going. Let us grab our coats," Zach says. Patrick replies, "I need to throw some sneakers on. Um, I can't tie them yet, Zach." "I have a pair of loafers that I think will fit you, Patrick." "Okay. Thanks." While Zach ran upstairs, Gary helped Patrick into his coat. "Uncle Gary, thanks for helping me. Nobody ever did anything like this for me before." "Don't forget to say an extra prayer tonight." "You mean like to God?" "Sure. I don't think you, Zack and I came together out of coincidence." "What about Noah and that other guy?" Patrick makes reference, as a new model Saturn pulls up in the drive. "Yep. Him too!" As they made for the car, Noah swings open the car door. The driver makes his exit, also. "Going somewhere Unca Gary?" Zach fills Noah in. "That sucks! Oh, Unca Gary, this is Jake DeOrio." "Good to meet you. Sorry, but we have to be going." "I can drive you in my car, if you want to?" So, instead, they all piled into Jake's Saturn. "Hmm, nice wheels, Jake." "Thanks," Jake replied, not really in the mood for talking cars. % "Miguel, I just gat a call from my buddy, Max." "Max?" "Yeah, Max Masterson. His boyfriend's the medical student?" "Oh yeah, 'that' Max. What's up?" "He needs a lift. Him and his boyfriend were in an accident and need a ride." "They okay?" "Yes, but Terry's car was totaled." Juan kept up the fast-talk, as he threw on a shirt, pants and then clothed his feet in socks, then slipped on his sneakers. "So I have to break up our romantic moment, Miguel." "Hey, a friend needs help. The warm bed will still be there for when we return!" "Mmmmmm.. I can't wait!" They hop in the car and take off. Miles down the road, Juan yells out, "Ai cheewowwa!" as Miguel slams on the brakes. "Oh man, that was a close one!" So did Gary think so, being the passenger in the 2005 Saturn. "Oh man was that close!" Jake called out. Noah replied, "You're telling me," then after rolling down the window, with the push of a button, "Hey, what the hell you think you're doing?" Miguel stuck his head out of the window and yelled back, "Sorry, amigo!" "Noah, just forget it. I think we're all on edge right now," Zach told him. "Yeah, okay," Noah eased off, "I'll only let him slide because he's a hot looking tamale!" Gary smiled, knowing what Juan and Miguel would think of a statement like that. Coincidental it is that they found parking places parallel to each other. Right away, as Juan exits the passenger side, he says to Jake, "Hey, hombre. You gotta forgive mi amigo. He doesn't get his driver's license til he turns eighteen!" "What? He's driving without a license?" Jake exclaims. Miguel tells Jake, shaking his hand, "The name's Miguel Cruz and I'm twenty years old." "But he said...." "Oh, this dufousamo here? Yeah, he likes to lie!" "Um, I'm Juan Delgado." "Heeey! Hi Dr. Roberts!" Miguel addresses Gary as he exits the Saturn. "Miguel, how are you?" "Great and you?" "Good. How's your dad and mom?" "Bueno!" An exchange of looks takes on both parties, as Miguel and Gary hug each other. Juan is eyeing up the four sticks of candy, as the four sweet ones' eyes gang up on Juan. When they pair off, Juan sees the obvious. "Can I have Miguel back yet, Dr. Roberts?" Patrick, not being in the gay world long enough, asks, "Um, you two lovers?" "Not unless you want to be mine, sweet thing!" Juan replies. "Easy on him, Juan. He's new to our 'club'," Noah replies. "Hmm... looks like we're ready to add some new members to the gay order!" Juan replies, looking at Noah and Jake. "Excuse me, but I need to go." As Gary hustles along, the six leftovers stroll towards the hospital entrance. As the glass doors open, instead of stepping inside, two figures step out. "Miguel, baby!" Nobody is more surprised than Juan and Miguel, in addition to the four jocks following, as Max and Terry bound outside the entranceway. Pairing off, Max hugs Miguel, while Terry hugs Juan. Then they exchange partners. Noah, leaning on Jake's shoulder says of the whole greeting session, "The pot gets sweeter and sweeter!" % "Thank you so much for coming Dr. Roberts." "It's the least I can do, Mrs. Matthews. Conner, how are you holding up?" Conner turned from the corner where he hid his emotional excerpt from the others in the crowded waiting room. His eyes looked bloodshot and he sniffed, as if taking in poppers. But instead of a high and happy feeling, his outlook evoked a dismal attitude. "Jim's hurt." "C'mon, let's see if we can find someplace private. My office, perhaps." Barbra Matthews went as far as Gary's office. "I think I'll get a cup of coffee. May I offer you one, Dr. Roberts?" "No thank you Mrs. Matthews." "It's Barbra, please." "Don't worry Barbra. I'm sure things will work their way out." "I know they will." Gary ushered Conner into his office, plopping a box of tissues down in front of him, on the front edge of his desk. He went to a cube refrigerator and returned with a bottle of spring water. "Thanks," Conner told him. "So, have they told you anything?" "Yes. Jim's unconscious." "Hmm... let me see if I can dig something up." Gary picks up his phone, places it to his ear, then mumbles, "Beeper 227, please." After that, he hangs on. "Who are you calling?" "Our good friend Dr. Scalia. She's the best snoop I've got!" That made Conner crack a faint smile. "Thanks Dr. Roberts," he offered, while Gary hung on. "Oh yes, Maria... yes, I finally called you that.... listen, I was wondering if you have a patient by the name of... what? No, I didn't use your first name just because I wanted information!" Conner could see that Dr. Scalia must've been kidding, at busting Dr. Robert's chops, but more anxious to hear any news, hoping it good. "Jim Faukner... yeah, 'the one who gave you the yellow roses Jim Faukner'... you didn't know? But wait!" Gary hung up. "What'd she say?" "She said you better believe it that she's going to find out something. Looks like those yellow roses are paying off big time!" "I like Dr. Scalia. She was real good to me... and Jim." "Just goes to show you, Conner, that what goes around, comes around." "Yeah. I hope Jim is going to be alright." "Conner, would it be alright if we talked about a different subject matter?" "Um.. okay." "I don't wish to overburden your mind at the moment, because I know what you're going through. Believe me, that's not a cliche I'm using. I've been there." "Like me, you mean? Waiting to see how a guy you love is doing?" "Yes. In fact, in my unfortunacity, it had been unbearable news." "Gosh, Dr. Roberts, I'm real sorry to hear that." "Thanks, Conner, however what I want to bring up, is regarding your incident with Bill Wade." "Bill Wade?" "Yes. Do you think you can handle it?" "I'm not sure, but can I tell you something, Dr. Roberts?" "Sure. Anything, Conner." "Y'know, even though Bill Wade... I suppose the word is 'tortured' me.... well, whatever, I can't help but feeling sorry for him." "Now this is something new we haven't chatted about." "I know, Dr. Roberts. I got to talking with Jim and we both actually feel sorry for Bill." "Hmm.. want to explain?" "Yeah. The conclusion we both came to is that Bill did what he did because his father implanted the thoughts in his mind for so long that hating gays became the only way he knew of how to think. Do you know what I'm driving at?" "Oh yes. I do. These have been my feelings all along. However, saying them doesn't erase the thoughts of the incident." "I know. I only wish there was a way that we, Jim and I could help Bill see that we're made of the same substance. Like if it had been a racial issue, we're all of the same make. I mean, we all breathe, have blood in us... you know what I'm driving at?" "Exactly. I'm glad that you are thinking in this frame of mind, Conner." "Why is that Dr. Roberts?" "This brings me to Patrick Finnegan." "Patrick?" "Well, aka Mike Finnegan. You see, Mike Green and I, who are partners..." "I guessed that, Dr. Roberts." "Yes, your're a smart guy. Anyway, we've decided to adopt Mike. Since we already have a 'Mike' in the family, Mike Finnegan offered us to call him by his middle name, Patrick. 'Said he always liked Patrick better than Mike, to be called by." "Y'know, I think he looks more like a Patrick than a Mike. Um, by the way, how's he doing?" Before Conner let Gary get another word in, he continued, "I think it a real brave thing he did to stand up for me and try to get Bill Wade to stop beating me..." "Yes, but..." "Y'know Dr. Roberts? Somebody should award Mike... I mean Patrick a medal of honor of something." "But..." "Don't you think it takes a lot of guts for a guy to do that, Dr. Roberts?" "Yes, however..." "Man, if I saw somebody getting beaten like myself, I don't know if I would've had the guts to stand up to Bill Wade. Mike.. I mean Patrick Finnegan is a real hero!" This left Gary in between a rock and hard place, geologically speaking. Now how does he tear down the guy Conner has just entered into sainthood? % "Hey, I hear you guys have a jacuzzi?" "Max, didn't I tell you not to go and tell the whole student body?" Juan questions his buddy. "You didn't tell me nothing, Juan!" "Hee heee... yeah, but it's always fun to bust your chops, Max!" With the exception of the solo teen, Patrick, Noah had a tough time keeping what lie between his legs, in soft form. Like making up his own database of personal tallies, he started from left to right. Okay, he already knew what Zach's and Patrick's stats and what they were packing. Other than Patrick, whom he knew is seventeen, he figured the rest of the guys all between twenty and twenty-three, maybe twenty-four years old. The Latino guys, both dark brown hair, saw that Juan had hair flanking the collar of his shirt, while Miguel showed skin. Both exquisitely handsome. In fact, their friends, Terry and Max couldn't be termed anything less than studs! Terry looked very sexy, what with the medium brown hair and blond highlights. Max, on the other hand had almost black hair. 'Man,' Noah thought, 'if Max had a hairy chest and stomach, against that fair skin, then he'd be as hot as hell. Noah wasn't discounting the fact of Jake's own 'hottie' looks. When Jake reached for some extra bags at Donovon's market, he saw straight down his shirt. Yeah, he could be satisfied with the hairy forrest! "Well, we hoped to run into this Conner Matthews kid, to give him his friend's jacket and cellphone back to," Max replied to Juan, at the tale end of his story. "You must've just missed him," Zach filled Max in. "That's whom Uncle Gary came to see." "Uncle Gary? You mean you're related to Dr. Roberts?" Noah kids, "Yeah, can't you see the studly resemblances?" "I think I can make out the resemblance of you and Frankenstein, Noah!" "Ooooooh, I think I owe you one there, Zachary, my boy!" The guys laughed at the joke, but then quieted down out of respect for the unhappy patrons in the waiting room, waiting on word of their loved ones. "I know where Dr. Robert's office is," Patrick offered. "Cool, Patrick. Yeah, we can drop the phone and jacket off there," Zach relayed, "Smart move Patrick." He patted his new love on the back. Terry says, impetuously, "C'mon, show us or I'll never get in that jacuzzi!" "That all you can think about is yourself, Terry?" Max scolded, then smoothed it over with the fact that if it wasn't for Terry, Jim Faulker might've been fried. "So," Noah compliments, "Not only do we have stud material here in our presence, but a real hero?" Nobody debated the facts of Terry's looks. Yeah, handsome would be a moderate description of the foxy looking character. Despite Terry Duncan's blonde highlights, that turned on the sexy lightbulb, his six foot height, with obvious workout undertones, drew into play when it came as hot features of the twenty-one year old. "Better cut it out, Noah, before I get jealous!" "Oh? I didn't think you had your hooks in me yet, Jake?" Mr. Wiseguy Noah doesn't know it yet, but it's about time he's met a guy whom could get his hooks into him and sinkum! "Oh excuse us, Uncle Gary..." "Ah.. okay, well what is it?" "My friends Max and Terry..." Suddenly Gary was sideswiped, as the door to his office fully became open. "You're Terry and Max?" "Yes," the two answered at once. "You.... you saved my Jim!" As the tearful intoductions took place, Gary answered the phone on his desk. "No, Maria, I wasn't going to let it ring off the hook... what's up?" Conner made the connection with the word 'Maria' and automatically broke from his grateful hug with Terry. The mass of guys followed Conner into the room, like a swarm of ants. He stood there right in front of Gary, on the phone. Sometimes Gary's face looked encouraging, but on the whole, bleek. Patrick and Zach hovered behind Conner. Holding his hand inches behind Conner's shoulder blade, Patrick wanting to touch, for comfort's sake, but hesitated. It's Zach whom pressed on his lover's hand, making make the connection. "It's alright, Patrick." Without thinking, but reacting, Conner reached over his own shoulder, placing his hand on the caring limb. "Well, Dr. Scalia seems to think that Jim will pull through, but he's been through some intense surgery, for... oh what did she call it? Some thingamajig, but he's in recovery." "Does that mean Jim will be alright, Dr. Roberts?" "He'll recover, but it will take some time, Conner." "Oooooh, you don't know how much a relief that is to know, Dr. Roberts." Conner's arm slipped around the closest waist and his chest turned in for the other arm to meet it. "Ooooh Patrick, you hear that? Jim is going to pull through." Patrick looked over Conner's shoulder, letting him cry on his shirt. His hands remained immobile, at his sides, until Zach literally picked both up, placing Patick's palms on Conner's back. "Sa-sorry.. I can't do this..." Patrick said, breaking the chain and heading for the open door, Zach in pursuit. "What did I do?" Conner asked. Gary took Patrick's place, saying to Conner, "Patrick's having a tough time of his own, Conner. It's nothing that you did." "What's with that hombre?" Juan questioned. For the second time in Noah's serious life, he replied, "Like Unca Gary said, the kid's having problems." % "Wait up Patrick." By the time Zach caught up with him, he had distanced himself with the hospital, arms up and against the pine tree, forhead pressed in and crying his eyes out. "I'm such a hypocrite!" "Not, Patrick." "How do you know? You weren't there! You didn't see how I let Bill cuff Conner, tie him to the tree, strip him and beat him!" Zach wasn't a shrink, but he knew that love could be a conqueror, so for now all he could think of is administering the weapon. Sliding his arms around Patrick, he held him close. His chest to Patrick's back, trying to make two separate entities one. Making one open up his mind to the forces of love and combine their efforts to overcome guilt and show that where there was a will, there would be a way to make peace and amends. % Gary figured that Patrick had suffered enough. Whether forced or even volunteering information not brought forth from that torturous after school incident, would only drive the nails in deeper. "Conner, sit down on the sofa for a minute." "Um, you want us to leave, Unca Gary?" "That's up to you guys." Gary's attention went back to Conner. "Conner, the reason that Patrick couldn't stay is because of his conscience." "His conscience? But..." "Here me out please. You see, everything that Patrick told you is not 'exactly' what happened as it appears." "What are you talking about Gary?" Conner questioned, reverting to the informal greeting. "Conner, Patrick didn't just 'happen' upon you being tortured in the woods." "What are you talking about, Gary? He saved me!" "Yes, that part is all true, but..." Both got the surprise of their life, when Noah literally dropped onto the sofa next to Conner, his arm placed around the confused youth. "Listen, what Unca Gary is trying to lay on you, dude is that Patrick stood there from the beginning and watched it all happen." "Watched it?" "Yeah, but then he didn't like the way it was going and then jumped in there and put his own life on the line to stop it." "You mean?" "Hey listen Conner. We all make mistakes and Patrick knew he did a royal fuck up, by letting it go that far. He's outside now, kicking himself in the ass for doing something he saw was wrong, but waited to do something about." "I... No.. he..." "Look, if you want to hold a grudge, that's your business, but I can tell you for a fact that Patrick is really a tender loving guy and it's through all this that he has learned a lot about life, about himself and he's not altogether straight, if you know what I mean?" "Patrick's gay?" All of this revelation flowing from Noah's lips hit Conner all at once. The way Noah presented it, didn't fall far from showing Conner that Patrick was weighing things heavily on his own mind. "Oh man. This is too much." "I know it is, Conner," Noah continued, leaving the doc in the wings. "You gotta believe that Patrick isn't a bad guy. At the time he had been influenced and in the wrong direction. That's until he began to think for himself and realize what exactly had been right and wrong." "What your saying all makes sense, Noah, but why did Patrick leave?" "Guilt," Gary finally came back into the reality of the mulling over of facts. "You see, Conner, I had come here at your mom's request, but I think Patrick thought that he would be a man about all this and come here personally to tell you what he did and observed. The timing wasn't right and things got too busy for his mind. Here he had his arms around the guy that he indirectly helped to hurt." "Oh man. This is all too intense to think about." "I know it is Conner. I think you need to lie down. I'm going to give you something to help you sleep. Maybe after a while we can all sit down and talk about this," Gary suggests. "Um, you don't think Patrick would do anything, do you?" "Meaning?" "Suicide?" "Tell you the truth, Conner and I want you to think about this. Things don't happen without a reason. Sometimes it hurts like hell to go through ordeals in our lives, but out of them something good comes. I think Patrick has had a great deal come out of all of this, even though it had been at 'your' expense." "Hey, I'm not the 'only' one that got beat up!" Noah jumps back into the ring with, "Yeah, Unca Gary is right. If this never happened to you, if Patrick never became involved, he may have never discovered his gay sexuality. Most of all, never have met Zach." "Zach? What's he got to do with it?" Gary informs Conner, "Seems that Zach and Patrick have made a connection." "Like lovers or something?" "Exactly." "Well then I can see where Patrick could be all screwed up over this...." Conner yawns, "I'm getting tired." "Good. You should be out for several hours. When you wake up, pick up the phone and dial zero and ask them to page me, Conner." "I will. Can you do me a favor?" "Sure. Name it." "Do you think you can get Dr. Scalia to stay with Jim?" "I'll ask. I'm sure she will do it." Conner lay down on the leather sofa. Terry helped Max out of Jim's coat, laying it midway up Conner's body. He grabbed hold of it, hugging it, as if Jim were clothed inside. % how comfy... continued......... Copyright 2005 T. Chase McPhee All Rights Reserved. www.assgm.net www.nifty.org Permission is NOT granted to publish this story to any PAY site, nor any site that is not listed above, without the author's prior consent.