Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 19:58:49 -0700 (PDT) From: Thomas Gaige Subject: Brothers, Friends, & Lovers - Chapter 11 DISCLAIMER: The following story is FICTIONAL. It contains descriptions of sexual activities between men, teenage boys, and between men and teenage boys. If you are not over 18 years of age, or if you find this type of story offensive, or viewing this material is illegal where you are, then please DO NOT READ IT! If you choose to read it, then - I hope you enjoy it! Brothers, Friends, & Lovers Chapter 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luke's seizure lasted about a minute, minute and a half. It was one of the more violent ones he'd ever had. When it ended, he lay sprawled on top of Brian, with his now flacid dick still lodged inside Brian's rectum. As he lay perfectly still, wincing from the pain in his head, tears formed in his eyes. Brian had his arms firmly wrapped around Luke, holding him, so he didn't roll off him and get hurt. "Luke?" Brian asked, loosening his grip on Luke a little. Luke didn't answer. He sniffled a couple times, as he fought to keep from crying. He lost the battle though. Try as he did, it didn't stop the tears of pain, fear, and frustration from coming, and as Brian continued holding him, Luke buried his face against Brian's neck and cried quietly for a minute or so. "It's alright Luke," Brian said softly, rubbing his hand up and down his friend's silky, naked back, as he held him. After a minute, the pain in Luke's head subsided, and he stopped crying. He rolled over off of Brian, onto the bed next to him. His dick slipped out of Brian's asshole as he rolled off him. Brian lowered his legs, and stretched them out then. "How do you feel?" Brian asked. "Should I call your mom?" "NO!!!" Luke cried with alarm. "You CAN'T tell anyone about this! If you do, I'll never get my license back!" "But what if you need help?" Brian asked. "I don't!" Luke said, although in his mind he wondered if maybe he did. "When did this start happening again?" Brian asked. "This is the first one since they stopped," Luke said, his voice filled with anguish. "You should tell your mom, so she can call the doctor," Brian said. "NO!" Luke wailed. "PLEASE! Promise me you won't tell anyone either!" "Alright. But if it gets worse, will you please tell your parents?" Brian asked. Luke looked at him a moment, but then said "fine." They rested quietly for a few minutes, then cleaned themselves up, without finishing their sexual play. Brian made Luke rest on his bed, and laid with him to make sure he did. He really needn't have bothered, as Luke fell asleep, and slept until his mother came home. Feeling extremely guilty and very worried, Brian left then, without saying anything to her about Luke's seizure. * * * Luke started getting painful headaches again every so often after that, and sometimes, they were accompanied by a seizure. It seemed they were brought on whenever he exerted himself physically, so he tried not to exert himself. This was extremely frustrating to him, as he always felt the headaches start up whenever he was masturbating, or having sex, always at the point when he was about to have an orgasm. As a result, he stopped masturbating and having sex as often. When he did though, he developed the habit of masturbating really slowly, or having very slow, very gentle sex, which seemed to alleviate the problem during sex. He told Brian it was a new way to have even better sex, that he'd discovered while masturbating in bed one night. Dubiously Brian tried it. To his surprise Brian found that he really did have better orgasms if they went extremely slowly and gently with each other. Much to Luke's relief, this quickly became the norm for them. Also, the first time after his seizure when Luke was fucking Brian, he convinced Brian to try being on top and straddling him, sitting down on his dick. Brian tried it and found it to be OK. Luke could just lay there and let Brian do all the work then, thus he didn't have to exert himself. Brian did wonder though why on the few occasions he fucked Luke, why Luke didn't want to be on top. Eventually Luke started having the headaches and seizures for no apparent reason, as well as when he exerted himself. He began getting scared then, but still didn't tell anyone. Soon, everyone, especially his parents, noticed that Luke was acting quieter than usual. He didn't seem his usual happy-go-lucky self. When anyone asked him if he was OK, Luke blamed his moods on too much school work. He didn't tell anyone that his headaches and seizures had returned. He even lied to Brian, when Brian asked him periodically if he'd had anymore. He told Brian that he hadn't had any since the one Brian was with him for. Brian was pretty sure Luke was lying though, and watched him very carefully. Luke didn't have any when he was with Brian though. * * * All too soon for Jason, his fourth and final year in college ended. He wouldn't miss his classes, but he was practically beside himself with grief, knowing that his relationship with Dan, as he knew it, was about to end. Once they graduated, Jason knew that he'd never again be able to sleep with Dan each night, and most likely, they wouldn't get the opportunity to ever have sex again. Worse than never sleeping with Dan or having sex with him again, was the fact he just wouldn't see him and get to be with him anymore. He loved Dan very much, more than just in a brotherly way, and wished with all his heart that Dan felt the same way. To his credit, Dan did love Jason very much, and he did feel more than just brotherly love for Jason, but at the same time, he was in love with his fiancee Lisa as well. The problem was, he loved Lisa more than he loved Jason. So, as the school year drew to a close, it was sad and bittersweet for Dan, but not as devastating as it was for Jason. Dan realized that Jason was getting more and more anxious about their parting, as each day went by, and it worried him to see Jason's pain building. He didn't know what to do to help Jason though. Eventually, classes ended, and final exams were given. Then, there were a few days between the last day of finals, and Commencement exercises. There were parties, rehearsal for Commencement, and packing up to keep them busy. Jason and Dan actually didn't do as much packing as many other students. They planned to hang around a day or two after graduation to do that. They did spend a lot of time together in their room though - having sex. Two days before commencement exercises, both boys' families arrived to be with them for their graduation. Dan was pleased to meet Jason's family, and Jason liked Dan's parents very much. The Andersons had brought Brian along with them as well, which pleased Jason. Dan's fiancee couldn't come, as she too was graduating from her school in Texas on the same weekend. Although Dan was upset that she couldn't attend his graduation, and he couldn't attend her's either, Jason was secretly relieved that he didn't have to meet her at the same time he was preparing to say good-bye to Dan. Having her there would've ruined his final days with Dan. With their families there, and the parties in the dorms, Jason and Dan didn't have much time to be alone together though. Each night, they just managed to hastily make love, then catch a few hours sleep in each other's arms before they had to get up and get moving again. Suddenly, it was graduation day. Jason, Dan, and their two families got together at a restaurant off-campus for Sunday brunch. Afterward, the two soon-to-be graduates had to go get ready for commencement. * * * When they returned to their room to put on their caps and gowns, Dan said "We have time for a quick one?" Jason grinned, and quickly started stripping. Dan followed suit, and soon the two boys were laying in a '69' on Dan's bed, sucking each other off. Their love-making that afternoon seemed especially passionate to both of them as they seemed to each be concentrating only on making the other feel as much pleasure as possible. They spent a good ten minutes sensually sucking and fondling each other, as the feelings they were experiencing progressed from pleasure to ecstatic bliss. Eventually, both of them were moaning, as they felt their orgasms building to a crescendo. Dan exploded first. With a groan of pleasure, he fired a load of jism into Jason's waiting mouth. The glob of cum hit the back of Jason's throat, and he quickly swallowed it. At the same time he too groaned, and squirted a rope of semen into Dan's waiting mouth. The two young men lay writhing in ecstasy together, ejaculating over and over into each other's mouths, as they continued expertly fellating each other, while at the same time massaging each other's testicles and fingering each other's pulsating assholes. When both their orgasms had ended, and they'd sucked each other clean, Dan swung around and laid down next to Jason. They lay resting a minute, looking at each other grinning. "Y'all've gotta be the best sucker in the world Jase!" Dan said, finally. "I wish we could be together like this forever!" "As far as I'm concerned, we can be," Jason said, somberly. "I love you and would love to be together like this forever! It's up to you whether that happens or not!" Dan looked at Jason, with a slightly dismayed look on his face. Jason hadn't spoken of his feelings this bluntly as yet, and Dan was surprised that after all this time, he had decided to open up. Jason, didn't wait to hear a reply. He jumped up and ran into the bathroom and hopped into the shower. A few minutes later, Dan joined Jason in the shower. He didn't say anything. He just stood behind Jason, wrapped his arms around him, and hugged him. After a minute, when Dan didn't speak, Jason realized he wasn't changing his mind. As tears burned in his eyes, Jason said thickly, "C'mon, we're gonna be late." Dan released Jason then. Jason rinsed his face off, then jumped out of the shower and went out in their room to dry off, while Dan quickly showered. Afterward the two hurriedly dressed together, then set off for the field house where commencement exercises were being held. * * * A little while later, along with a few hundred other young people, Jason and Dan graduated from college. Both their families were very proud, as they'd both graduated magna cum laude. After the ceremonies, which lasted a few hours, there was a reception at the school, where graduates, their families, and the faculty could all visit and enjoy some refreshments. That evening, Jason's and Dan's families again joined together in celebration. This time they had dinner together at a steak and seafood restaurant that was a favorite of the guys'. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their dinners, and spent an hour or so after dessert lingering over coffee and after-dinner drinks. During dinner, both families announced their intention to stay the next day to help the guys pack up their stuff. They were all surprised to see both Jason's and Dan's faces drop. "Well, unless you don't want any help," Mr. Anderson said, looking somewhat surprised at the two of them. "It's not that Dad," Jason said. "It's just, well, we've always handled it ourselves, and we have a system worked out, that works well for us. Besides, we wanted to take our time. There's supposed to be a couple parties yet." "And," Dan added quietly, "it's gonna be hard fer us to say good-bye to each other after four years!" "Well, y'all aren't going to stop being friends!" Mrs. Montgomery said brightly. "Jason, y'all can come visit us anytime! And leastwise, y'all will be stayin' with us fer the weddin'!" "Dan, the same goes for you as well. Come visit us anytime," Mrs. Anderson jumped in. "Thank y'all maam, I most certainly do appreciate that," Dan said, smiling. "Yes, Thanks Mrs. Montgomery. It's very kind of you," Jason said, smiling as well. "Well, I reckon, Naomi and I will take off fer home tomorrow morning then," Mr. Montgomery said. "If'n y'all have anything ya want to send along ahead with us Sweet Pea, yer Daddy and I'll be glad to take it on with us," Mrs. Montgomery said to Dan. "Thanks Momma," Dan said. "We haven't packed much yet, I only have a couple boxes packed, and I can handle them myself, I reckon. "I'd make the same offer Jason, but our car's pretty full, what with all four of us and our luggage," Mr. Anderson said. "That's OK, it'll all fit in my car," Jason said. "But thanks anyway. * * * After a while, the two families left the restaurant. As they were all staying at the same motel, which was on the way back to the college, they all drove back there, to say their good-byes. After the guys said good-bye to their parents, Luke and Brian hung back with Jason and Dan a few minutes. Brian engaged Jason in a conversation then, about their own upcoming high school graduation. Jason noticed that while Brian was keeping him busy, Luke had steered Dan a little ways away from the group and was talking seriously with him about something. He wondered what that was all about. A couple minutes later, they rejoined Jason and Brian. Jason noticed that Luke didn't look very happy, and Dan's eyes appeared to be moist. He was blinking a lot too. "What were you two whispering about over there?" Jason asked. Luke looked at his brother evenly and said, "nothing special." Jason looked at Dan, who just smiled wanly. "I'm gonna wait fer y'all in the car Jase, so's y'all can have a private good-bye," Dan said. Jason thought that was strange. Dan wrapped his arms around Luke then, and the two hugged each other good-bye, so he figured everything must be OK between them. Jason thought he saw them whisper something to each other though. Dan gave Brian a hug good-bye too. Then he walked back to Jason's car, and got in to wait, while Jason said good-bye to his brother and Brian. "You're all acting awfully strange," Jason said. "No, we're not!" Luke said, smiling briefly. Jason looked at them a moment longer, then Brian said he wanted to go take a swim in the motel's pool before it closed for the evening, so he and Luke each gave Jason a good-bye hug, then trotted off toward their room. When Jason got in the car, it looked to him like Dan had been crying. "Are you OK?" Jason asked him. "I'm fine," Dan said, forcing a smile, but sniffing a couple times. Jason noticed he had a wadded up tissue in his hand. "So what were you and Luke talking about?" Jason asked. "Nothin'. Y'all have a great little brother though! Be good to him!" Dan said. "I always am. Why won't you tell me what you were talking about though?" Jason asked. "T'was private betwixt us," Dan said, finally. Jason looked at Dan, who smiled back at him. "C'mon let's get back to campus," Dan said. Jason started the car, and silently, they drove back to the school. As they drove along, Jason wondered what the hell Luke had been talking to Dan about, that Dan wouldn't tell him about. And Dan marveled at how lucky Jason was to have a little brother who loved him so much. What other boy would've spoken to the man his older brother was in love with, and asked him not to hurt him. * * * "So, what'd he say?" Brian asked, while he and Luke put on their swim suits. He wanted to know what Dan had said when Luke had spoken with him. Luke hadn't known if Dan was aware of just how much Jason loved him, and wanted to be with him forever, and he'd told Dan that, hoping that if Dan realized, he'd re-think his plan of marrying Lisa, to be with Jason instead. "He was already aware. He's not going to leave Lisa for Jason though," Luke said, sadly, but with a hint of anger in his voice. "I'm sorry Luke," Brian said. "Thanks. He said he can't change the way he feels, no matter how much it might hurt someone he cares about if he doesn't," Luke said. "He said he loves Jason a lot, but he loves Lisa more, and he wants to be married to her and have a bunch of kids with her. If he left her for Jason, he wouldn't be as happy as he will be if he marries Lisa, and as a result, he said, he and Jason wouldn't be as happy as a couple should be either." "Sucks!" Brian said. "At least you tried though. And you really can't blame the guy. He can't help it that he's in love with Lisa." "Yeah, I suppose," Luke said, resignedly. "C'mon! Let's go swim." * * * The two boys went down to the pool. It was deserted, so they had it to themselves, and it was already dark. The underwater lights in the sides of the pool were on though, which lit things adequately for them. They both swam a couple laps, then, as boys will do, they began horsing around. Typical of teenage boys, their horseplay grew rough, till they were practically wrestling with each other, trying to dunk each other. As Luke was trying to fight back against Brian, he suddenly got the now all too familiar sharp pain in his head. He stopped struggling with Brian and cried out. Luckily, Brian realized Luke was acting strangely, and didn't dunk him, or Luke might have drowned. Instead, Brian got next to Luke and held him up out of the water, as Luke stiffened up and began violently shaking. Thinking quickly, Brian maneuvered himself so he was able to swim, yet still hold Luke out of the water, laying on his back. Then, as Luke continued seizing, Brian swam to the steps in the shallow end of the pool. Just as Brian managed to pull Luke over to the steps, and sit down so Luke was laying 1/2 on his lap, 1/2 still in the water, Luke's seizure ended. Brian saw the fear in Luke's eyes, when they'd finally rolled back out of his head, and he looked into them. He wrapped his arms around Luke and held him, telling him softly that everything was going to be alright. After a few minutes, Luke struggled to sit up and get out of Brian's arms. Brian helped him steady himself, and sit down on the steps next to him. "Are you OK?" Brian asked. "What do you think?" Luke asked, looking down at the water, hiding the tears in his eyes. "I know you're upset, but are you OK otherwise?" Brian asked. "Yes," Luke said. "I'm a little upset too Luke," Brian said. "I know you've been lying to me when you told me they stopped again, after that first one you had when you were fucking me. I know you've had others and you've been hiding it from me. This is proof of it. Why are you shutting me out Luke? I love you and I want to help you!" "That's exactly why!" Luke said, looking at Brian. "I kept it to myself because I didn't want you to worry, and... I knew if I didn't, you'd tell someone. I have to be seizure-free a year, or I can't drive Bri!" "Well, if you don't get to a doctor, you might die before that year's up!" Brian countered. A tear escaped Luke's eye and trickled down his cheek, as he looked miserably at Brian. "OH GOD! I'm sorry!" Brian said. "That was an awful thing to say. It's just that I'm worried about you Luke! I think you need to tell your parents! Before it gets worse!" "Maybe you're right," Luke said. "It's only a matter of time before I have one in front of them anyway. But Bri - I don't want to tell them till we're back home, and Jason's home too!" Brian studied Luke for a moment, then said, "Fine! But once everyone's home, if you don't tell them, I will. Agreed?" Luke gave Brian a deflated look, but finally said "OK." "Good! Now, let's get back to our room and get you to bed," Brian said. "I'm not a fucking invalid Brian!" Luke said hotly. "No, but rest is supposed to help. I remember from when you had them before," Brian said, calmly, ignoring Luke's sudden hostility. "Yes Mommy!" Luke said, sullenly standing up, brushing aside the hand Brian had proferred for support. The two went back to their room. They showered together to get the cholorine from the pool off their skin and out of their hair, then Brian made Luke lay down on the bed. "If you promise not to get too excited, I'll suck you off!" Brian said. "Maybe it'll relax you, and you'll sleep better." "Hmmm, well, I suppose I can always use that kind of nursing!" Luke said, smiling slightly at Brian. Luke was lying on the bed naked. As Brian climbed onto the bed, Luke spread his legs apart to give Brian better access to his genitals. Brian grinned and lowered his mouth toward Luke's crotch. Slowly and gently, he sucked Luke's semi-rigid member into his mouth, and began sucking up and down on it. Within seconds it was stiff as a board. Brian made slow, sensual love to Luke's organ. After a couple minutes, he took a break and lifted Luke's legs, exposing his ass, and began rimming him. Luke loved the feeling of Brian's tongue washing back and forth over his hole. Again after a couple minutes, Brian stopped and lowered Luke's legs, then he went back to sucking his cock. After a few minutes, Brian was rewarded when his mouth was flooded with Luke's juices. Luke spasmed several times, each time, shooting a load of cum into Brian's mouth, which Brian thirstily swallowed. "Feelin' better?" Brian asked, once he'd finally licked Luke dry, and pulled off of him. "Much better thanks!" Luke said, smiling at him. "Good!" Brian said. "Let me do you now!" Luke said. "Absolutely NOT!" Brian said. "I don't want you exerting yourself. Besides, I can tell you're pretty tired. I'm just gonna go brush my teeth, pee, and I might whack off quickly. Then I'm crawling in with you!" "It's NOT fair!" Luke said. "I know," Brian said, his eyes filling with tears. "I'm so sorry Luke!" Luke realized then that Brian was feeling guilty again about the accident. "I didn't mean it that way Bri! It's NOT your fault!" Luke said. "Yes it is!" Brian said. "No it isn't! I'm the only one who's responsible for what happened to me! Now, just go get ready for bed, then come snuggle with me," Luke said, feeling bad for making Brian feel guilty again. Brian smiled slightly and padded into the bathroom then. After he'd finished getting ready for bed, he stood before the sink, and watching his reflection in the huge mirrored wall, he masturbated. Being able to watch himself in such a huge mirror excited Brian. It was a lot better than the little mirror on the medicine chest over the sink at home. At home, all he was able to see was his face, so he only ever saw what his face looked like when he came. With this one he could watch his whole body. Brian watched himself jerking off, turning occasionally, so he could see himself from all different angles. He even stopped a minute and turned around and bent forward, spreading his cheeks apart and looked back at the mirror at the reflection of his asshole. "Damn, Luke's right! I do have a cute hole," Brian thought to himself. "If only I could reach it with my tongue!" Fantasizing about having the superhuman ability to reach his asshole with his own tongue, and being able to rim himself, Brian turned around and took his erection in his hand and began jerking off again. Within a half minute, he climaxed and blew a rope of cum out the end of his dick. It shot out of him with so much force, that it splattered against the mirror, and ran down it, dribbling onto the marble back-splash of the sink. Brian enjoyed seeing the passionate look on his face as he spasmed, and the cum flying out of his dick at the same time. His next volley of cum landed on the faucet. Still wildly beating off, Brian squirted three or four more times, into the sink, before his orgasm finally ended. "Damn!" He thought to himself, as he raised his hand to his mouth and licked a dribble of cum off his index finger. "That was a good one! And tasty too!" Smiling to himself, Brian quickly cleaned up his mess with a bunch of tissues, then he tip-toed out into the room. Luke was already snoring quietly. Brian turned off the lights and gently crawled into bed next to him and snuggled up to him. Soon, he too fell asleep. * * * When Jason and Dan arrived back on campus, they found a party raging in their dorm. They went back to their room, changed into more comfortable clothes and joined the party for a while. At about 1:30, they went back to their room, got naked, and collapsed into bed together. Both were so tired, they opted to just snuggle with each other, and go to sleep, skipping sex. The next morning, Dan woke up to find Jason gently sucking on his cock, which was fully erect. He'd apparently been sucking on Dan for some time, as Dan found himself very aroused, and near the point of orgasm. Before he could even let Jason know he was awake, Dan's orgasm began and gasping, he flooded Jason's mouth with his semen. Jason kept on sucking on Dan's penis, until Dan was emptied of all his sperm, and completely spent. Only then did Jason lick Dan dry, and crawl back up to lay next to him. "Fuck me! Y'all sure do know how to wake a guy up nicely!" Dan exclaimed, smiling. Jason grinned at Dan, and wrapped his arms around him. "So will ya tell me now what you and Luke were talking about last night?" he asked Dan. Dan smiled with a slightly exasperated look, and said, "I said it was private. But I do want y'all to know how lucky I think y'all are. He's the greatest little brother a guy could want! I never saw a boy who loved his big brother so much!" "Aw! C'mon! If it was something that good you can't keep it from me!" Jason replied. Dan hemmed and hawed a minuted, the finally said "Y'all can never let on I told! OK?" Jason nodded and said "agreed." Dan looked at Jason and said, "He wanted me to know, just in case I didn't, how much y'all love me, and how much it's breakin' yer heart that school's over an' I'm gettin' hitched ta Lisa! He thought if'n I knew, maybe I'd dump Lisa and we could get together!" "He told you all that?" Jason asked, looking at Dan guiltily. Dan nodded solemnly. "Now don' y'all go gettin' yer shorts in a tizzy 'bout it. I already figured all that out a while back." Jason just looked at Dan, trying to read what Dan might say next. "Jase," Dan said quietly, "I'm sorrier than a gelding in a field full o' fillies that y'all are so broken up that I'm marryin' Lisa. Y'all have ta know how much I love ya! Lisa's the only person I love more'n I love y'all! I expect that if she wasn't around, we probably would be gettin' together, but Jase, tha's not gonna happen! An', I'm so sorry for yer pain. I truly am!" Dan had tears in his eyes when he finished. Jason did too, but he had turned to face away from Dan, so Dan wouldn't see them. "Jase! Look at me!" Dan said, reaching for Jason's face and pulling on his chin. Jason tried not to look at Dan, but Dan was insistent. Finally he turned to face Dan, and Dan saw the tears of pain trickling down Jason's cheeks. "Tha's what I thought," Dan muttered quietly. Then he took Jason in his arms and began tenderly kissing his tears away. When Jason's face had dried up somewhat, Dan did something he'd never done with Jason. He placed his lips on Jason's and began gently kissing him. Sniffling yet, Jason responded, and the two shared their first-ever kiss, and what in Jason's estimation was the best kiss he'd ever had. When they finally came up for air a couple minutes later, both boys were hard as rocks. Dan immediately, moved down in the bed and went down on Jason, sucking him slowly and sensually, until Jason had emptied himself of all his love juice, providing Dan with an early morning cocktail. They stayed in bed together for another hour or so, taking turns fucking each other. When they'd each had another orgasm, they finally got up and showered together, before dressing and going out to get breakfast. They spent the rest of the day together packing everything up, but a few essentials. Then they went out to dinner together. Even though there was another party in their dorm that night, they opted to spend the night alone together in their room, making love. They sucked each other, and copulated several times, until they'd each had five orgasms. Then completely spent, and somewhat sore, the slept snuggled together in each other's arms for their last night together. The next morning, neither of them wanted to get out of bed. They made love a couple times. As they laid together, both completely satisfied, it hit both of them that that was it. The last time they'd be in bed together. Jason started crying then. Dan took him in his arms, and held him. Then he too started crying. The two wept together for some time. When they were both finally cried out, they got up and showered together one last time, each masturbating the other to a climax. After they dried off and dressed, they loaded up their cars. They went back up to their room for one last look around. Dan shut the door behind them. Jason looked at him. Knowingly, they both started ripping their clothes off. Within seconds they were in a '69' on one of the beds. They sucked each other and fingered each other's holes for a few minutes, before having one last mutual orgasm, filling each other's mouths with their cum. Afterward, both sniffling, they got cleaned up and dressed again. Then together, they walked to their cars. They drove off campus together, and stopped at a doughnut shop where they got coffee and doughnuts for a late breakfast. They enjoyed them at a picnic table outside under a tree, next to their cars. When they were finished, they embraced one last time, holding each other tightly for a couple of minutes. Then they each got in their cars, and drove out of the parking lot. Dan tooted his horn and turned south, and Jason blew his horn and turned north. Both had tears streaming down their faces as they drove away from each other... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next chapter in this series will be published shortly.