Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 13:21:47 EDT
From: Bwstories8@aol.com
Subject: The Castaway Hotel-book 8, chapter 12

Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts.
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

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.

I wish to extend my thank you to Emoe57 for his editorial assistance with
this chapter, and Art, the real Vinnie and John for their additional input
on each chapter.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

                 *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Although the boys in these stories have unprotected sex, I strongly urge
all of you out there to be smart and protect yourselves from various
sexually transmitted diseases by using condoms when having intercourse.

                 *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

The Castaway Hotel-Book 8-by BW (Young-Friends).  Copyright 2004 by billwstories
Chapter 12 - Uneasy moments.                      March 2004

We arrived at the doctor's office a few minutes before our appointment
time.  Almost immediately, we were led back to an examination room, where
we sat and waited for the doctor to show up.  I thought this a bit strange,
because I assumed the consultation would take place in his office and we'd
sit on either side of his desk to discuss the result.  Perhaps this doctor
didn't have an office here or he was one of those types whose office was
too cluttered to meet in.  Whatever the reason, Nick and I tried to make
ourselves comfortable, as we waited for the physician.

Several minutes later, he entered, carrying Nick's chart with him.  He
opened it, scanned its contents and then turned towards Nick.  "The good
news is your HIV test and most other tests are negative," he began.  I
wasn't sure if Nick had caught onto his use of the phrase 'MOST other
tests', but I certainly had.

"Great!" Nick exclaimed, obviously missing that minor difference in what he
THOUGHT he heard.

"Doctor," I interrupted, "I take it not ALL of the tests came back
negative?"

He nodded, indicating my assumption was correct.  "Besides the genital
warts we treated the last time he was here, your son seems to have picked
up a case of Chlamydia too."

"What's that?" Nick asked, not even attempting to try to pronounce it.

"Chlamydia is another sexually transmitted disease and appears quite
frequently in those under twenty-five years of age.  It is caused by a
bacterium, chlamydia trachomatis and is often called a 'silent' disease,
because seventy-five percent of infected females and fifty percent of
infected males show only mild or no symptoms at all."

"Is it dangerous?" Nick wanted to know, his concerned look telling me that
he was worried about what this might mean for him.

"If left untreated in women," the doctor informed him, "it can cause
permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus and other surrounding
tissues.  This can lead to pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially fatal
ectopic pregnancies, which is a pregnancy outside of the uterus.  It also
increases the risks of contracting the HIV virus.

"Complications in men are much rarer," the physician continued, "but would
include infections to the epididymis, which is the tube that carries sperm
from the testis.  This infection can cause pain, fever, and sterility,
though that is very rare.  In certain cases, it may also cause an arthritic
condition that can be accompanied by skin lesions and inflammation of the
eye and urethra.  That condition is called Reiter's syndrome and doesn't
occur very frequently."  I concluded the doctor had offered all of that
information to scare Nick a little, and rightfully so, as he had engaged in
some risky sex, even though he thought he had been mostly cautious.

"Is there a cure for this, doctor?" I asked, after a brief moment of
awkward silence, as Nick digested what this news might mean for him.

"Yes, there is.  It can easily be treated and cured with antibiotics, and
we have a couple of choices here.  I can give him a single dose of
azithromycin or a week's worth of doxycycline, which would have to be taken
twice daily."

"So which of those are you going to use for Nick?" I asked, curious as to
which option he might choose.

"I thought I would try the single dose of azithromycin with him," he
informed us.

"Is that all there is to it?" I followed up.

"No, he will have to abstain from sexual contact until he is cured and he
must advise all of his sexual partners that they have been exposed to
chlamydia and recommend they get tested and seek treatment too."  I looked
over at Nick, to see his reaction, and he just sat there, as if he were in
a trance.

"Did you hear what he said?" I asked Nick.

"Yeah, he said NO sex, but for how long?" he whined, possibly missing the
fact that he had other responsibilities to carry out as well.

"To be safe, I'd say one month," the physician told him, very
matter-of-factly, but his comment drew an immediate response from Nick.

"Another month!" he said quite loudly, which drew a harsh look from both
the doctor and me.

"Yes," I emphasized, "and we have to make some phone calls, so you can warn
those you've had sexual contact with, while you were away."  He slumped in
his chair, looking totally lost and dejected.  "Hey, you have no one to
blame for this, but yourself," I advised him.  "You would only have had to
wait a few days at most to get your new supplies, but now you've already
gone a week without sex and will HAVE to go another month without any.  If
you could have controlled your insatiable urges and that randy dick of
yours, you wouldn't be in this fix right now."

I knew I was being a little rough on him in front of the doctor, but I felt
this time he needed less sympathy and more realism.  The doctor just
nodded, as I spoke, and then he walked out of the room, telling us he'd be
right back.  He returned a short time later carrying a syringe and gave
Nick the shot, telling him that should take care of his problem.  He warned
us about possible side effects and allergic reactions to the drug, so we'd
be aware to contact him, should we notice any of those symptoms.  After he
finished going over all of that information, he turned toward Nick and
spoke again.

"Just because your HIV test came back negative doesn't mean you're out of
the woods yet.  Sometimes, a positive test does not show up for months, or
even years.  That's why I want you to come in for an AIDS test every six
months, until I notify you differently."  Nick just nodded his head,
resigning himself to have to go through that over and over again for a
while, and then we headed to the front desk to check out, get our next
appointment date, and pay the co-payment.

Once we were inside the van, Nick turned to me and spoke.  "Damn, I really
blew it worse than I thought, didn't I?" he moaned.

"I think I would have to agree with that observation," I told him.

"Man, what am I going to do now?" he asked, most likely rhetorically, but I
thought I'd answer him anyway.

"Well, first of all I hope you learned from this and your future activities
won't be quite so reckless," I advised him, "but you also have to follow
the doctor's orders too.  That means no sexual contact for a month and we
have to go home and make a few phone calls to Brazil."  He was looking at
the floorboard of the van now, rather than at me.  I knew having to tell
his host-brothers and friends in Brazil would not only embarrass him
further, but he would also feel guilty for putting them through such an
equally embarrassing situation with their parents.

"I'm really sorry, Pop," he told me.  "I really thought I had been safe and
I didn't think I could pick up this shit just doing it a few times without
protection," he admitted.

"Unfortunately, too many young people think that way and don't realize that
it only takes ONCE for any bad thing to happen."

"I know that now," he explained, "and I'm really sorry about all of this."
I could tell he not only felt badly about everything he had done, but he
also seemed to be extremely sincere about it as well.  However, I felt it
wasn't all behind him yet, as he was going to have more remorse to deal
with later, after he made his phone calls to Brazil.  I wondered how those
people were going to react towards him, once they discovered what they had
to go through.

When we got home, I immediately made Nick make his phone calls and warn his
host-brothers and other partners that they needed to see a doctor and get
checked out.  Although this conversation took place in Portuguese, I could
tell the brothers had some concerns, probably about how they were going to
inform their parents as to why they needed to be tested.  Nick explained
later that he also asked them to inform the boys from their school, the
ones he had been intimate with, and inform them that they needed to do the
same thing.  This caused a bit of an uproar, as his host-brothers were
there and didn't want to have to be the ones who would have to face the
concerns and wrath of their friends.  At first, they suggested they could
get everyone's telephone numbers and give them to Nick, so he could call
them all and tell them himself, but after much discussions, they eventually
gave in and told Nick they would do it for him, much to Nick's relief.

Once his telephone call ended, Nick informed me there were a few guys, the
ones he met on his trip, that he'd have no way of getting in touch with, so
he didn't know what to do about them.  After thinking about it briefly, I
told him we just had to pray they either didn't contract it from him or
they developed symptoms, so they could get treated for it, before it got
too severe.  He agreed, but I could tell all this bothered him greatly.

After making his phone call, Nick went to inform Shannon about his problem,
while I went to tell Jake about what we found out at the doctor's office.
As I was sharing this information, I could tell this only reinforced his
negative image of his son's boyfriend and he was even more upset than he
had been when he found out about the genital warts.  He excused himself and
went outside, and when I looked out to see what he was up to, I saw him
going for a walk up the road.  Obviously, he needed some time alone to
think about his feelings and to cope with the reality of the situation.

Once he returned, he cleaned up and changed and we went to the Good Friday
service at church.  Jake had seemed a little aloof and extremely quiet
since he returned from his walk, and this didn't change at church, so I
could only imagine what types of thoughts were going through his mind.  I
could tell he wasn't really aware of what was happening during the service
and he wasn't participating either, but he did keep glancing over at
Shannon and Nick, who were sitting on the other side of him.  Of course, my
attention was split between what he was doing and the service, so I missed
much of what was happening too, but we did manage to get through it without
looking as if we had fallen asleep in the pew.

When we got home, we put the finishing touches on dinner and then sat down
to eat.  It was even very quiet during the meal, as no one seemed to be
very talkative, until Jake finally broke the silence.  "Shannon and Nick,
I'd like to speak with both of you after dinner," he told them, causing a
panicked look to cross both of their faces.  "Josh, I think maybe you
should join us too," he added, looking at me.  I had a feeling I knew what
this was about, but I hoped it wasn't going to go as badly as I feared it
might.

After dinner, the four of us met in the living room, closing the door
behind us, before we sat down to talk.  Jake spoke first.  "I'm deeply
concerned about what's happened and the different things Nick has picked up
while he was away.  What concerns me most is the fact that he may have
contracted more than just those two diseases and we won't know what else he
has been exposed to until it is too late."  He paused to look at all of us,
to gauge our reactions.  Shannon and I were looking at him, but Nick had
hung his head again and was looking at the floor.  After a few seconds of
no one saying a word, Jake spoke again.  "I think it would be best if the
two of you stopped going together," he added, causing Shannon's mouth to
drop open and Nick's head to snap upward.

"You can't do that," Shannon protested.  "I'm old enough to make my own
decisions now."

"I understand that," Jake conceded, "but I'm hoping you will listen to me
on this matter and protect yourself by ending your relationship with Nick.
He can't seem to confine his sexual exploits to just one partner, and in
doing so, he is exposing you to all the same risks, not just himself.
That's why I think it's best if you two break up."

"I won't do it," Shannon snapped back.  "I love Nick and I won't give him
up, for you or anyone else."  Jake looked upset, yet crushed by Shannon's
reaction, and I think he actually assumed his son would just do as he
asked.  Even though I had warned him about making an ultimatum, he had done
it anyway, and now I was afraid he might be unhappy about the repercussions
arising from his demands.

"Uncle Jake," Nick uttered, breaking my train of thought.  "I'm sorry about
all this and I know I've been really foolish, but I've learned an awful lot
because of it too.  I've learned that I really love Shannon and I don't
want to lose him."  Although Jake seemed to be moved by Nick's sincerity,
it didn't look as if he was about to budge from his position.

"That's nice," Jake responded, "and you probably do think that, but you
have to look at the whole picture.  Even though you both think you love
each other, Nick can't seem to confine his sexual activities to just one
person and he's putting everyone he comes in contact with at risk.  That's
all right, if he wants to do it to himself, but he has no right to put
others at risk too, especially someone he claims he loves."  Shannon was
forming his response to his father's comments, getting ready to say
something, when Nick spoke first.

"You're right," he admitted, "but I won't put him at risk any more."  I
think all of our mouths dropped open simultaneously, unable to believe that
Nick would break up with Shannon that easily.  We were all too dumbfounded
to respond, but we didn't need to, as Nick continued.

"I never thought I could commit myself to only one person, but having seen
what can happen and realizing what a fool I've been, I'm ready to do just
that.  If you will allow me, I promise I will love Shannon, and only
Shannon, from now on."  He paused to look at both Shannon and Jake after
saying that, and then he continued.  "Will you both give me the chance to
prove to you I can do just that?"

Talk about it being so quiet you could hear a pin drop, we all sat
speechless, though I could hear my heart pounding in my chest and it seemed
so loud I thought everyone else was probably able to hear it too.  As I was
pondering that, it was Shannon who regained his composure and spoke first.

"Do you really mean that?" he questioned Nick, still not certain that Nick
could live up to that particular promise.

"Yes.  Absolutely," Nick told him, looking him straight in the eye, before
turning toward Jake.  "Uncle Jake, I really do mean what I say.  Even
though I've been a fool up to now, I don't want to lose Shannon.  I love
him and I know he loves me too, and I'm more than willing to change, just
to keep his love."  Jake still seemed a bit startled, like a deer in
headlights, but, finally, he did respond.

"How can you say that?" he wondered, aloud.  "You've never been able to
contain your sexual appetite before, so what makes you think you can do it
now?"

"Because now I realize how wrong and foolish I've been and I have more to
lose," he added, looking at Shannon as he made his last comment.  "Please
trust me," he continued, "and I'll prove it to you.  I also promise we
won't have sex for another month and after that, when we do, it will always
be protected.  Will that convince you to let us stay together?"  Again,
Jake didn't respond immediately.

"Please, dad," Shannon begged, putting even more pressure on him to give
in.

"I'll need some time to think about this," Jake informed them both.  "I'm
not saying no," he added, "but I do need more time to think it over.  Both
boys seemed satisfied that he'd at least given in that much, so they didn't
push it, and they both went back to their room, leaving Jake and I alone.

"Josh, I know what he said, but I just don't believe him.  He just has too
much history as a guy with hot pants, so I can't see him cooling off and
confining his activities to just Shannon."  He looked at me and I guess my
facial expression told him I wasn't in full agreement with him, so I guess
that's what made him ask me his next question.  "What do you think, Josh?"

I swallowed hard and tried to mentally form my response, so it would come
out as I wished it to.  Once I thought I was ready to tell him what I
thought, I took his hand and looked him in his eyes.  "A year ago, or even
six months ago, I might have agreed with you about Nick," I told Jake, "but
having gone through this with him, seen his reactions and listened to the
comments he's made about everything that's happened, I really believe he's
growing up and changing the way he thinks.  I can't tell you specifically
why I feel that way or point to any one item to support my position, but
he's just not the same Nick now."  Jake studied me carefully now, mulling
over what I had said and forming his next query.

"Isn't there anything you can tell me, to show me why you feel that way?
I'm telling you, Josh, I just don't see it."

"Is that because it isn't there, or is it because you aren't looking for it
or you just won't allow yourself to see it?" I asked him back.  He recoiled
slightly, after hearing my words.

"That's kind of a low-blow, isn't it?" he shot back.

"I don't think so," I told him, frankly.  "You've never liked the idea of
Shannon and Nick being together, although I must admit you've been good
about allowing it to continue, but I think you see exactly what you expect
or want to see in him.  I'm not sure if you'd be willing to admit that you
actually saw a change in his behavior."

"What change?" Jake barked at me.  "He screwed just about everything he
could get his hands on while he was away.  I don't see any changes there."
I could tell Jake was getting very emotional about this topic, so I thought
maybe I should tell him something more, something that might calm him down
a bit.

"Jake, I know that's how Nick has always been, but look at these facts.
We've told the boys they couldn't have sex until this was cleared up and
they have BOTH done that.  In fact, the other day I went up to talk to Nick
and I caught him and Shannon cuddling and making out.  They both swore
there had been no sex, and I believed them, but then Nick told me he never
realized how much fun the kissing and hugging could be, even without the
sex.  For the week he's been back, he and Shannon have not been intimate,
he's not been with anyone else for sex, and he's been by Shannon's side
nearly every minute possible.  I think that shows some change.  Don't you?"

"Yes, he has been a little different since he's been back, but I'm not sure
he can keep it up.  I think he will revert back to his old ways eventually
and that's just not good enough."  Jake looked as if he was going to remain
resolute on his stance.

"Jake, I listened to Nick as he learned about his test results and I know
how scared he's been and how badly he feels about putting others at risk.
The thing was, up until now he's suffered from the same fate many young
people do.  They think they're invincible and nothing bad can happen to
them.  However, Nick has discovered that's not true, at least in his case,
and he's really scared that something worse can happen.  Besides, I think
he's finally realized how much he loves your son and how much Shannon loves
him, so I truly believe he's ready to commit to just one person."

"So you think I should give them my blessing then?"  I wasn't sure he
really wanted my opinion or if he was just asking this aloud, as a way of
working through this on his own.  Whatever his intent, I felt I had to
respond and give him my view on it.

"I think you at least owe him the chance to try to prove himself to both
you AND Shannon.  As long as they use protection, Shannon will be safe, but
I think he deserves a chance."  Jake didn't say anything for a few seconds,
but eventually he did respond.

"I think I'll need some more time to think about all of this," he finally
admitted to me.  "You've given me a lot to think about and I do know what
Shannon wants and that he is committed to Nick.  I don't want to break my
son's heart, but I don't want to expose him to any unnecessary risks
either.  I think I need to go for another walk, so I can think this
through," he advised me.

"Would you like some company?" I asked him.

"No, I think I need to do this alone," he replied.  I respected his request
and didn't try to lay a guilt trip on him about letting me go with him.  He
turned and headed for the door and I watched him slowly make his way from
the house and head back up the road.  It was only a few minutes later when
Shannon came back downstairs, looking around.

"Where did my dad go?" he asked me.

"He went for a walk, to think about this situation."  Shannon looked
worried.

"Do you think he's going to be okay about Nick and me being together?" he
wanted to know.

"I'm not sure," I replied honestly.  "He is giving it a lot of thought, but
he's not going to rush into any decision.  I think whatever he decides,
he'll do it because he thinks it's right and in your best interest."

"I know that, Pop, but I also know I'm not breaking up with Nick, no matter
what my dad says.  I love them both and I don't want to have to choose
between them, but I also won't let one of them bully me into getting rid of
the other.  If they don't like my choices, then they'll have to either
learn to deal with it or make the choice to leave themselves.  I won't be
the bad guy here."  I could see a lot of his father in him now and I could
tell he was going to remain adamant on his stance.

"Well, don't throw in the towel yet and give your father a chance to come
to his own conclusions.  I know he'll do what he considers to be the right
thing."  Shannon merely nodded in response to what I had said, before he
went up to his room again.

Jake didn't come back right away and a half hour later there was still no
sign of him.  I began to worry and wonder if something more was wrong, but
I decided not to panic.  I figured possibly he just needed more time to
work things through in his mind, before he was ready to announce his
decision.  I was thinking about all of this when a car pulled into the
driveway, so I thought maybe someone he knew had picked him up and given
him a ride home.  However, when I looked out the window, I saw it was Duck,
and that's when I remembered that he was coming to spend the holiday with
us.  I guess with everything else going on around here, Duck's visit had
just slipped my mind.  Immediately, I called Vinnie and told him Duck was
here, and he and Kevin came out of their room, and then the three of us
went out to greet him.

Duck was in a very good mood and seemed to be thrilled about joining us for
Easter.  I had Vinnie and Kevin take him around, to introduce him to the
rest of the family and give him a quick tour of the house, but I was still
too worried about Jake to think about much else at the moment.  An hour had
passed now, since Jake had wandered off, and I began to grow even more
concerned about him.  I was just about ready to go out and look for him
myself, when I saw him in the distance, moving slowly toward the house.
That's when I realized how difficult this decision must be for him, but I
also began to wonder what he had decided.

When he finally reentered the house, he motioned for me to come with him,
as he started up the stairs, and I followed him up to Shannon and Nick's
room.  He knocked on their door, waited for them to tell him to enter and
then we both went in.  Shannon and Nick were sitting on the bed and a
shocked and worried look came over both of their faces.  Jake cleared his
throat, before he began to speak.

"I've given this a lot of thought and listened to what each of you had to
say on the matter," he informed them.  "After thinking it through, I'm
ready to give you my answer."  I think Nick and Shannon both held their
breath, as they waited to hear his answer.

"Nick, I know you think I don't like you, but that's not true.  I think
you're a very interesting and lovable young man, but reckless in your
sexual conduct.  I love my son and wish to protect him and keep him from
harm, just as any father would want to do, yet I also know he's old enough
to make up his own mind."  Jake paused now, licked his lips and took a deep
breath before he continued.  I thought both boys might pass out from the
uncertainty and suspense, however they both managed to hang in there.

"After a great deal of consideration, I've finally decided I'm going to
give my blessing to your being together, with one word of warning."  Both
boys had begun to jump off the bed to celebrate, until they heard Jake's
last comment.  Immediately, they stifled their enthusiasm and waited to see
what else he had to say.

"Nick, I'm going to trust you and take your word that you are going to
commit yourself to just my son," he advised them, causing them both to
breathe a sigh of relief, but that was only momentary.  "However," Jake
continued, "if I ever learn this isn't the case, then as far as I'm
concerned, you'll be history.  Of course, I can't force Shannon into doing
that, but I will tell him everything I know about you and put pressure on
him to end the relationship at that time.  So from now on, my continued
support will depend entirely upon your actions and whether you can keep
your word."

At this point, Shannon moved swiftly toward his father, gave him a hug and
thanked him for giving the two of them a second chance.  Nick gave the pair
a little time alone, but then he moved over too, and joined them.  He
looked Jake directly in the eye, before he spoke.  "I will promise again,
to you, Pop, and Shannon that I will be true to my word and I won't have
any other sexual partners.  I mean that," he added, thinking Jake had not
been totally convinced of his sincerity.

"I hope you can do that," Jake responded, "because I'm going to hold you to
that word."  It was obvious there was still a little tension between them,
so in an effort to convince Nick that he would be given another chance and
his past would not be held against him, Jake pulled Nick into the embrace
with Shannon and him.  Nick's reaction was immediate and the smile that
spread across his face expressed how pleased he was by this gesture.  It
also let me know that Nick felt his 'father-in-law' was finally accepting
his relationship.

I slipped out of the room and went downstairs, not only because I thought
they needed a few quiet moments together, but I also had company waiting
for me.  I found the three of them in the family room, where Duck was
carrying on a conversation with some of the other boys.  They were getting
to know each other and Duck seemed to be enjoying this give and take, so I
didn't interrupt them and slipped back out of the room.  A few minutes
later, Duck, Vinnie and Kevin came out to find me.

"Hey, Mr. Currie," Duck said, "aren't you happy to see me?" he asked,
making me feel bad that I hadn't made myself part of the conversation in
the family room now.

"Of course I am, Duck, and please call me Josh.  I'm sorry if I seemed a
little aloof or cold earlier, but you seemed to be getting along with the
boys and I had another family matter on my mind.  I'm sorry if I seemed
rude and insensitive."  I looked at our guest, who was turning slightly
red, and wondered what was causing this reaction.  I didn't have long to
wait to find out.

"I'm sorry," he told me.  "I didn't mean to imply that I was more important
than your family."  Wow.  I didn't expect that reaction and knew I had to
take this poor guy off the hook.

"I never thought you did," I assured him, "and I apologize for not being a
more attentive host.  What do you say we start over and correct these
problems?"  He looked slightly relieved.

"That won't be necessary," he stated, "but thanks for letting me come spend
some time with you and your family.  I've met more of your sons and I'm
getting along great with everyone.  I think I'm going to enjoy my stay
here."

"I'm glad to hear that and we're all pleased you were willing to join us.
Be sure to make yourself at home and let me know if you need anything.  Did
Kevin and Vinnie show you where you'd be staying?"

"Yes, they did, and it's very nice, but you didn't have to go to all of
that trouble.  I could have just slept on the couch."

"It's no trouble at all," I informed him, "and I'd prefer you had some
privacy.  You may not realize it yet, but once you see this group in
action, you're going to be grateful to have a place you can hide and get
away from them."  He let out a little chuckle.

"Awww, they can't be that bad."

"Oh, you'll see," I warned him, "and you'll be grateful for what little
privacy you can manage.  Come on, let's sit down and talk a bit."  We did,
and now that everything was settled, we planned to enjoy the rest of the
weekend together.

                  *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

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If you don't mind, please share whatever information you feel comfortable
with, because it helps knowing my readers better when I decide what to
write or how to gear it.  Please email me at bwstories8@aol.com and let me
know what you thought, so I can do even better in the future.  Thanks,
Bill.