Date: 22 Apr 00 02:10:37
From: rimshot@planetaccess.com
Subject: The truth about Caymen 7

This chapter is dedicated to a friend who just lost his family to a tragic
accident.  Hang in there, Johnny, we love you.

Dan

Rimshot@planetaccess.com

The truth about Caymen 7:


	Randy had always thought of himself as sort of like Piglet.  He
wasn't really brave, although he'd do what he need to, even if it was WAY
outside of his comfort zones.  He was a bit shy, but not an introvert, and
liked dressing in fashionable clothes.

	He had known he was gay since he heard the word spoken when he was
thirteen, and the last four years had been hell.  His best friend Ronnie
had been beaten severely for coming out of the closet last year, and Ron's
family had moved because of it.

	Randy's life was now one of secrets and shadows, where nobody knew
the truth and didn't want to.  He knew that his parents suspected his inner
nature, but it wasn't discussed, ever.  There were times that he honestly
considered killing himself, but in the end he was afraid.  Instead, he
lived on the Internet, using its unfeeling glitz and glamour to help him
hide.

	Then he found the support group, right here in town.  It boasted of
its anonymity, and that everyone was welcome.  All you had to do was show
up.  Nothing was expected of you, just be there.  It took several weeks to
work up the courage.  He would look at his watch and know the meeting had
started, and then agonize over his cowardice for not going.  His mother
noticed that every Friday night he went into a depression, and chided him
for not telling her what was wrong.  He couldn't take it anymore.  He
grabbed his jacket and fled.

	Now he lay at eh foot of Caymen's bed.  Baggy, Caymen's tabby,
curled in the crook of his arm.  He had slept for about two hours, then
woke to the sound of a distant thunderstorm.  He could hear Caymen
breathing steadily, and Merit's quiet snores, and suddenly felt very alone.
Not that this was new to Randy.

	A huge crash of thunder went off right over the house, and Randy
sat bolt upright, staring wide- eyed at the windows.  Caymen's room had
floor length windows on the two outside walls, and they both lit up with
each flash of lightening.  He glanced at the bed, then jumped when he
noticed Caymen sitting there looking at him, reflected in the flashes of
light.

	Randy swallowed hard, afraid of being branded a coward by these new
friends.  He needed them so desperately it made his chest hurt, and now,
during a rainstorm, he showed his true colors.  Shame washed over him.

	In the gloom between lightening strikes, Caymen smiled, his face
very compassionate.  He shook his head, then pulled open the covers and
patted the bed beside him.  Randy felt tears in his eyes but fought them
back.  He wanted to wave the other off, to say he was fine, but the next
crash went off, and Randy was in the bed like a shot.  He shivered as
Caymen pulled him close, wrapping the blanket over their shoulders.  Baggy
jumped up and spread out, pushing him back against Caymen's warm chest.
With out conscious effort, Randy relaxed, and before he knew it he slept.
Caymen looked through one slitted eye at the cat, stroked her head, then
went back to sleep.

	Randy woke up to being shaken gently.  He opened his eyes and
blinked into the early morning sun and put his hand over his face, trying
to reach out and pat the snooze button on an alarm clock that wasn't there.
Reality began to assert itself, and he sat up, remembering that he was not
in his bed, the alarm was not going off, and that he was naked in Caymen's
bed.  He sat up to quickly and smacked his forehead into Merit's.

	"Ow!"  Merit jumped back, then started to laugh.  "Good morning,
sweet pee.  Do you kill everybody that makes you breakfast?"  He rubbed his
head and squinted at Randy.

	"Oh, shit, I'm sorry.  Really, I didn't mean to do that."  Randy
leaned forward to touch Merit's forehead.  "I, uh.."

	"It's okay.  Calm down."  Merit pushed the smaller boy back onto
the pillows playfully.  "Fortunately, you picked the one place on my body
that's invincible."  He picked up a pile of clothes and set them in front
of Randy.  "Caymen is a pathetically early riser, and has washed your
clothes for you, and mine.  The shower is through that door, and there is a
new toothbrush on the counter.  We're down in the living room when you're
done."

	"Thanks."  Randy crawled out of the covers, slightly self-conscious
about his nudity, and headed for the bathroom.  He had noticed almost
painfully that Merit was still naked, and was a bit reassured, though still
aware that he was decidedly the smallest guy in the house in more ways than
one.  He set his clothes on the counter and got in the shower.

	Merit ambled down the stairs and walked up behind Caymen,
encircling his waist with his arms.  "Sleeping beauty is in the shower."
He said, steeling a piece of the apples Caymen had cut up.  "He damned near
killed me when he woke up.  Didn't know where he was and sat up, giving me
a concussion."

	"If he hit your head, there couldn't have been much damage."
Caymen slapped Merit's hand as he snatched another apple slice.  "Go drink
your coffee.  There won't be any left."

	"Yes, dear."  Merit grumbled, earning him a smack on the ass.  He
yipped and ran to the table, shooting Caymen a huge grin.  About ten
minutes later, Randy entered the room almost tentatively, still wearing
nothing, and clearly relieved that they hadn't dressed yet either.

	Caymen could easily read that Randy was exploring uncharted waters,
and silently warned Merit not to make any cracks.  Randy was terrified that
he might get embarrassed, or that they would suddenly start laughing at
him, but had worked up the courage to do as they were doing.  It was pretty
impressive.

	"So do you guys ever wear clothes here?"  Randy asked, quietly
sitting down to the table.

	"I don't any more than I have to," Caymen said, setting a glass of
juice in front of Randy.  "And I think I've rubbed off on Merit over the
last year.  It's not a house rule, you know.  You don't have to be naked to
be in here."

	"I kind of like it.  It's just a little new, that's all"

	"I can't think of anything I'd rather look at."  Merit quipped,
kissing Caymen as he sat down.  Randy started to laugh, juice coming out of
his nose.  He grabbed some napkins and wiped at his chest as they joined
in, then had to go to the sink to clean himself off.

	"It certainly makes life's little whoopsies easier to clean up,
doesn't it?"  Caymen said, deadpan, sipping his coffee.  Randy returned to
the table, red in the face, but still laughing.

	"You guys are the bomb, you know that?  You don't play by any of
the rules.  You're fantastic."

	Merit smacked Caymen's shoulder gently.  "I told you so.  You never
listen to me."

	Caymen set his mug down and knitted his eyebrows together.  "I'm
sorry, what was that?"

	"Dink."

	"Weenie."

	"Oh, god, I have to go to the bathroom!"  Randy giggled as he raced
up the stairs.  He had laughed so hard, his stomach felt like one big knot.
Caymen watched him go, the held up his hand.  Merit smacked it id a high
five, then they went back to their mugs.

	They all dressed and got ready to leave.  The plan was to stop at
Randy's, which surprisingly was only a mile away, so that he could change
into shorts and a T-shirt, then go to Logan so Merit could check in and
pick up his boom box, then go up to the camp and clean the area and cut
fire wood.  They would stop along the way for sandwiches and sodas.

	Randy raced out of the house after changing, almost beaming.  "They
said I could go!  I can't believe it!"  He got in the truck and did up his
seat belt.  "They never let me go anywhere, specially when they don't know
you guys.  That's incredible."

	Merit looked at Caymen knowingly, and Caymen shrugged, utterly
ignoring the insinuation.  From what he had felt through the mind of
Randy's mother, it was a good guess that Randy's life was going to change a
tad.  Merit put the truck in drive and away they went.

	"I brought a CD to listen to.  Do you guys like Aerosmith?"  Randy
held up the CD.

	"Yeah, that's cool, man.  Put it in."  Caymen showed him how to use
Merit's player.  They talked as they drove, covering music, fashions, cars,
school, and plans for college.  They stopped at a convenience store and
bought snacks and drinks, then headed off again, the music being changed to
the rock group Poison.  They sang Un-skinny Bop and Sexual Thing at the top
of their lungs.

	As they pulled into the cul-de-sac where Merit's house was, it was
easy to tell that something was wrong.  There were several vans parked
along the curb, and the fire chief's car was in Merit's driveway.
Policemen walked back and forth in the yard, and there was a car from the
local media across the street.

	Merit pulled up and parked the El Camino, then ran for the house,
leaving the door open.  Caymen and Randy followed as quickly as they could,
and caught up with him in the living room.  A Tall thin man was talking to
Merit, his hands on Merit's shoulders, and Caymen opened up his mind,
feeling a wave of terror and grief wash over him.

	"Mr. Carter, we found your family in their beds.  Apparently there
was a problem with the furnace.  We think it was Carbon Monoxide
poisoning."

	"Their dead?"  Merit said in disbelief.  He started shaking and
couldn't stop.

	"I'm sorry, son.  We had no way of getting in touch with you."  The
man was very gentle as he steered Merit to a chair.  "If it helps, they
didn't feel pain."

	Caymen felt tears roll down his cheeks, and he put his hands on
Merit's shoulders.  Randy stood by the door in shock, not knowing what to
do.  Merit looked at them blankly, then back to the detective.  "But the
house isn't burned or anything.  How could they be dead?"

	"Carbon Monoxide is an odorless gas, Merit.  They couldn't see it
or smell it or taste it."  The man took out a note pad from his jacket.
"We managed to contact your uncle, Rick Carter.  He should be here any time
now.  I think it would be best if you just sat here and rested, okay?  I'm
right here if you need me.  My name's Don."

	The detective patted Merit's hand, then stood up to go outside.
Caymen sat down next to Merit and put his hand on the other's knee.
"Merit, I'm so sorry.  I love you, and I'm here for you."

	"But Cay, this isn't possible.  I just talked to my Mom last
night."  Merit's eyes had gotten a wild look to them, and he turned
suddenly and searched the room.  "This is bullshit!  It's some kind of sick
joke!"  His voice rose in pitch, and he pulled away, racing down the hall.

	Caymen jumped up and followed, nearly shoving Randy out of the way.
Randy watched them, feeling like he should find a corner to hide in.  He
stepped towards the door and nearly got knocked down again as the door flew
open.  A tall dark haired man with a mustache came in, glanced around the
room, and looked down at Randy.  "Who are you?"  He asked.  His eyes were
very red, and he looked very tired.

	"Randy Blake, are you Merit's uncle?"  Randy asked.  The man
nodded, and Randy pointed towards the hall.  "They went that way.  He's
really upset."

	"Thanks."  Rick Carter put his hand on the boy's shoulder briefly,
then headed down the hall.  A crash came from the master bedroom, and he
opened the door, ducking a bottle of perfume as it hit the wall.  "Merit!"
He shouted, getting his nephew's attention.  The boy stopped shouting and
lowered his arm, dropping another bottle on the floor.

	"Uncle Rick?"  Merit whispered.  His face went blank, then deformed
into grief.  He moved around the bed and began to sob.  Rick wrapped his
arms around Merit in a bear hug and began to cry himself.

	Caymen sighed, pulling himself up off the floor.  Merit had really
lost it for a minute, thrashing the room and throwing things.  It was
terrifying and sickening to watch the one he loved pulled apart like that
and not be able to do a thing about it.  He felt helpless.

	While they held each other, Caymen slipped out, looking for a quiet
place to concentrate.  Grandma would need to know what had happened, and
that Caymen needed her.  His eyes blurred as he thought of her, and what a
wreck he would be when she died.

In Merit's room, he found a picture of the two of them stuck in the mirror
frame.  He touched it, then sat on the end of the bed.  Closing his eyes,
he opened his mind and reached out, almost instantly finding his grandma.
He began to weep as he filled her in.

"Grandma," he said through the link in their minds, "Merit's family is
dead.  Something happened with the furnace."

"Dear God.  Is he all right?"

"He's alive.  He was at our house.  It happened last night."

"Has he any family, son?  Are you with him?"

"His uncle is here.  So am I.  I feel so useless.  I can't help him."

"Just be there for him, son.  I'll make arrangements to get there from the
airport."

"I love you, Grandma."

"I love you too, boy."

Caymen fell back on the bed, drained.  The link had left him so tired.  He
rubbed his eyes.  There was a knock at the door, and Caymen looked up to
see Randy standing there looking very frightened.  Caymen was reminded of
Piglet.  I forgot you were here, Randy.  I'm sorry."  He held out his arms,
and the other crossed the room and hugged him.

"I don't know what to do.  Merit and his uncle went out in the backyard,
and Merit is getting kind of crazy."  Randy broke the hug and moved aside
as Caymen headed for the backyard.  "I still don't know what to do."  He
said quietly to the empty doorway.

	Caymen ran through the sliding doors onto the patio.  Merit
screamed something unintelligible at his uncle, and Caymen ran to him,
grabbing his face.  "STOP IT!"  He shouted, sending it forcefully through
the link.  Merit froze, his eyes focusing on Caymen's.  "You're hurting the
people that are trying to help you, Merit.  I need you to calm down.
Please."

Merit blinked, then sagged against Caymen.  "Oh, god, Cay, what am I gonna
do?"