Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 02:25:02 -0700 (PDT) From: Trish Riddle Subject: A Voice from the Past Chpater 10 Warning: This story is fiction - all names were made up. So if there is anyone out there with these names, I don't know them. If you do not like the idea of male relationships, then please do not read any further. This is my first story, so please let me know how you think I'm doing. I have been reading the stories on Nifty for about three years, and decided that I wanted to give it a try as a Nifty writer. I would like to know what you think... so send me an email, and let me know. Please add the story title in the subject line. I want to thank the few that have taken the time to email me. Good or bad I would like to know that you are reading my story. I want to thank Joe for all the help he has given me throughout this story. Without his help, I probably wouldn't be as far into the story as I am. I also want to thank Jere for taking the time to edit the story for me. Now, get comfortable, read the story, and I'm hoping that you enjoy it! A Voice from The Past Chapter 10 "So, Andy, you are visiting my boy. I have a friend who comes to visit, and he keeps up with what my James has been doing," Daniel said. "Yes, I am. Can you really call him your boy?" Andy said, sternly. "What do you want with him?" Daniel asked. "I don't want anything but to be his friend. Why does this concern you?" Andy said. "It concerns me because I'm his father. If you want to still see my boy, you will tell me what I want to know," Daniel said. "With all due respect, Lieutenant, I don't think you can tell me what to do," Andy said. "No, I guess I can't, but I need to see James. I have some things that I need to tell him," Daniel said. "He likes to be called Jimmy," Andy said. "I'll call him what I want. Are you going to get him to come see me or not?" Daniel asked. "First of all, you need to get the chip off your shoulder and soften your approach a little. I have asked him to come see you. Right now, he wants nothing to do with you. He thinks you killed his brother. Only, he believes you meant it to be him," Andy said. NO! NO! That is not true. I love my son! I need to explain, please!" Daniel said, sitting there with tears in his eyes. Andy sat there looking at Daniel, not believing what he has seen and heard. `What is going on in his head? Why is he acting this way? He is supposed to hate Jimmy,' "Alright, Daniel, I'll talk with Jimmy, and I'll see if I can get him to come see you, but understand this - I will be with him, and I will NOT let you hurt him! He is a good kid," Andy said, leaving the visiting room. Andy arrived home, and went directly to Jimmy's room. Jimmy was spending more time here than back at the `home'. Andy and Melinda had taken Jimmy shopping to buy him some things he needed. However, they did this, not to buy his love or to make sure he would stay, but because he needed these things. They got him clothes, a laptop, and other things a fourteen year old would need. Andy stood at the door, watching Jimmy at his desk, working on his laptop, doing homework. How was he going to get Jimmy to agree to meet with his father? Tapping on the door, Jimmy looked up and greeted Andy. "Hey, Jimmy, you have a minute?" Andy asked. "Sure Andy, what's going on?" Jimmy asked. "Well, I just came from seeing your father." Andy said. "Why would you do that? I asked you to stay away!" Jimmy exclaimed. "Jimmy, listen to me; something is going on with your father. You didn't see him; he is one broken man. He really wants to see you," Andy said. "No, Andy, I can't go see him. If I go, he will hurt me," Jimmy said, trying to leave the room. Andy stopped him before he got out of the room, and gave him a big hug, trying to calm him down. "Jimmy, calm down! It's going to be alright. Your father can't hurt you; he is in jail for a long time. From what I saw today, I don't believe he wants to hurt you. If you don't want to see, him then that is ok. I just need you to think about it. It will be your decision," Andy said. "If I go, and I said IF, you have to go with me. I don't want to see him alone," Jimmy said. "Yes, Jimmy I'll go with you. You will never be alone with him. I'll always be by your side," Andy said, giving him another big hug. Jimmy agreed to see his dad, but only for a short time. As it got close to the time for Jimmy's meeting with his Dad, he became very nervous, and was about to turn inside out. He went off by himself, and Steven couldn't understand what was happening. He missed Jimmy playing with him. The night before Jimmy was to go see his Dad, Steven came into his room, where Jimmy was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed, Steven went in a sat beside him. "Jimmy, you okay?" Steven asked. Jimmy looked at Steven, with tears in his eyes. Steven crawled into Jimmy's lap, and put his little arm around his shoulder, "Jimmy, don't cry; it will be okay. I'm here. I will help! You my brother now; I love you," Steven said. Jimmy just gave Steven the biggest hug. "Thank you, Steven; you are my brother now, and I love you, too," Jimmy said. Andy and Mindy was standing at the door, with tears in their eyes. They couldn't believe the closeness between the two boys, and the show of emotion and love they had for each other. ********** "Jimmy, you ready to go?" Andy asked. "Yes, I'm ready, but I'm still really nervous and scared nearly to death," Jimmy said. On the drive over to see his Dad, Andy could tell that Jimmy was not taking this well. He was beginning to wonder if this was a bad idea to get Jimmy to come here. "We're here, Jimmy, Are you going to be okay?" Andy asked. "Just remember, you can back out ant time." "Yes, I just want this over with. You are going in with me, right? I know that this has to happen sometime or another; so I might as well get it over with. I am still scared. How will he act and what does he have to say?" Jimmy asked. "Yes, I will be with you the whole time. All I can say is... take it one step at a time. Mindy, Steven, and I are there for you, especially, Steven. That little guy will give both of us the strength we need. We will leave when you are ready," Andy said. "Okay, let's get this over with," Jimmy said. As they walked into the building, Jimmy was starting to wish he hadn't agreed to this. He really didn't want to see his father. He paused, as they approach the desk. "Hello, I'm Andy Cooper, and this is Jimmy McDowell. We are here to see Lt. McDowell," Andy said. "Just have a seat. I'll let you know when he is ready," The Officer said. "Thank you," Andy said. Andy and Jimmy sat for what seemed liked forever, but, in actuality, they only sat there for a few minutes. "Mr. Cooper, Jimmy; if you will follow me," the officer said. "Come on, Jimmy, let's go," Andy said. They reached the door, and Andy turned to talk with Jimmy. "Remember, the minute you want to leave, we are gone," Andy said. They walked into the visiting room, with Jimmy walking behind Andy, keeping his hand on his shoulder. "James, it's good to see you," Daniel said. Jimmy moved directly behind Andy. "Come around here, boy, and see your father," Daniel said. "You will not talk to him like that. Otherwise, we will leave now. Sit down so we can begin," Andy said. "You can leave, Andy; I want to talk to James alone," Daniel said. "Not going to happen; I'm staying, so if I leave, Jimmy leaves as well. Why don't you get started, and tell Jimmy why you wanted to see him," Andy said. "Okay, James, I just need you to listen to me. I didn't mean to shoot your brother. I thought it.......," Jimmy cuts him off. "You thought it was me; you hate me because I'm gay, and you wanted me dead!" Jimmy said, tears rolling down his cheeks. "James, how can I hate you for being the same as me," Daniels said. Jimmy and Andy sat there looking at Daniel, in shook, at what was just said. "What? What do you mean... that you are the same as me?" Jimmy said, in almost a whisper. "James, there is a lot that you don't know about me. My life has been a secret from everyone, but one person. When I met you're mother, I was questioning things about me. I was just starting out on the police force. I tried to hide the fact, from everyone, that I was attracted to guys. As time went on, it was getting harder to hide. I was twenty-six when I met your mother. I thought I could have a good life with her, but I needed to keep my secret from everyone. We married, and had a good life, and then I met him. He was a new guy on the force. We were partnered together, and we had many long shifts at night. I knew I loved your mother; I guess it was more of a sisterly love, but I loved her. Then it happened... your mother told me she was pregnant. I was happy; I always wanted to be a father, just didn't know if it would happen. I went to work that night, excited about the fact of becoming a father. My partner and I were in the office, and I was telling him about becoming a father. He was happy for me, and we hugged. Then he kissed me and, before I knew it, he locked the door and we had sex," Daniel said. "Oh! My God!" Jimmy said. "James, you have to know that I never wanted to hurt your mother," Daniel said. "What happened? Did you tell mom?" Jimmy asked. "James, I never got the chance. I would try to tell her, then I would chicken out. She was pregnant; I couldn't chance upsetting her...." "Upsetting her! You had sex with some guy while you were with her. Who was it?" Jimmy asked, almost demanding to know. "James, please, that's not important now," Daniel said. "No! I want to know now!" Jimmy said. "Okay I'll tell you. I'm only telling you because he has been visiting me, and we talked about it and he said it was okay for me to tell you about him, so it's not like I'm outing him without him knowing. It was Travis Wilson." To be continued