From: Snwdemon
Subject: Who will catch my fall?
Chapter 5: (M/b, b/b, abusive situations, no sex)
WARNING: This story contains descriptions of abusive acts, both physical and sexual in nature, involving MINOR boys. I wish to explain that this story is not true! Further, it is not intended to promote illegal acts against minors, but to educate people as to what a minor child has to do in order to survive in a severely abusive environment they are trapped in. One of the most famous examples of this was Steven Stayner, who was kidnapped at age 7 and severely abused for 7 years that included physical, sexual, and mental abuse. I have had the privilege of working with a number of boys like him, and I consider all of them to be extremely brave. Many people still believe that children who stay with an abuser/captor do so because they want to. This is utterly untrue, and is proven through numerous interviews, behavioral, and psychological studies conducted with these victims. A young child does not have the same ability to cope with stressful situations as an adult would because they have not had the privilege of time and experience that an adult has. Therefore, they rely more on their basic instincts, and learn quickly what they need to do in order to survive. Thus, when they are removed from that abusive situation they also have an extremely hard time adjusting to their new environment because they are not familiar with trust, caring, and compassion. These are the emotions the child has to learn once they are put into a new non-abusive environment. People assume that these emotions are natural. Many do not realize that all of our human emotions are learned.
The following story is a work of fiction, however it does incorporate actual events that I learned from various victims I counseled over the years. I also do not encourage others to perform any kind of abusive or sexual act with minors. If the subject of Man/boy sex, child abuse, and/or rape of minors offends you, or this material is illegal to possess material of this nature in your place of residence, or if you are under the legal age to possess such material, do not read further!
By downloading this story: "You implicitly declare and affirm under penalties of perjury that you are not a minor or in the company of a minor and are entitled to have access to material intended for mature, responsible members of society capable of making decisions about the content of documents they wish to read." The story is copyrighted under my pseudonym, Snwdemon. A copy has been placed in these archives for your enjoyment. The story cannot be used to derive monetary gain. However, if you want to place a copy of this story in your free access archives please email me for my permission. The story cannot be placed in archives that require payment for access, or be printed and distributed in any form that requires payment either directly or indirectly. Any similarity to individuals, living, or dead, is completely accidental. Reference is also made in context to some locations, businesses, characters, and people to define the story line. No other implication about the true sexuality or actions of the people, businesses, or places mentioned is intended.
Recap from Chapter 4:
"I for one, completely agree with John about to how to avoid this possible 3 country tug-of-war. However, just whom will we place Devon with once we release our findings to the public and close the case. I hope that you all were not planning on leaving him to the foster care system." The Mayor said to all of them. That was when O'Malley requested to speak to them. The Mayor resumed his seat, and Sgt. O'Malley moved up to the front.
"Aye Laddies and Lassies, I want you to all to consider something vitally important about this whole subterfuge thing before we do anything we may regret later on. Was anyone going to reveal any of this to the one person who needs to know about this the most? Which is Devon himself?" Jerry asked them, which also shocked all of them sitting at the table. Here they all were making decisions on how to keep Devon and avoiding the political melee that they all could see coming. Yet no one had said anything about telling Devon this information.
"One more thing to consider is this; was anyone going to ask Devon himself as to what he wants to do? If Devon chooses to stay here, then I believe that he has already made his decision abundantly clear as to whom he wishes to adopt him, and I can see that John has also made his decision regarding Devon too. The last thing we overlooked is what to call him once we do this. The stigmata of the Jefferies name will hang around his wee neck like a banner made of stone. I know that it is unethical, but since we have all agreed to do this then why not pick a family that has no surviving relatives, parents, siblings, or extended family members that are gone, or we could have his name changed as soon as possible and have the records sealed. Now wouldn't that be better?" O'Malley said to all of them. John just stood up and spoke to everyone at the table.
"Jerry is right, we can figure out what to do about the plan after I go speak with Devon. Therefore, why don't we resume this meeting tomorrow?" John asked all of them. They all agreed to his suggestion and John left to head over to be with Devon.
End of chapter 4
My thanks to Miguel Sanchez and BenBear for their assistance in proofing and correcting this chapter.
Chapter 5. December 1, 1995
Devon was still sleeping after his surgery the earlier that day, so John had been unable to speak with him yet about his true-identity and age. The doctors had removed the pin from his lower leg and re-cast his left leg. This would allow him greater movement in bed, and it would decrease his pain too when he was moved, but it would still be a few more weeks before he would be allowed to put weight on his leg. Bayside had begun a limited physical rehabilitation program with him the day after he arrived. Using special weights that strapped onto his ankle or wrist, they had him exercising his right leg and left arm. Once his left leg and right shoulder had healed, they would start him into a more extensive rehab program. One of the biggest concerns now was his left leg since the bullet had passed dangerously close to the left sciatic nerve, pronounced sigh-attic, which controlled movement and sensation in the left leg. So far, Devon was only able to move his left big toe, but not the other toes and he had limited sensation in his foot. The other big concern was that his right hand had no sensation or movement at all in it, but he did have sensation in his right shoulder and his upper right arm.
John had been with him before the surgery earlier in the day, and had calmed Devon because he was frightened. He refused at first to explain why he did not want the surgery, but with John's gently prodding the truth came out. It had given John another glimpse into Devon's frail emotional state. He thought about the events the day before that the taskforce had discussed and of the events prior to the surgery.
"I don't want to go to sleep John. Please don't let them make me," Devon pleaded with him as John cuddled him. John was sitting next to Devon on the bed and cradling him while being careful with Devon's right shoulder.
"I know you don't want to, but you have to have the surgery. The only reason the doctors are going to put you to sleep is that you will not be in any pain while they remove the pin in your leg. You know how much it hurts when Sara has to move your leg just the slightest bit, so the docs do not want you to be in all that pain. Look, after the surgery you will not have to be trussed up like a fly in a spider web either." John told him gently. After a few moments of silence, Devon's will crumbled and he looked at John with brimming eyes.
"What if something goes wrong though, and I do not wake up?" Devon asked him with a sniffle. John could sense that Devon was not telling him everything so he gently tried to draw it out without being pushy.
"Well, nothing will go wrong, and it will be like when you sleep is all. That is not so bad now is it?" John asked him while kissing the top of Devon's head. Devon just rested his head on John's chest as he thought about his answer while struggling against his fear of the darkness he remembered.
"No. It is bad `cause it's all dark and lonely just like the bad place. It scares me because I might not find my way out again this time. I have always been alone till now, and I don't want to be alone anymore...and I'm not with you." Devon whimpered revealing his fear that he had been holding inside him. John was touched by Devon's admission to him, and he knew exactly what Devon meant about being alone too. John used his hand gently lifted Devon's chin until their eyes met.
"Now you listen to me Devon, I know how bad it is to be alone, and you will never be alone anymore. I promise you that I will be with you every time you go to sleep and when you wake up. When a person is all alone, it is as if they are falling into the darkness with no way to stop. However, if just one person loves and cares about you, then that person will be able to catch you when you fall. I love you Devon, so if you start to fall into that dark place again, I promise to catch you." John said with a serious expression and tears in his eyes. He continued to look at Devon and saw his lower lip begin to tremble while new tears welled up in Devon's eyes.
"You love me? You really mean it John?" Devon asked in a piping voice while needing to hear John say it again.
"Yes Devon, I really mean it. I love you, and I will always care about you no matter what happens in the future." John repeated to him, and for the first time admitting not only to Devon, but also to himself that he loved this boy.
"I love you too," Devon said softly while his tears spilled down his face. He was unable to say anything else because this was the first time anyone had ever told him that they loved him. Therefore, he just buried his face into John's shoulder and cried knowing that he was no longer alone in this world. As far back as he could remember he never once heard Bill (Pop) ever say those three words to him. All that Bill had ever told him was how he could never be good enough for someone to love him, and with John saying those three words, it had meant that Devon had achieved his most ultimate desire in his life. He knew that he was good enough because John did love him, and this revelation affected him profoundly.
It is one thing to have a parent or parents because any adult could be a parent, even one that hates you, but you would still be just as alone as Devon had always been. However, to know John loved him meant that John did care about him and that he would never be alone again. Most of all though, it was the first time in Devon's young life that anyone had ever loved him and knowing that he was a good person. It meant that all of the beatings, the pain, and torment he had endured from Pop, and always hoping to reach this impossible goal one day while knowing he never would with Pop; that the pain, hoping, and disappointment was finally over. Because Devon now realized that he had always been good enough all the time, and he was overcome by his emotions and happiness from this realization. He hoped that this moment would never end because it was the most wonderful moment in his life.
It took Devon almost twenty minutes to regain control over his emotions, and that whole time John continued to hug, and kiss him while gently whispering kind words to him. Finally unable to cry anymore, Devon looked up at John who started to wipe his face with a damp cloth.
"I did not mean to upset you so much Devon. I was trying to cheer you up and ease your fears and doubts about the surgery. I am sorry if I upset you." John said softly to him as he wiped, and then dried Devon's face.
"No, you did not upset me John. I am happy...happier than I have ever been before because you love me. I am ok now, and I am just thinking and wishing is all. Nobody has ever loved me before you, and it made me realize that you told me the truth about Pop. He did not love me, he just loved hurting me. Now I know that you love me, and that you will not hurt me ever. I am just wishing that you could...ummm...I can't say John or it would not make it come true. I just wish these feelings inside me would never go away." Devon tried to explain through his sniffles, and then John handed him some tissues for him to blow his nose. Once he did that, he laid his head against John again with a small content smile on his face. Finally, when Nurse Sara came in to tell them that it was time to go, Devon asked John about his promise.
"You promise to stay with me?" Devon asked him.
"Yes I will, and I will be right here with you when you wake up too, so don't be afraid. Just remember, if you start to fall, that I will be here to catch you Devon." John told him before kissing his eyes, forehead, and nose while squeezing Devon's left hand tight. Devon responded by lifting his head and kissing John on the lips.
"I promise to remember John. I love you. I am ready to go now Sara," he told Sara while blushing at his open display of affection. She started getting Devon prepped in order to move him onto the gurney to take him to the surgical operating room. Once she had his bladder and IV bags moved, she then disconnected the traction device while John held his leg in place until she switched it to the stabilizer attached to the gurney. Last of all, John gently lifted Devon up off the bed and transferred him onto the gurney as Devon tried hard not to cry out, he did once and his tears coursed down his face. John and Sara got him situated on the gurney and waited until he stopped crying as John comforted him. Then John walked beside him as Sara wheeled him into the OR recovery area.
"The doctor has decided to break protocol here, and Devon will be given the first part of the anesthesia here instead of inside the OR suite. If his procedure involved something more than removing the pin, then he would have had to be transferred back to University Medical Center to get it done." She explained to John and Devon. Just then, one of the doctors came in and introduced himself.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Chin, and I'm here to make you take a little nap Devon." He told them while sitting down beside Devon. He offered his hand to Devon, and noticed how much Devon's hand trembled as he shook it.
"I take it that this is pretty frightening for you Devon. I just want to tell you that I will not let anything happen to you." Dr. Chin told him with a smile. He then looked at John, "I think a mild tranquilizer will help him relax a bit before we begin. There are a number of forms you need to fill out and sign before we can start anyway Det. Roberts."
"Yes, I think that would be the best for him at the moment, and please call me John." He said in response while Dr. Chin took a syringe from one of the OR nurses.
"Ok Devon, I am going to give you a shot in your IV line here and it is going to make you a little drowsy. It will also help you relax so that you will not be so frightened before we begin. Once it is time, I will come back and give you another shot that will help you go to sleep, and then we will go and take the pin out of your leg. The other doctor will also redo the cast on your leg and arm to make them more comfortable for you. Now do you have any questions for me?" He asked Devon who was now visibly trembling as he held onto John's hand. Unable to speak because of his fear, Devon just shook his head no in response. He then watched as Dr. Chin inserted the needle into the port in his IV line and injected the medicine. After a few moments, Devon began to feel flushed and dizzy, and then his eyesight became even more blurry. He looked at John who was now sitting beside him, and then just leaned his head against John's arm as his eyes began to close. Remembering the darkness, Devon shook his head and fought against the dizziness.
"It is ok Devon, I am right here with you just as I promised. Just relax, and it is ok if you want to go to sleep because there is nothing to be afraid of. There will be no darkness or bad dreams this time because I am here to catch you before you fall into that place, and I will be right here beside you when you wake up." John said softly to him as he gently brushed Devon's soft hair out of his eyes.
"You promised, remember," Devon said softly as he tried to focus on John.
"Yes I do, so just relax and rest because I'm not going anywhere."
"Ok, I love you."
"I love you too son."
Devon smiled contentedly when he heard this as he closed his eyes and started to doze. He drifted through time and space remembering the things John had told him, but most of all remembering the last words he said. He was aware of the people around him, but was jolted out of his drifting by pain as he felt himself being lifted up again. He heard Dr. Chin's and then John's voice as he cried out and opened his eyes.
"Careful with him," John said as they gently moved Devon onto the surgical table. "It's ok Devon. Dr. Chin is going to make the pain go away right now."
"Hello again Devon, now I want you to start counting for me to 100. Will you do that for me?" Dr. Chin asked him.
"I will count with you Devon, and the pain is going to ease away ok." John said to him. Devon nodded his head slightly and then started counting aloud in his soft squeaky voice.
"One...two...three...four...five..." Devon said softly in unison with John as he began to feel hot. As his voice trailed off and the pain eased away, he slipped deeper into sleep as he counted with John. He was asleep before he reached the number six.
____________________________________________________________________
It was almost 10:00 pm when Devon finally woke in the darkened room. The darkness frightened him and he started to sit up. However, the pain that shot through his leg caused him to cry out and collapse back down onto the bed. He was fighting back his tears when he heard John's voice, and his world lit up around him as John turned on the lights.
"Devon? Are you ok ?" John asked him worriedly as he watched Devon's face. He saw Devon's eyes screwed tightly shut while his left hand protectively covered his left leg. As the first few tears began to escape from Devon's eyes, he opened them and saw John's worried face soften as he did this.
"You are here...like you promised." Devon said softly as John gently wiped his tears away.
"Of course I'm here, I promised to be here every time you go to sleep and when you wake up. You worried me when you cried out is all. Are you in a lot of pain?" John said to him with a small smile on his face.
"It's ok, I was scared when I woke up and it was dark is all. I moved to quick and hurt my leg, its better now." Devon said a little hoarsely.
"You sure? I can have Sara come and give you something for the pain you know."
"Yeah, I'm sure. I've hurt worse before, and only had aspirin for the pain." Devon said before gritting his teeth and scooting closer to John with a soft grunt.
"I know you have son, but you know that you do not have to suffer through it now. Bill is gone and can never hurt you again, and it is ok if you ask for more pain medicine when it hurts. I don't want you to suffer any more pain than is necessary is all son." John told him as he gently wiped Devon's nose. As he did that Devon blushed slightly, took the tissue from him, and blew his nose. He then turned his head, kissed John on the lips, and smiled at him. John smiled back at him, took his left hand, and gave it a small squeeze.
"Thanks for being here," Devon said softly as he leaned his head against John's arm.
"It is ok, I promised remember." John said while brushing Devon's bangs out of his eyes. "I think you need a haircut."
"Pop always cut my hair. He used to complain about how much trouble I caused him, and how I was never good enough to take to a barbershop." Devon said softly as he stared out the doorway as he remembered.
"Well, he was wrong. You are always good enough to go get a haircut, or anything else you want or need." John told him before kissing him on his forehead. He was not expecting the tears as Devon gripped his hand tightly to his bare chest. "You ok Devon? Talk to me please."
"Why are you doing all of this? What makes me so special that you care so much about me? Nobody has ever cared about me before, so why do you care?" Devon asked him in a choked voice. He had asked these same questions a thousand times in his mind and he could never think of an answer to them. The only answer he could think of was that John would demand repayment later for everything, and Devon just could not bring himself to think about what that payment would require. He also could not make himself believe that John would ever do something like that because everything that he knew about John so far told him that he could not ever do things like that to him. Devon's questions caught John a little bit by surprise because he was hoping that Devon would be better from his injuries before he confronted them. However, since he had brought it up, John could see no other way except to tell him the truth. He also decided that he should also inform him of his identity and age.
"Well, to be honest I was hoping that you would be much better from your injuries before we talked. However, I know that everything I do just confuses you more because I am the complete opposite of Bill Jefferies. Well, its like this see, you know how I told you about someone falling when they are all alone?" John asked him.
"Yeah, that is when you told me that you loved me." Devon responded in just above a whisper.
"I know, and I do love you. Well, the reason I love you is that I was falling just like you. Six years ago, I had a family, a beautiful wife, and a daughter, then I lost them in a terrible accident. My wife did not suffer, but Katie was suffering because of all the pain. I took her across the Rainbow Bridge to heaven so she could be with her mother, and I came back alone. I had thought I was used to being alone until I met you, and you showed me how much I was missing in my life. You caught me because I had been falling into the darkness since they died, just as I caught you as you were falling into the darkness. We are both alone, and falling into the darkness, but if we are together we will stop falling. You need someone to love and care fore you, and I need someone to fill the emptiness inside me. My daughter's name was Katie, and she was a lot like you in many ways. I led her across the Rainbow Bridge, and that is where she is waiting for me now with her mother Lori. Then I met you, and all of the pain I felt since losing her vanished. You were hurt so badly, and I led you across the Rainbow Bridge up to heaven too so you would not be in so much pain, but you came back across the bridge to me. That is why you are so special. Now do you understand why I love you Devon?" John told him as his eyes welled up with his own tears.
"I think so. She stayed in heaven while her body died here leaving you all alone, but you took me to heaven, and I did not stay and came back here." Devon said through his tears while John nodded. Then Devon said to him in a soft, quivering voice, "I didn't want to stay, and that's why I came back; because you were not there with me."
"See, we need each other Devon. I am glad you came back because I don't know how much longer I could have kept falling, but you caught me." John told him with a loving smile.
"You caught me too," Devon told him with a small smile. John just kissed him again as they smiled at each other. Then Devon asked him, "Was she my age when she died?"
"Almost, but you are a year older than her." John told him as he wiped his own tears away before wiping Devon's.
"She was 14?" Devon asked him.
"No, she was 9 when she died Devon." John corrected him.
"But you said she was a year younger than me, and I'm 15, almost 16." Devon said with a confused expression on his face.
"No Devon, you are not 15, I discovered who you really are, and that you are really only 10 years old going on 11. Now I know you are confused, but let me explain ok. You know that Bill Jefferies was not your father, but he did have a son named Devon who would have been 15 going on 16 today. I found out in our investigation to identify all of the other boys Jefferies murdered, that his son Devon was his first victim, the first boy that Pop had killed. Then Bill kidnapped another boy named Aaron, who looked almost like his son Devon, Aaron was the same age, and he made him become Devon. However, Jefferies liked hurting and killing Devon too, and he did the same thing to Aaron when he was 9 years old. Now he needed to find another boy to replace Devon again because too many people knew about his son, and people would start looking for Devon if he just disappeared. Jefferies did find another boy who looked almost exactly like Devon, even more than Aaron did, but that boy was only 4-years old instead of 9-years old. That boy he found was you. So he kidnapped you and made you become Devon, and that is why you are so much smaller than the other boys in school, and why school is so hard for you. You had not even started school yet when he took you, and he started you in the 3rd grade. Most children are eight or nine years old when they enter the third grade, the real Devon would have been nine when school started, and turned 10 in January. Aaron had just turned nine in August before starting the 3rd grade, and Pop murdered him in February so he never completed the 3rd grade. Then Pop found you and kidnapped you at the end of May, and you had just turned five when he entered you into the 3rd grade after Christmas. You should have been in Kindergarten that year and not in the middle of 3rd grade." John explained gently to him, and Devon knew this was true because it explained all of his questions that he had always wondered about before. If he was actually 10 instead of 15 then that is why he was so much smaller, and why he did not have any hair on his hoppie yet like most of the other boys in school. However, this also caused many more questions that he was afraid to ask, but the only questions he had to ask right now were the most important ones.
"But, if I'm not Devon, then who am I John?" He asked with a slight quiver in his voice.
"Well that is another problem, I think I know who you really are, but if you are him, then there is going to be a much larger problem than we have now. See the boy Jefferies kidnapped was from the country Ukraine. It is part of Russia, and he was an orphan. A family in Canada was trying to adopt him, but Jefferies kidnapped him before they could complete the legal paperwork. I was able to get a picture of him when he was 3-years old from the orphanage." John explained before taking out the small picture and handing it to Devon. Devon studied the picture for a few moments before looking back at John.
"That's me when I was little." He said to John.
"Yes, I believe that is you also, and your real name is Anatoly Kostov, and your real birthday is Dec. 12th, 1984. That means that you are only 10-years old for another 12 days then you turn 11. The problem is that if I tell everyone who you really are, then it is most likely that the U.S. government will have to send you back to the orphanage in Ukraine. I really do not think that is what you would want, but in order to allow you to stay here, then we would have to keep it a secret that you are really Anatoly. However, that is not my decision for me to make though." John told him, and Devon was quiet for almost five minutes before he looked at John and spoke. What Devon realized was that an orphanage meant he had no parents, and if he was sent away, then he would be alone again in a strange land.
"So if I tell who I really am, then I will be sent back to this orphanage then?" He asked John who just nodded in response.
"If I stay, then who will I be?" Devon asked him. He was confused and frightened about the possibilities of doing this, but he was also too scared to voice his only desire also.
"Well, what we are thinking about doing is to say that the bones belonging to the real Devon Jefferies is Anatoly. That way you could stay here, and we will just explain that we do not know who you really are since you are the only survivor. See Jefferies did not just kidnap and murder boys from around here. He kidnapped boys from all over the US and Canada because that way the police, like myself, would not be able to link their disappearances with him. If you had never come to the police, we may not have ever discovered what kind of evil man he really was. By running away and coming to us, you not only saved your own life, but many more boys lives also because Jefferies would have continued kidnapping and killing them. So, you really are a hero for running away and coming to the police although I know you don't believe that yourself." John told him as he held Devon's hand while Devon looked away.
"I'm not a hero, I let all of those other boys die so how can I be a hero?" Devon said through his sniffles and tears. John gently turned Devon's head around until he could see his eyes.
"No, you are a hero Devon. You could not have saved those other boys no matter what you tried to do. All you could do was save yourself until you were able to escape and expose Pop as the monster he really was. I know how he beat and abused you, and I know that he has tried many times to kill you just as he killed those other boys. However, he discovered that you were too good a survivor no matter what he did to you, and he could not kill you without risking exposing himself even though he tried. You even survived when he did expose himself, and shot you not once but five times. He died, and you still survived so that makes you a hero to me." John told him with as much conviction and love that he could put into his words. Devon just looked at him unable to speak so he just nodded his head as another tear slipped down his face.
"So where will I go now, and who will I be?" Devon finally asked him after another fifteen minutes passed in silence.
"We all agreed that the best thing to do for you, was to find a home and family for you, and you can be whoever you want to be because your name will be changed once your adoption is approved." John explained to him.
"Ok, but where will I live and who is going to adopt me?" Devon asked him as he looked at John.
"Well I was hoping that you may want to come live with me, and be my son." John said a bit sheepishly with a look of hope on his face. Devon's face lit up as he heard this because his secret desire of John being his dad was coming true.
"Really; you really want to adopt me?" Devon said as his eyes watered once more.
"Yes I do Devon; I love you and want you to be my son if you want me." John said with his own tears in his eyes. Devon let out a soft cry and nodded his head before speaking.
"I love you too, and I want you to be my dad." He said as he embraced John with his left arm. While they both cried as they hugged each other, Devon could only think of one thing to say to John. He just kept whispering it into John's ear, "Thank you...thank you...thank you."
John knew that they both still had many obstacles to overcome, but he knew that no matter what happened that they would always be together. When John first saw Devon, he thought he found a victim, but in truth, he had found his son. Devon needed him to help repair the damage Jefferies had caused him, and John needed Devon to heal his heart that was broken when his daughter died. John decided that the rest of the things could wait for tomorrow, and just enjoy being with his son for this night.
End of Chapter 5
Endnote: In answer to many of your responses, yes I do plan to continue this story. There are many chapters left to post as well as many more for my other story titled "Playing the game." I want to start first by trying to clarify some of the confusion to readers about Devon's injuries. I will state Devon's injuries again for clarification. He had five gunshot wounds in all from his escape from "Pop." Starting from the top of the body down, his first wound was to his shoulder blade and collarbone area fracturing them both. The bullet entered his upper right back area where it struck and pierced his shoulder blade before being deflected upward to his collarbone or clavicle. It struck his collarbone and fragmented with the majority of the bullet fragments exiting out of the top front portion of his shoulder. The second and third wounds were to his right chest area with one bullet passing just under the skin and traveling along his ribcage before exiting out his front right portion of his chest. The third bullet entered into his chest cavity damaging his right lung and nicking the liver without exiting his body. The fourth bullet entered his lower left spine striking and fracturing his hip flexor/pelvis. Then it deflected upwards into his lower abdominal cavity, and pierced his bladder and small intestine. The last bullet passed through Devon's right thigh muscle from back to front without striking any arteries, nerves, or bones. In chapter two, I had the attending surgeon tell John that Devon's left hip/pelvis was fractured from the gunshot wound to his lower left spine (back). I then said that the surgeon had found from prior abuse that Devon's left femur had been recently broken and had healed improperly due to improper setting of the bone, so the Orthopedic surgeon chose to re-break the bone (femur) in order to allow it to heal properly after re-setting it. He did this because Devon would be confined to bed rest for the next several weeks while his hip flexor/pelvis healed, so this would be the perfect opportunity to properly set the femur and allow it to heal. The traction for his left leg was used to align properly his femur and pelvis so they would begin to heal properly. I hope that this has cleared up the confusion that some had about how a single bullet could break the leg, hip, and pelvis as well as doing internal damage to his bladder and intestine. However, that was not the case since the leg break was done intentionally by the doctor. That is quite impossible unless it was a magical bullet like the one used to assassinate President Kennedy, but I will not go into that. While this is a work of fiction, the details like these make a story believable. That is why I appreciate the responses that point out errors and confusions in the story. Thanks again to everyone who has responded to my stories, and God bless. Damion
Please send all responses to snwdemon@yahoo.com or snwdemon@toast.net. Also, please include the word NOSPAM in the subject line in order to get past my Spam filters. Constructive comments will be answered and flames will be ignored.