Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 15:40:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Equinus Scorpius Subject: Silent Violin, Chapter 7 Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Although the names of places used DO exist, they are in no way reflected factually in this story. Don't read this story if: * You're not 18 or over, * If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, * Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. Note: This story will be slow moving, and plot oriented. It is not a porno, though sex will happen. It's a fact of life. Words in between <> are sign language, as text formatting does not support italics. E-mail responses to the story, questions, suggestions, criticism, and comments to: EquinusScorpius@yahoo.com Thanks to all my readers for the feedback so far! A special thanks to those that have contacted me! I've chatted with a few of you, and the rest, don't be strangers! I don't bite (hard). Tom, Alex, Lori, Matt, Jim, Trey, David. the list goes on! Thanks also to BW. :) THE SILENT VIOLIN CHAPTER 7 Marjorie glanced at the number on the called ID. "Meg? Is that you?" A sob came from the other line. "Meg? What's wrong? Meg?" Marjorie said anxiously into the phone. "Oh, Marjorie. Oh, God." Meg McKennough cried into the phone. "It's - it's Shamus. Oh, God!" Another wail came through the phone. "Meg? What is it! What's happened?" Bastian and Aiden ran into the living room from the kitchen. Both boys looked anxiously at her. "The storm! Oh, God, the storm. There was an accident." Meg said through her weeping. "What Meg, what's wrong? What happened?" Marjorie said. Aiden took a step towards her, green eyes shining. "Oh, Marjorie, I can't say it. Please, can you get Aiden to the hospital? Oh, God." More heavy sobs came through the line. "Sure, Meg. Sure. Just hold on. We'll be there as soon as we can." Marjorie said soothingly. Meg canceled the call from her end. Aiden trembled, and Marjorie felt her heart break to see him in pain. "What is it?" he asked softly. His voice was husky and thick with emotion. Marjorie hesitated a moment, trying to think of the best way to phrase it. She herself didn't know exactly what it was. "Your mom wants us to meet her at the hospital. You're father's been in an accident." She said gently. "No." Aiden whispered. His green eyes became empty and he crumpled to the floor. Bastian moved to catch him and slowed his descent. Aiden was unconscious. ? Bastian signed, cradling Aiden's head in his lap. He stroked Aiden's hair back from his forehead subconsciously. "I don't know. Meg was crying too much for me to get anything out of her. She wants me to bring Aiden to the hospital." Marjorie smoothed back her hair in a nervous gesture. Her hands shook slightly. Bastian nodded, not looking up from Aiden's face. Hot tears splashed down onto Aiden's face. "Oh, Bastian." Marjorie said and knelt down to hug him. ? He signed after hugging her back. Aiden woke up shortly; his green eyes were haunted and confused. Bastian took him by the hand and led him back to his bedroom. Aiden followed docilely along. Marjorie returned to her own room to dress. Bastian removed Aiden's sweatpants and tugged on his black jeans and boots; he left him wearing the T-shirt, rightly assuming that the sheer black shirt was appropriate for a hospital. Aiden didn't react at all. Bastian pulled on the clothes he had worn the day before and walked Aiden into the living room. They sat on the couch just as Marjorie came out of her bedroom running a brush through her hair. "You okay, Bastian? How's Aiden?" Aiden didn't react at all to her voice and Bastian gestured helplessly at him. "Does he have a coat?" Bastian shook his head. "No, of course not," she sighed. "Wrap him in that afghan, keep him warm. I'll go clean off the car and warm it up." She grabbed her keys, pulled on a pair of thick gloves and headed out the front door. Bastian got the heavy afghan off the back of the couch and then, making Aiden stand up, he sat back down and pulled Aiden to him, enveloping him with his body and the afghan. Gently, he ran his hands up and down Aiden's arms and rested his chin on Aiden's shoulder. Aiden retreated deep into himself. His father. In an accident. For a while Aiden could only think of that. Why now? he cried deep within himself. Why, when I'm happy again? Someone I thought I lost forever has come back into my life, and you're punishing me by taking away my father? Is it because I'm gay? Does god hate me because I'm gay? Can I only have one of them in my life? No one answered his silent questions. I can't give up Bastian again. I can't lose him like I did before. I don't even know if my father would approve of us, but still, this? It's not right. It's not fair! He was only slightly aware of Bastian's presence, and it comforted him on some subconscious level. He didn't really see anything, but he knew they were there. He couldn't really feel Bastian, but he knew that Bastian was taking care of him. Bastian's presence calmed him, it reassured him. Bastian loved him. A while later, Marjorie came back inside, dusting snow off her gloves and stomping it off her boots. "Thank goodness that fellow I pay to shovel has already been around, there's only a light dusting of snow on the ground. We'll still have to take it slow; the roads'll be slippery." She looked at them wrapped up on the couch. "Any change?" Bastian shook his head sadly. She sighed. "No, I didn't think there would be. Come on; let's get going. Make sure to keep him warm." She helped Bastian and Aiden off the couch and held open the front door. The day was bright and white. The sun was a cold pale orb in the sky. It was a winter sky, a snow sky. Bastian shivered as the cold air wafted up from the bottom of the afghan. Marjorie held open the car door and Bastian helped Aiden into the back seat then climbed in after him. Marjorie went around to the driver's side and got in. They drove to the hospital in silence, Bastian holding on to Aiden as much as the seat belts would allow. A drive that normally took twenty minutes took well over an hour, and Marjorie was exhausted when they finally arrived at the hospital. She dropped the boys off at the main entrance and went to park. Bastian waited for her just inside the doors, huddling under the afghan with Aiden. She ran up, clutching her parka around her. The wind had begun to blow, swirling fallen snow back into the air. "Let's go find out what happened." Bastian sat down with Aiden in the chairs of the waiting area and Marjorie walked up to the nurses' station. He could feel Aiden shivering and rubbed his arms vigorously to help warm him up. The nurse on duty, a peroxide blond wearing too much makeup was filing her bright pink nails as Marjorie interrupted her. Bastian couldn't hear them talking, but he could read the blond woman's lips. "Can I help you?" her lips said. She set down her nail file and looked put upon to do any work. Bastian assumed his mother was asking after Mr. McKennough. "Are you family?" the nurse's lips said. Marjorie said something else and gestured over her shoulder at he and Aiden. "Only family is allowed in -" the nurse began. His mother's voice rose up, and he could hear her clearly now. "Excuse me? This boy's mother called me and asked me to come. I suggest you tell me where Mr. Shamus McKennough is before I decide to make a real scene. You don't want that, do you? Do I need to speak to your supervisor?" Bastian could tell his mother's fuse was frighteningly short. The nurse looked taken aback. "Well, if she called for you." She looked down at something behind the wall of her desk. "He's in room 462." Marjorie stalked back to them grumbling under her breath. "Come on, boys." Marjorie guided them through the sterile hallways of the hospital. Finally, he could see Connor and Caetlyn McKennough sitting outside a room. One of the twins, Bastian thought it may have been Cassidy by the curly auburn hair had his head in Caetlyn's lap. When Aiden saw his siblings, strong sobs began to wrack his frame. Bastian tried to comfort him, but the noise attracted Connor and Caetlyn's attention. Connor raced down the hall and pulled Aiden into his arms, followed shortly after by Caetlyn, after she set Cassidy's head on the bench. They pulled him into a tight hug, and Bastian slipped away to his mother. "Aiden, oh, Aiden. You don't even know yet, and look at you. God, Aiden." Connor was crying freely. Caetlyn just hugged Aiden tightly, weeping into his shoulder. Marjorie and Bastian left them in the hallway and discretely went up to the room. Meg was weeping by the side of the hospital bed, Cassidy's twin, Jaime, was asleep in a chair. Marjorie went immediately to comfort Meg. The volume of Meg's sorrow increased with the appearance of a new shoulder to cry on. Bastian was left standing in the door to the hospital room. Slowly he walked towards the figure lying in the bed. Shamus McKennough was unconscious, not asleep, Bastian noticed. A thick gauze bandage was wrapped around his head and bulged at left temple and left ear. An oxygen tube ran out of his nose, and an IV was placed in one arm. There were dark circles under his eyes, and a swelling bruise across the left side of his face. More wires ran out from beneath the hospital gown he wore to plug into various machines. The steady beep of his computerized pulse provided counterpoint to Meg McKennough's sobs. Hesitantly, he placed his hand on Shamus's arm, near where the IV was placed. Is this what I looked like? Bastian wondered. Suddenly, he wished he had his violin. "Meg, what happened?" Marjorie asked, after a while. Meg pulled away, her eyes swollen and red from crying. Her dark auburn hair was in disarray. Meg calmed down enough to relate what had happened to her husband of 23 years. "He was trying to come home last night, before the storm got to bad. Someone crossed the median, and they think Shamus tried to avoid him and lost control of the car. His car was totaled when the other car hit him, and the other driver fled the scene of the accident. He was unconscious in his car for four hours before someone spotted the lights off the side of the road. He cut his head open pretty bad, and was suffering hypothermia. The hypothermia actually slowed his circulation down enough that he didn't bleed to death, but he lost a lot of blood. They're also worried about swelling around the brain, and right now, he's in a coma." She suddenly seemed to realize Aiden wasn't there. "Where is Aiden?" Her voice rose hysterically. "It's okay, Meg. Connor and Caetlyn are taking care of him outside. When I told him that Shamus had been in an accident he just sort of shut down and went inside of himself. When he got here, he just started crying, and that's when Caetlyn and Connor took over. He's in good hands. Meg, why don't you and the kids get some rest? Bastian and I will watch over Shamus. If there's any change, I'll send Bastian to get you, right Bastian?" Bastian nodded solemnly. "Maybe you're right. I didn't sleep much at all last night; I was just so worried that I hadn't received a phone call or anything from him. Oh God, Marjorie, what if he doesn't wake up?" Tears began to stream from her eyes again, and Bastian uncomfortably looked away. Jaime was awake in the chair and staring at him curiously. "Meg, it'll be all right, Meg. Everything will be okay. Just go get some rest. I'm sure the hospital has someplace quiet you can get some sleep." Marjorie all but pushed Meg out the door. Meg wandered aimlessly off down the hall, and Bastian saw Caetlyn run past the door after her. Bastian didn't really remember the twins from when he was younger. They had only been four when the accident happened, and were more of pains than playmates. Even then though, Cassidy had had a shock of curly auburn hair. Jaime's red-brown hair was straight, like his mothers. Both twins had bright green eyes. They must be fourteen or fifteen by now, he thought to himself. Jaime certainly had grown up. He was as tall as Bastian now, if not taller, and had filled out quite a bit. Bastian felt a twinge of attraction for Aiden's muscular younger brother but chased it away. "Are you that Bastian?" Jaime asked. Bastian knew what he meant, and nodded. Jaime nodded. "I thought you might be. Mom said Aiden was staying over at your house, although she didn't really believe him at first." He studied him for a while. "I'm sorry," he said suddenly. Bastian raised a curious eyebrow and waved a placating hand. "For the accident you were in. I'm sorry that you lost your voice. I'm sorry -" Jaime trailed off, and Bastian moved forward to hug him. He rubbed his back and shoulders; well aware of the musculature beneath the polo shirt he wore. He felt someone join in the hug, mostly hugging Jaime, and was surprised to see Cassidy awake. He began to slip out of the hug, not wanting to intrude, but Cassidy pulled him back in. Cassidy was Jaime's fraternal twin, but they looked almost like identical twins. Cassidy wore his curly hair longer and it stood out from his head like a halo. He was the same height as Jaime, but where Jaime had bulked up, Cassidy was more trim. His voice was softer than Jaime's as well. "You don't need to go, Bastian." He whispered. He pulled Bastian back into the hug and squeezed tight on Bastian and Jaime. They stood that way for a moment before Jaime pulled away. His eyes were moist. "Thanks Bastian, thanks Cass. I think I'm okay now. I'm going to go find mom." Jaime said, scrubbing his sleeve across his face. "Hold on a moment, I'll come too." Cassidy added. They headed for the door and Jaime began to walk down the hall. Cassidy turned back to Bastian and said, "Thank you. He needed that, and it couldn't come from me first." Bastian nodded in response, puzzled by Cassidy's cryptic remark. Cassidy smiled and followed his twin down the hall. Bastian turned around and saw his mother watching him. She had watched the whole thing and she had a slight smile on her face. . She signed to him. Bastian raised both eyebrows and signed back, . "You've been so strong for everyone today, Aiden, the twins, even me." A tear came to her eye and she smiled, embarrassed. "I'm just so proud of you. I'll love you, always." He went over and hugged her, but his mind caught on the last thing she said. Why had she added that? Maybe she had seen him. He panicked for a moment, but quickly calmed down. She must be okay with him and Aiden. But was he ready to tell her what she already knew? He wasn't sure. He pulled back from the hug and kissed her cheek. ? She nodded her permission and scooted the chair Jaime had been sleeping in closer to Shamus's bed. Bastian looked out into the hallway and saw Connor and Aiden sitting on the bench outside the door. Aiden was still wrapped in the afghan and his head was on Connor's shoulder. Bastian stepped further into the hallway, and Connor looked up at him. Connor's eyes were a deep, dark green; the darkest of all the McKennough's Bastian knew. "Hey Bastian," he said quietly. Aiden was asleep. Bastian waved and smiled slightly. He sat down on the edge of the bench next to Connor. He looked at him as if to say, "You okay?" Connor understood and nodded slightly. "I'm doing good, Bastian, considering the circumstances. I think Aiden's a lot better too. Thanks for helping him. I just know my dad will be okay, and I know your coming back to Kingston was a good thing, Bastian." Connor reached out his hand and pulled Bastian's head towards him, kissing him on the forehead. Bastian blushed and hugged Connor. The sudden movement woke up Aiden, who lifted his head and smiled widely when he saw Bastian. "Hey Bastian," was all Aiden said before settling his head back on Connor's shoulder and shutting his eyes. "Yeah, I definitely think he's going to be okay." Connor reiterated, and pulled Bastian into him. Bastian cuddled up next to him, and the three boys sat in the hallway, awaiting news. Someone gently shaking his shoulder waked Bastian. He opened his eyes to see his mother moving on to wake Connor and Aiden. Bastian had an awful crick in his neck and his face was 'sleep-patterned' by Connor's corduroy jacket. "He's awake," she told them. Connor leapt off the bench like something bit him and Bastian and Aiden, still not awake, collapsed towards one another. Connor glanced into the room to make sure his father was really awake, smiled widely, and took off running down the hall to get his mother and other siblings. Marjorie returned to the room and Bastian could hear her conversing in low tones with Shamus. Aiden got up from the bench and folded the afghan. He took Bastian's hand for strength and together the entered the hospital room. Shamus turned from talking to Marjorie when Aiden entered. He smiled slightly, wincing with the pain in his face. His eyes were open, but the white of his left eye was a dark ugly red and the bruise had expanded to swell the lids around it dark purple. He coughed slightly to clear his throat, mumbling something that sounded like "Bloody tubes," and beckoned Aiden over. Bastian squeezed Aiden's hand and propelled him gently to his father's side. "That's me lad. C'mere." Shamus had a thick but endearing Irish accent. He had been born and raised in Ireland, but had come to the states for college and met his wife, Meghan Flanagan. They were married as soon as they both graduated college. "What's this I hear about you getting all upset over such a little thing? I'm okay, that I am. You're a good lad, and it does me heart good to see yer face without that bloody white crap all over it." Shamus patted Aiden's hand and pulled him into a hug. Aiden carefully hugged him back. "Are you really okay, da?" Aiden asked. He mimicked his father's accent subconsciously. "Aye, that I am, me boy." Shamus pounded Aiden on the back and ended the embrace. He turned to look at the Blackmoores, standing together across the room. "I want to thank the both of yeh. You've been there for me family, and you just getting' back inta town." Marjorie was about to respond when the rest of the McKennough clan rushed in. They were all smiling and crying. Marjorie pushed Bastian towards the door and they slipped away to leave the family to their happy reunion. "Bastian, wait." Aiden ran down the hall after them; he had the folded afghan in his arms. Breathlessly he said, "I'm sorry for causing you both so much trouble. I want to thank you for being there." Marjorie smiled. "You were no bother, and you are welcome anytime at my home. I'll have Bastian bring your things to school tomorrow. I'm glad everything is all right. Good night, Aiden." Bastian accepted the afghan and stroked Aiden's hand under cover of the blanket. Bastian smiled. Aiden returned to the room and his family. The storm had cleared up, leaving only a dusting of snow on the ground. The sky was dark and clear, illuminated by the quarter moon and a multitude of stars. Bastian was surprised to see that it was almost 9:00 PM and he was starving. They stopped by a Denny's for a quick bite to eat before making their way home. _______________ To Be Continued. Sorry for the delay on this one, and the delay might be even longer on the next one. I'll be busy moving and stuff.