Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 04:18:59 GMT
From: patcross@kskc.net
Subject: Pat and John    Chapter 2 (Revised)

"Pat and John" (High School) Chapter 2 "An Uphill Battle"

    Waving everybody out of the room,  Pat and John quietly talked about what
was to come. With only Pat there, John began to cry. Pat held him close,
knowing that all he could do was be there for his friend. As John calmed down,
Pat softly asked him if he knew about his injuries. John nodded his head, and
just layed there, as if the world's biggest rock had landed on him. "John, the
Doctor says that you might walk again, but it's going to take a lot of work on
your part," Pat said. With a huge smile, John replied, "You mean it? I won't be
disabled all my life?" Instantly, John realized his mistake. But, Pat, with a
goofy grin, said, "Other than mentally disabled, which you've always been, NO!"

    "Well", John shot back, "I'm not so far gone that I don't realize the
importance of exercise. I'm going to need help, so would you like the job?" Pat
looked at him seriously, and replied, "Only if you give 100%, and no less. I
want you healthy, too! I'll take you on." With tears again rolling down his
face, John looked deeply into Pat's eyes as he replied, "you mean it, Pat?"
"Sure I do, John, and I'm not ashamed to say I love you." John gulped,
realizing his fonded wish was about to come true, as he looked at Pat,
saying "I love you, too, Pat, and more than just as a friend. You don't know
how long I've wanted to tell you, but.....". Pat shooooshed him by kissing him
softly, but John returned the kiss passionately, surprising Pat. For several
minutes, they kissed, releasing feelings for each other they never knew they
had. For now, they had just realized they were not only friends, but lovers.
When they finished, they mouthed " I LOVE YOU" to each other, and Pat left,
leaving John to a night of sweet dreams.

     As Pat went home with the Stevens, the air was thick with silence. Once
they pulled into the driveway, Mr. Stevens began to talk with Pat. "Pat, I know
that you and John have been friends for years now, and I think you should know
that John is gay." Pat paused for a moment, and said, "I know he is, sir, and I
am, too. In fact, we professed our love for each other at the Hospital. Is that
going to to be a problem?" "WHEW", Mr. Stevens thought. That was easier than he
had expected. "Just one more thing, Pat. When John gets back to school, protect
him, if you can. Stick together. Remember, he protected you when you needed it,
and you always said you'd re-pay him, if you could. This may be your chance.
Love him, but protect him, as well." Pat gulped, and said, "Yes, sir, I sure
will. I'd give my life to keep John Alive and healthy, if that's what it took."
Mr. Stevens hugged Pat, thinking "No greater love than a man has that he lay
his life down for his brother".

     After a mostly un-eaten supper, the family went to bed. Pat, however,
wanted to sleep in John's bed, so after a shower, Pat went to bed, but was
surprised to find the Stevens' there, waiting to tuck him in and kiss him good
night. They tucked him in, but found him so upset and unable to sleep, they
each took him by the hand, and sang lullabyes until Pat was asleep. As they
watched Pat, they prayed for both their boys, for truly they had two sons, now,
and loved them equally.

     The next morning, Pat started to think ahead about protecting John.
Pat's disability was different; his left arm and leg suffered from muscular
paralysis, as a result of cerebral palsy, so he knew what it was like to be
disabled. Now, he didn't understand John was facing, true, but he was going to
try. With their roles reversed, Pat was fearful of the future. But, as he had
learned early on in life, it had it be faced, so he did it with a smile. Pat
was NOT a quitter, and he never ran away from his problems.

     After his shower, he went down to breakfast. "Good Morning, Honey. How are
you?" Hearing Mrs. Stevens call him Honey made Pat smile, because his own
mother had called him "Honeybear" all his life. Pat gave her a big hug,
saying, "I'm fine, today, but tired. I didn't sleep well last night." She
smiled, and said, "None of us did, I'm afraid. We stayed with you until you
were finally able to go to sleep. So, what are your plans after school?" "I'm
going to the Hospital to see John, and see if I can help in his therapy. You?"
Mrs. Stevens looked at Pat and said, "We're going to see a lawyer today about
suing the parents of the boy who hurt John. The school and their coach, too.
Somebody HAD to know of that boy's dangerous potential with a name
like "Bonecrusher". Pat nodded his head, and silently left, leaving his foster-
mother to her thoughts.

     After a long day of classes, and fielding questions about John, Pat left
school and drove to the Hospital. Walking in the front entrance, he stopped at
Doctor Johnson's office. "Hi, Doc!", Pat said humorously, with a ear to ear
grin on his face. "Get in here, and siddown, you bum!", rumbled the Doctor, for
the two were really great friends. Doctor Johnson then looked at Pat with an
expression that scared Pat too death. "Pat, close the door. What I'm going to
tell you involves John's privacy, and is nobody's business. But before I say
anything else, I need to ask, are you in love with John?"

     "How did you know, Doc?", Pat asked his old friend. The Doctor quietly
replied, "I saw it in his eyes every time your name was mentioned. He told
me that you were his hero, for being so strong and brave all these years,
especially after your parents died." Pat sighed, and said, "Yes, Doc, we
finally realized we were in love the day he got hurt. Now, I'm the strong one,
and I'm scared. He's always protected me, how am I gonna protect him?" The
Doctor sat there a moment, deep in thought, and then he spoke. "Pat, you were
able to take some self-defense classes, right?" "Yes, sir". "Did you learn to
defend yourself? If you did, then you can defend John, too!" Pat looked at the
Doctor in shock as he said, "I guess I can, can't I? Nobody would ever believe
it!"

     Doctor Johnson and Pat discussed John's therapy in further detail. "I'm
going to have to you give him his foot and leg massages, but he's asked for you
to perform one other massage that is best done behind a locked door and window
shades." Pat, not being stupid, picked up on this almost immediately. "Why, me,
though? Can't he do it himself?" "Pat, he's depressed. The only time we've seen
him happy is when talks about you, or his parents. The three of you are all he
thinks about, but mostly you right now."

     Pat thought a minute, and said "He doesn't do anything?" Sadly, Dr.
Johnson replied, "No, I'm afraid, and if it continues, like I said, it will
most certainly get worse. And the depression will, as well. He has to WANT to
get better. As to visiting him, he's not in the best of moods today. He has
been biting people's heads off all day, and might go after you if you're in
there. Think you can handle it?" Thoughtfully, Pat gazed at Dr. Johnson,
saying "We agreed to work together, right? I'd be letting us both done if I
quit now." And off they went to see John.

     John, however, was in no mood to see anyone, although his mood lightened
considerably when he saw Pat bouncing into the room. Noticing that one wall had
been smeared by several trays of hospital food, the two visitors detected a
peculiar odor in the room. Dr. Johnson, who always tried to make the best out
of a bad situation said, "Ah! Eau de Hospital! My favorite perfume! You know,
John, Creamed Spinach sticks and slides best on these walls. Mac and cheese
isn't so bad, either," he quipped. Pat doubled over with laughter and John gave
him the finger.

     "John, tomorrow, Pat is going to begin foot and leg massages with you, and
the other private massage that we discussed." Having said that, Dr. Johnson
left the boys alone. Pat looked at John and asked, "Do you want to scream at
somebody? I'm willing to to listen." And for three hours, John cussed, cursed,
screamed, yelled, and cried at the unfairness of it all, of what he had lost
and might not have again. Pat held John close, and calmed him down.

     Through all of John's upset, Pat was patient and kind. He looked at John
lovingly as he said, "John, you can't see the positives in what's happened
right now, but they are there. They will pop up when you least expect them, and
they will be part of a bigger reward....you walking again. But, none of it will
happen, my Love, when you allow yourself to think "Oh, poor me!". If you
exercise, you will walk. If you don't, you won't. It's as simple as that, my
friend. There's one thing you CAN do. Build up your arm and shoulder muscles
and become a swimmer. Compete that way. That will help your legs, too."

      John looked at Pat, and with some difficulty, blurted out, "I'm scared,
Pat. What if I can't do it?" John, at that moment, looked so much like a little
boy learning to ride a bike, his fear was so obvious to Pat. "Johnny, I'll be
right there with you, all the time. I'll never leave you to face this alone.
Now, do you want to discuss the special therapy you asked Dr. Johnson about?"
John thought a minute, and replied, "I think it should be applied orally, once
per day, after every therapy session. Does that sound good?" Pat laughed, "You
forgot to add "If patient behaves himself during each therapy session!" John
chuckled and motioned Pat over for a kiss. Since Pat had a lot of homework, it
was a short, but passionate, kiss this evening. "Good Night, My Love", said
James, as Pat replied, "I Love You", before they parted for the night.