Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 20:07:28 EST From: C2J77@aol.com Subject: My Night With Howie D. Part 18 The rumors are true folks. My Night is going to be ending in the next few parts. I have honed my writing skills and met some great people. This almost feels like high school all over again. I have received many mails raving about Howie and then I have received some about killing him. Both were great because you all showed me what I was doing right and wrong. Little tip here aight? Email an author if you read their story and liked it. There is nothing like getting emails telling you that. Even the bad ones are appreciated. Anyway, enough of the drama. On with the story. Oh yeah, the legal stuff. If your under 18 don't get caught reading this. If this is illegal in your state, city or town or village or WHATEVER don't get caught reading this. My Night With Howie D. Part 18 The Beginning Of The End Have you ever been at the airport at three in the morning? Yes? Then you know how boring it is waiting for a flight to come in. I was sitting there waiting for Howie's flight to arrive and was nervous. We had talked on the phone about Rachel and the baby and I needed to know how he felt. See him tell me how he felt. Then I would know what I was planning was right. "Flight 112 from Orlando will be touching down in fifteen minutes," the voice from the speaker said. That woke me from my daze. I looked around and saw that other than a guy in the corner I was alone. I got up and started over to the gate and ten minutes later saw my man coming off. He looked around and when he saw me he smiled and ran over. "I missed you baby," he said and he hugged me. "I missed you more." I whispered into his ear. "Lets get to the car so we can be more.......intimate" he said with that smile. The guy in the corner watched us and made me nervous. The bag Howie had was all his luggage so we went to my car and took off. We hit the road and Howie grabbed my hand. I looked over and smiled. "I am really glad you came Howie. This is big and I need your help." I said. "You don't know how much it means to me that you asked," he said and squeezed my hand. "Alright, before we get there I will lay out everything that is happening. Rachel is at the house. She is VERY pregnant and is due within two weeks. I need to decide what I am doing. She will give me this child. No strings attached. I had my lawyer do the paperwork and there are no loopholes. All I need to know is this. Do you want to raise a child with me? " I asked. He was silent for a moment. I was afraid of how I had sounded and regretted my choice of words. "Well, honestly Craig I always had thought we would have a kid. But not until later. I mean, right now we are doing our album, touring and as soon as this tour is done the next will begin. I am on the road 24-7. And you have your movies going on. And your campaign to come out is coming up this month isn't it? Are you sure we can handle a kid right now?" "Howie, I know we are both busy. But I also know that we can do it. I am not 24-7 into my career. I have time for a baby. I can do it. My Mom will help." "Where am I in that equation?" he asked and let go of my hand. I pulled the car over and turned to him. He was hurt. "Howie, your part in the equation is right by my side whenever is possible. You are a part of my life and consequently a part of the child's. I know that you wont be there all the time but when you are it will be our family." I said and took his hand. He turned to me and smiled. I leaned over the console and kissed him. He opened his lips and his tongue darted out. I accepted it and we frenched kiss. We broke apart and I pulled back onto the road. I noticed some headlights pulled off back away and they got back on the road also. But I didn't think anything of it. We got to my moms house and all the lights were off. We made our way quietly up to my room and we crashed for the night. The next morning we came down and Rachel was at the table. She heard us enter and started to get up. "No need for that." Howie said and sat down at the table."You must be Rachel." She smiled at him. "That would be me. Though not usually this big." He laughed and she joined in with him. They had made a connection. While I made coffee, they talked. I gave Howie a cup and then filled Rachel's. Then I sat down with my own. "Okay, I know that you both want to discuss the baby, so lets talk," she said. "Alright, I don't know you other than what I have heard from Craig, Although you have done some nasty shit you also have done good. What I don't understand is this, why do you want to give up your child?" Howie asked. Rachel just sat there. She looked lost but then came back. "I know that I am not ready for this. I have no urge for a child. But I also don't believe in abortion. If Craig and you don't want the baby then I will give it up in the delivery room. I just want Craig to have first dibs because regardless of what happened to us he is still my friend." We all just sat there for a moment. Too quiet so I spoke. "Well, I know this is moot. But I want this child. I don't care about the details. I love kids. I want kids. I have the ideal environment. I can provide well for one. Therefore I want one. But if my fiance doesn't then I guess we will have to talk. I want this child though. I don't think either of you know how much it means to me." I looked up and they were both staring at me intently. Then they looked at each other. They seemed to have a silent communication. Howie spoke first.,"I want this. I know how much it means to you and you know how much you mean to me. I want to have this child with you." He got up and came up behind me and put his arms around me and kissed me. Rachel looked at us and said,"I want you both to raise this child." ****************************************************************************** ******** The next few weeks flew by. I was busy with the movie and Howie was still touring. My lawyer had the paperwork drawn up and signed. When Rachel gave birth me and Howie were going to be present and named the parents. As a friend I had signed a check for $10,000 and also hooked her up with a house to move into. We all were getting along great. I was into the prospect of being a daddy and my whole family was excited. So was Howie's. We were getting gifts from everyone. There was already a nursery set up for our child in my mom's house and Paula was setting one up in Orlando. Rachel was content. She had refused the money, but after a long talk with my mom, relented and accepted. The house was my moms idea. Meanwhile on the working end I was about to come out publicly. It was a move that I was excited and nervous about. My character was openly gay on the show and I was accepted. But finding out I was actually gay might be a different story. I made a couple appearances as my amnesiac self and every time the ratings were high. The conference was planned. Jeff was hyped. Howie was supportive but unable to attend due to a show in Ohio. "Babe, you know I want to be there right?" he asked. "I know you do, but you have a show that night and lets face it, if you were there on my coming out it would look a little obvious and we don't want you to be suspected." There was silence. "Howie?" "I'm here, I was just thinking. Aight, I will be watching though. And remember, someone in Ohio who loves and supports you." "Oh you mean AJ?" I joked. "Well, him too." "And me." I heard Nick yell. "Hey me too." Brian joined in. "See you have all of us. Now go out there and make us proud. And remember I love you." "I love you too Howie." ****************************************************************************** ******* The center was filled with reporters. Jeff was in the wings and giving me the thumbs up. My heart was pounding and my head was throbbing. I only hoped I didn't look as doofy as I felt. I was dressed in a down outfit. It was my vest and jeans look. Everyone was looking at me expectantly. "Thank you all for coming tonight. I want to say a few words. This center is the best charitably idea I have seen in a while. It is taking gay men and women who are infected and giving them a place. I know from people that some families find out their child is gay AND infected and just boot them. This is a place where they can find support and help. I am proud to have my name affiliated with this. For many reasons. This is something a friend of mine would have approved of. He was always into this and I never did. I was on the outskirts. I would donate but not pay attention to the problem. Well, he showed me the problem. He was infected and his family disowned him when he came out to them. They found out he had HIV and they told him it was his reward for being gay. In fact, the night he died, instead of feeling sad about their sons death, they said how it was Gods plan. I don't know. Because I don't think that HIV is Gods way of ridding the world of gays. God forgives, or so I am told. Then why cant he forgive you for being gay? I think he does. Now are their any comments before we cut the ribbon?" I asked. Many hands went up. I picked one. "Mr. Bingham, Charles Port from the Daily Star, is this just merely a tax write off for you?" "No sir it is not. This is something that I believe in and am not using as a tax deduction, next question." "Melanie Rey, aren't you afraid of your name being attached to a 'homosexual' project?" "Thats a good question Ms. Rey. One, I portray a homosexual on TV, and the world is okay with that. Two I have gay friends. My straight friends don't have a problem with that. Three, I am gay and none of my business, personal or familial relations have a problem with that." There was shocked silence. No one said anything. Then the hands raised. "You are comfortable enough to come out nationally?" "Yes, ma'am I am. I am what I am. If anyone has a problem with it, that's theirs to deal with." "Sir, I commend you. I have followed you since your first appearance and you have always put off a good persona. I believe many look to you as a role model. And now that you have come out, you should be a positive role model for young gay men and women." With that I thought of the bellboy at the hotel when I first met Howie, the stewardess who's brother got strength from me to come out. I had done right by them. I answered many questions, some good some bad and some bigoted. After they were answered we cut the ribbon. The party was a blur. On and off I swear I kept seeing the guy from the airport. But was distracted. I was asked to comment on many things and had Jeff right there covering it. Then my cell phone went off. "Hello?" "You did it baby! Your on the news right now! And the public poll is 80% in your favor!." Howie said. "Public poll?" "Yeah, the stations are all running a public poll. The public is reacting. CNN has the national and that one if a little iffy, but other than that its good for the first hour." The evening flew and I went home. The next week was bad. I knew there were some who wouldn't take it well, but it was worse than I thought. Christian groups were trying to crack on the network. My fan base was getting a lot of hate mail and the studio was also. But on the positive, ratings went up, scripts came in, and my webpages were proud. Into all of this I had a surprise. Aaron came back. We had kept in contact ever since Jesse's funeral but this was the first time I saw him in person. We had lunch and I told him all about what was going on. And of course invited him to be one of my ushers. We left the restaurant and as we were leaving I saw the man again. He was in a booth reading a menu and watching us. I turned and went back in to confront him, but he was gone. I had to remember to talk to Jeff about him. I got home and saw the cars were all there. I got in and my Mom, brother, sister and Rachel were sitting in the living room talking. I flopped on the couch and asked what was up. "We were just talking about what we are going to do once the baby is born." Rachel said. "And that would be?" I asked. "After I get out of the hospital I am going to the house and getting a job. I want no contact with the child. That way there will be no regret," she answered. "Rachel, you know that you will want to see it. Its unnatural not too." Scott said. At that moment Beth came down the stairs with the twins. She put them down and they crawled over to us. Rachel burst into tears and got up and out of the room. We all just sat there dumbfounded. "I think you should talk to her Craig," my mom said. I went out and found her in the front yard. She was sitting in the bench. I sat down next to her. "Rachel, are you having second thoughts?" "Yes, I want to be a part of my child's life. I don't want to raise it, but I want to be able to be there," she sobbed. "Rachel yes you can." "How? I signed papers saying I would leave it alone." "Rachel I would love for the baby to know its real mom." "And Howie wouldn't have a problem with that?" "No, he wouldn't" a voice said from the bushes. We turned and there was Howie. I jumped up and hugged him. "And to what do we owe this pleasure to Mr. Dorough?" I asked. "I believe our baby Mr. Bingham, or should I say Mr. Dorough?" he responded with a smile. "huh?" "Craig, the baby is due Friday, " Rachel said. I had slipped. I had forgot, Howie was coming down for the week of the due date so he could be there for the birth. Rachel was already late. It was November 14th and she was due in October. The doctor was inducing on the 17th if she hadn't gone yet. Howie leaned over and hugged Rachel. "And how is sweetness doing?" he asked. "I'm fine, you devil! How are you?" "Great, by the way, the guys are in town also and want to get together with us all." At that moment Scott opened the door. "Craig, Howie's coming in.....oh hey he's here already." Howie walked over to Scott and they hugged. "Hey, happy birthday. I brought you a little something." Howie said and pulled a package out of his jacket. Scott opened it and showed me a gold chain with a locket. "What is it Scott?" I asked. He looked and said," Its my boys." His eyes were watery as he hugged Howie and said thanks. Whoa. I hadn't realized how close Howie and my family had got. We all were going to head inside. Scott was by the door and Howie was behind him. I was behind Rachel. Then I saw something shiny on the ground I bent down to pick it up and all hell broke loose. It happened in slow motion. Like horrible things always do. As I bent over and picked up the key, I heard a shot. I thought it was a car backfire until I heard Rachel scream. I looked and saw her grab her shoulder, then another shot and there was a hole in her left shoulder. As she went down I caught her. Howie and Scott had already whirled around and as I caught Rachel I saw what they saw. A man in the bushes trying like hell to reload. Howie and Scott started for him, and I screamed for them to stop. All the while thinking that he would load and start shooting them. The man was obviously shaken because he dropped the gun and ran, with Scott and Howie in hot pursuit. Time went back to normal and my family came out to see what the noise was. All this had happened in the space of two minutes. My mom stepped out and saw Rachel bleeding and yelled for Beth to call 911. The she knelt next to me. "Craig what happened? " "I don't know Mom, there were shots, this guy, Rachel hit. Fell.,......" I rambled. My sister had come out also and then Beth followed. "The ambulance is on its way. where are Scott and Howie?" Beth asked. "They ran after him." Meanwhile Rachel lay unconscious in my arms. I tried her pulse and found it beating. She was breathing. She was alive. But how was the baby? Before we could do anything the ambulance came. The paramedics came out just as Scott and Howie came back leading a man. The paramedics took Rachel from me and started asking questions. I couldn't answer, my gaze was locked on the man Howie and Scott had. I stood and heard my Mom talk to the paramedics. I walked to them. The man looked up when he heard me approach. It hit me then. This was the man that I had been seeing everywhere. I lunged for him. Before anyone could react I had knocked him from Howie and had him on the ground and I was beating the shit out of him. Until Howie grabbed me. "Craig, stop. Let the cops handle this." Howie urged as I resisted his embrace. "Not until I find out what the fuck is going on." I yelled and broke free from Howie. I yanked the guy off the ground by his shirt and held him up. One eye was starting to swell and the other lazily looked at me. Before I could do anything, I heard more sirens. And then saw the cops. Thank god Beth had called them. They rushed over and through everyone's ramblings got the gist of what happened and grabbed the guy. "Craig, Rachel is being taken to the hospital, come on lets go." Howie yelled. I turned to him and we jumped in the ambulance with Rachel. She was hooked up to the respirator and the guy was working on her. My mom was giving him the vital info on Rachel. I turned to Howie and that is when he noticed what I hadn't. "Craig, you got shot too," he said looking at my arm. I looked down and saw the tear in my shirt. And the blood. Oh my god. The blood. I passed out. ****************************************************************************** *********** How's this? Yes, the rumors are true. The story is coming to a close. I don't know about a continuation. Maybe. You tell me. You can email me at c2j77@aol.com with ALL comments and criticisms.