Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2020 16:47:48 +0200
From: Ryan White <liciousryan@gmail.com>
Subject: Love Has No Gender Chapter Six

HOLA PEEPS!!

It's been two years since the last chapter. I know...and I'm sorry.

I had gotten so many emails asking when I'll write another chapter. This
afternoon I finally out on my big boy boots and got writing.

I really hope you enjoy it as much as you did years ago.

P.S.  If you don't remember the story you MIGHT wanna read Chapters 1-5
first lol.

Stay safe,
Ryan

LOVE HAS NO GENDER
CHAPTER SIX

** TWO YEARS LATER **

"Come on, Ryder!! Pass it! Get in there! That's it! Show them everything we
practised! Get in!"

"Your kid out there as well?" the woman next to Rocco in the stands asked,
a friendly, understanding smile across her face. It was bitching hot out
there and the parents were having to sweat it out way more than the little
scamps on the soccer field.

Ryder's school was up 2-1 and they just needed to see out the final few
minutes in order to claim the trophy for the provincial tournament for
under 10 boys teams out of the entire country.

It's something that Ryder hasn't stopped talking about since the school
year began. It would mean so much to his son if they could fly home with
that winners medal safe and secured after all the hard work they had put
in.

Rocco took a sip of his Coke before smiling back at the woman next to him.

"Sure is. That tall one on the left hand side. He's a defender. Makes me
cringe every time he's trying to defend the other team getting the ball,
because you never know what can happen. I take it yours is playing as
well?"

The woman smiled and was clearly, smitten much, with the handsome
Rocco. She tucked a string of hair in behind her ear whilst seductively
batting her eyelids at him.

"You guessed it. I'm local. My son is playing for the home team. Not sure
me and you should be this friendly towards each other when we support
different teams today. Ha, I'm totally kidding. So...where's the Missus? I
assume you are married," she asked, about as subtle as a house brick.

Rocco smiled and showed off his ring less fingers. He knew exactly what she
was after and boy oh boy, she was not gonna get it.

"Nope. My wife, she died two years ago. Tragically. I was in the car with
her. Still, life goes on. How about we concentrate on the football, yeah?
Our boys are still on the field. Not being rude, but I don't want anyone in
my life. Not even for a hook-up."

The woman suddenly had a face that closely resembled that of one of those
Egyptian cats.

She sulked away, clearly refusing to continue their conversation. Rocco
smiled, and searched for his boy on the field, until he spotted him,
digging in his heels ferociously as he prepared for the onslaught of the
local team's strikers.

If they could mange to score a goal, it would be tied 2-2 which would mean
that the title would stay local because of their better goal difference to
Ryder's team.

It was thus up to Ryder and co, to try their best to defend their lead. The
local boys were trying anything in their nine year old power to play dirty
however, as their coach continued to shout instructions from the touch
line.

Rocco and the rest of the parents in the stands shrieked and grimaced as
Ryder and two other boys suddenly collided head on, trying and doing their
utmost best to defend the lead, and it was when Ryder didn't get up after
the incident, that Rocco stood up, and slowly walked over to the pitch.

"Oi! Ref...stop the game! That's...that's my son! His injured!"

"Can't do, Padre. The game is almost over. We have to continue, it's unfair
towards the local team," the ref shouted back, smiling evilly as he did so.

Bastard. Fuck this.

Rocco had enough of people messing with him in his life, and this
overweight piece of shit with a whistle wasn't gonna join those masses. Not
today.

Not caring about the game, Rocco jogged over to where his son was still
lying face down on the pitch, and when he reached Ryder, he knew this was
serious.

His boy had a huge cut across his hairline, and he wasn't moving. Rocco
quickly felt for a pulse, fearing the worst, and thanked his stars that was
still there. Faint, but still there.

He picked Rocco up into his strong arms, the entire stadium as well as the
parents and kids watching him. Some of them stood up and started to applaud
him for taking his son out of the game and putting HIS needs first.

As Rocco passed the referee he glanced at the fat idiot's face, now a mere
shadow of that sarcastic wart he had so nicely asked to stop the game.

"Prepare yourself for a law suit. I ain't done with you," he hissed towards
the man, who in reply, swallowed, hard, in sheer intimidation. Rocco was
NOT the sort of man you wanted to be your enemy.

The mysterious woman, who had been flirting with Rocco to no avail all
afternoon, came running towards him as he neared the stands with a still
unconscious Ryder inside his arms.

"The nearest doctor is only a few blocks away. I can take you guys. Your
kid needs help!"

When Rocco didn't answer immediately, she sighed and grabbed her handbag
swinging it across her shoulder.

"I'm a parent as well. I know what it's like. My son can stay with his dad
for a while and I can quickly take you there. Look, I know I was desperate
for a shag. You're sexy as hell. I learned my lesson. I just want to help
you. Your son is bleeding so much it's dripping on the grass! Stop being so
hard headed, I said I'm sorry! Now are you gonna follow me to my doctor or
not?"

There were more than just a couple of reasons why Rocco was nervous to do
what she had asked. You never knew who was your enemy, and who was not.

Especially now that they were in unknown territory. But Ryder wanted to
come, he wanted to play in the soccer tournament so badly. The boy had real
talent, to perhaps make it big someday, in the Premier League. Dreams were
meant to have you suceed.

Rocco couldn't look into his son's eyes and tell him that there was so much
danger out there, that it was literally too dangerous to travel too
much. Ryder didn't understand that, and Rocco couldn't explain why. The kid
was only nine-and-a-half and he a and already had such a complicated life.

He knew he had no choice. He didn't know how badly Ryder's head was damaged
in the collision that happened on the field.

"Okay, but I'll follow you in my car. Just...hurry please?"

The woman nodded and both of them walked as quickly as they could, out of
the stadium. As luck would have it, both didn't park that far from the
other. Rocco carefully, placed Ryder on the back seat, of his own car, and
placed a blanket underneath his head to keep him warm and as comfortable as
possible.

He saw the woman pull out of the parking lot and she had signalled to
follow her. With a prayer that he wasn't walking straight into a trap,
Rocco reversed and drove after her.

**

They pulled in to one of the local clinics, purely because going to a
hospital would take too much time. Ryder needed help, and fast.

On the other hand, that was perhaps a blessing in disguise. Their money was
rapidly beginning to run out and he had to save every cent they had. He
didn't know when he would be receiving another transfer from the WPP.

The woman got out and carefully walked over towards Rocco and Ryder,
examining the boy, who still had not made any moves to wake up and show any
signs of life.

"Sir, I don't wanna worry you, but he really should have woken up by
now. This is where I work, I'm a nurse. I'll get you Doctor Roberts, our
paediatrician, to see you as quick as I can. Go inside there, at the
Emergency counter, tell them what happened and the nurses will take it from
there. I'll be back soon!"

Rocco did as he was told, an ice cold flutter inside his stomach
threatening to overwhelm him. Ryder was his everything, all he had left in
this world...please, please let him be okay...

Once he had explained what had happened and the severity of the situation
to the nurses, they quickly placed Ryder on a gurney, and marched off with
him to somewhere inside the hospital for treatment. One of the nurses told
Rocco that he needed to be calm, and patient and they were gonna do
everything they can for Ryder.

A nauseating feeling inside his belly told him that was usually what
hospital folk said to people who wasn't gonna make it.

Stop it, Rocco. Get a fucking grip!

Ryder was a strong boy. He was young and healthy. He'll get through this,
you HAVE to believe that.

If himself and Ryder could have survived Teresa, they could damn well
survive anything.



** TWO YEARS AGO **

"The head of the school said he wanted to see us both! Ryder's father AND
his mother! What about that don't you fucking understand?" Rocco yelled
towards his wife as she was stuffing her laptop inside it's carrier bag.

She didn't even so much as bother to even look up at him. Clearly he wasn't
important enough.

"Lemme get this straight, Rocco. You want me to miss a department meeting
to go and sit inside that bald fuck's office and listen to how BADLY our
son has been doing in school? When I could have been making money? When I
still have to support you and the peanuts that call a salary??"

I've had it with this woman. I couldn't anymore.

"You won't acknowledge me and our son but you don't wanna divorce me
either! You go on and blackmail me by saying you'll fight for custody of
Ryder when you can't stand to look at him! All just to spite me! You
heartless bitch!"

Teresa smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. She picked up her mobile phone
and held it out to Rocco.

"I'll do it, you know. I'll call the cops and tell them you've been
assaulting me for years. Who are they gonna believe? The successful
business woman or the fast food server?"

Rocco sunk down to his knees. His hands were piling up into fists at the
unfairness of it all. He didn't know what to do! He felt so damn helpless!
Was there NOTHING he could do to stop Teresa? He didn't have money to fight
her in a law suit! She has an entire company backing her!

God knows Ryder was terrified at his mother because how she treated
him. She was prepared to ruin his life only to spite me!

Teresa clapped her hands sarcastically.

"Sinking to the knees. What a performance. You should have pursued
acting. Most of them actors are unemployed half the year, you would have
fit right in."

She kicked out as Rocco's back with her high heel shoe she was wearing,
making Rocco hiss in sheer agony.

"If it means that much to you, I'll reschedule my meeting. I'm not doing it
for you, or even for that brat. I'm doing it because I can't afford stories
of me neglecting my child get to the office. Are you coming or not?"

**

"Really, Rocco. You think I'm evil? You think I don't have a heart? What
happened to that teenage girl you fell in love with and gotten pregnant?
You realise if my brother hadn't forced you to marry me, what I could have
become by now? But nooo...Phillip always knew better. Can't harm the image
of the Harlem's, he said! Had to do the right thing, he said! And look at
me now. I'm stuck in a loveless marriage with an ape as well as his
offspring!"

Rocco was clenching his teeth not to say anything. Inside he was shaking
with rage. Focus on Ryder. Your son. You love him.

If only he could have popped over to see Brad. He'd know what to say, to
calm him down.

He knew that was more than off limits. Brad and Nikki had moved a few days
ago after a sudden transfer that he had gotten to God knows where. He had
made peace with the fact that they would never see each other ever again.

It more than broke his heart. Falling in love with his best friend...not
the most clever move he ever made. Rocco being straight, never having had
feelings for another man, and yet, the bond he had shared with Brad was
indescribable.

Love really had no gender.

He wished, prayed...craved...that he could see Brad just once more. Just
one more time. To hold him inside his arms, feel his lips on his own. Those
beautiful blue eyes of the man he had loved so very much before everything
went to jack shit.

After rejecting Brad's wife, Nikki's request to make things right with
Brad, the two of them having fallen out, he knew things would never be the
same. Nikki know knew of his feelings for her husband and there was no way,
no how, he was messing them up even further. He wasn't gonna be the reason
Brad was leaving Nikki and their seven year old son, Dave.

He never saw Brad again, and as far as he knew, neither him nor Nikki made
the effort to say goodbye before they had moved.

"How long does these meeting usually last? I'm talking to you, you stupid
bastard!"

Sighing, used to this kind of abuse, he turned towards Teresa and shrugged
his shoulders.

"I don't know. It's up to the Head, innit? He usually talks to me about how
Ryder is doing in school and gives advice. That's why its called "Parent
Teacher Meetings".

Teresa made a sound like a pig squealing in mud.

"Waste of fucking time if you ask me. Don't these teachers realise we are
WORKING parents? And by working, I mean me. Delivering take out, isn't a
damn job! Why can't they just email us and say the brat is failing or
passing or what ever the hell they're doing in school. In the real word, we
adults have money to make."

Teresa looked at her watch what seemed like the millionth and time let out
a fierce roar of anger.

"I'm late! I'm fucking late! See what you've done? If I lose that pitch
today you and your son are OUT of my house!"

Rocco grabbed Jill's arm roughly. He had enough! No person could listen to
all this and NOT get mad as hell.

"I think you mean, OUR house, wifey!" he choked out, his saliva splattering
against her face.

Teresa violently pushed Rocco back into his seat and took control of the
car, driving even faster.

"TOUCH ME AGAIN! YOU FREAK! CAN'T EVEN GET IT UP FOR YOUR WIFE!"

It was like something inside Rocco broke. And it could never be mended...

"At least I could get it up for BRAD next door! Shows how much YOU know!"

For just a fleeting moment...Teresa took her eyes off the road.

She didn't slow her speed.

Humiliation, anger, resentment and complete and utter HATRED was etched on
her face as she realised just WHAT I had said...and it would forever be.

The car SMASHED into an oncoming food truck that didn't have enough time to
change lanes.

Teresa was lunged through the window and her body collapsed onto the
rubble. I saw it inside her eyes. She was dead on impact.

Reacting on guts alone, I opened the car door of the passenger side and
threw myself onto the tarred road, before the truck solidly slammed on top
of the space where I had been mere seconds ago.

If that door had been jammed shut I would have been a dead as Teresa was
now.



** PRESENT DAY **

Relieving that fateful day as I waited for news from Ryder and his head
injury, I looked up and saw a man wearing an overcoat walk over to me.

Inside his hand he was holding what looked like a file, and he was doing a
once over on what was inside.

He was tall, imposing, he had to be a doctor of some sort. I stood up,
hoping at last, that there would be some sort of news...I had been waiting
over an hour and I was a little more than terrified to stay in the same
area for more than a few hours, at least.

See, when Teresa died, her gangster brother, Phillip, or Cheetah, as he was
known in the underworld, and his possy, the Harlem's, weren't too pleased
with me.

They knew I had been in the car with her, and they were convinced I was
responsible for her death. They weren't exactly wrong...as much as I hated
Teresa because how she treated me and Ryder over the years, she wouldn't
have taken her eyes off the road, if I hadn't told her I was in love with
Brad.

Me and Ryder had been on the run for just under two years now. We couldn't
dare stay in Teresa's home. They were after us with an animalistic passion.

Until this day, the Harlem's hadn't been able to track us down. Because me
and Ryder were always, always on the move.

I couldn't tell Ryder the truth. That his uncle had declared war on me and
that's why we had to go into witness protection? Hell no! None of this was
his fault.

I felt guilty as fuck for giving Ryder half an life ...always on the run,
looking over our shoulders. Because if Cheetah ever found us, he would
personally take his revenge for his sister's death out on me.

I didn't even wanna think what he'd do to Ryder.

**

I was still lodged at the nurse's station when the doctor in question
turned towards me.

"Mister Reed, I'm Doctor Brad Roberts, with news about young Ryder..."

He suddenly looked up.

Rocco would fucking recognise that voice and face anywhere.

Time was frozen.

It had been nearly two years.

It couldn't be.

It CAN'T be!

...and yet it was.

"Brad..." Rocco whispered, a funny sort of warmth spreading through his
chest and heart.

Brad put down the folder he was holding, and placed his hand over his mouth
in sheer disbelief.

"Jesus...Rocco, what are you doing here?" he asked, his eyes never leaving
the other man's.

He was still as beautiful as he was when they were neighbours. His body was
more built, he had gained more muscle, his hair was shorter...but it was
still Brad.

Of course...Brad was a doctor. How could he forget that?

That's how they met in the first place, when the good doctor was checking
out a rash on Ryder's tummy, and Rocco had assaulted him for thinking he
was a paedophile.

Even so, he never expected to find him here! And if Ryder hadn't been
injured in the football match, he would never have known Brad was here...

"Uhm...Are you the doctor who's working on my son?" was all Rocco could
manage to croak out.

Brad's eyes, moving up and down his upper body, was drenched in utter
confusion, before he realised where he was, and looked down at the folder.

"Yeah...I mean yes. Yes, I just said to my nurses that I wondered where I
had heard that name before. Ryder Reed. Should have put two and two
together. Relax, Rocco. Ryder is gonna be fine. He has a mild concussion
and a minor haematoma on his frontal lobe but it's not serious. Still, I
will recommend he stay here with us for a few days, just to be on the safe
side."

Rocco's heart dropped.

"No. No! We can't stay. No, that's not gonna work. We have to move, we
can't...fuck Brad, you don't understand!"

Rocco was halted by Brad placing a warm hand on top of his arm. His former
neighbour looked him straight in the eye, before squeezing his arm tightly.

"Listen, how about I stick you for coffee? I think we have a lot to talk
about and it looks like you really need it," Brad said signalling towards
the cafeteria.

Rocco hesitated for a moment.

He really wanted to get himself and Ryder the fuck outta there ...but the
man he loved most in this world, yes, still after two whole years, was now
right in front of him. With Cheetah and the gang on his ass, he'll probably
never get another chance again.

Brad was right. They needed to talk.

**

The steam from the freshly brewed coffee perked Rocco up as he mixed in
some sugar and milk. He saw that Brad still drank his black, like he always
did.

"Sorry this isn't one of my famous coffees you liked so much back then,"
Brad joked as he took a sip, still very much focused on Rocco, who sadly,
chuckled.

"Yeah man. Those were good times."

Brad leaned forward and softly, gently, careful to have anyone see them,
slightly caressed Rocco's knuckles with his thumb.

"Then why did you leave me?" he whispered, his eyes full of unshed tears
and memories.

Rocco sighed and withdrew his hand from the table. He saw the hurt in
Brad's eyes but this was for the best. There was no future for
them. Certainly not now.

"I don't know if she ever told you this, but Nikki overheard me that day,
two years ago, when you had the accident. I was sitting next to your bed,
telling you I loved you. Yes, Brad. Don't ask me how, don't ask me why. I
fell for you harder than I ever had for anyone. I couldn't break up your
family. And when Teresa had me arrested for stealing her car, and Nikki
bailed me out, I had to make some hard choices. I buried myself in work, so
I didn't run into you. I purposely avoided you everywhere I could. And
then, Teresa told me you and Nikki were moving. I guess, here was the
location, right?"

Brad finished his coffee and folded his arms. His eyes were as red as his
Man United jersey he always wore when they were together.

"Me and Nikki are divorced. We share custody of Dave. He's gonna be really
glad to see Ryder again, the two of them were best buds. Where's Teresa
though? She coming?"

Rocco flickered his eyes towards the floor.

"No. She died. Car accident."

Brad looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself just in
time.

A silence drifted through them, as neither knew exactly what to say or do
next.

It was Brad who stood up and threw away his empty coffee cup.

"I have to get back to Ryder and my other patients. I guess I'll see you
later."

"No, Brad, wait!"

Rocco stood up and blocked Brad's path.

"Look dude, I'm begging you. You can't have Ryder stay the night. Not even
to mention, a few. He has to leave with me if he's gonna be okay. Please."

Brad frowned. The cafeteria was near empty. He leaned in closer.

"Rocco, are you in some kind of trouble? If you are, maybe I can help you?"

"No one can help me, okay! Look, it was great seeing you, and thanks for
looking after Ryder but we have to go. Please. Don't let him stay!"

Brad look one long look at a desperate Rocco, before shrugging his
shoulders and forcing a smile on his face.

"You're his dad. It's on you," he said.

Both men exited the cafeteria and re-entered the paediatric ward.

"I'll quickly do his obs, and see how soon I can sign his discharge
papers. Rocco...a head wound like this, especially on a child, really needs
to be seen to, please..."

"Brad, just trust me! I can't leave him here! I can't be here!"

"Because of me? You're gambling with Ryder's health because you wanna get
away from me? Is that it?"

Rocco sunk into the nearest bench he saw. Holding his hesd inside his hands
he rocked back and forth in sheer morbidity.

"Look, if I tell you, you don't tell another soul. If you do, both me and
Ryder are dead! You got me?"

Now Brad was more worried than ever. He sat down next to Rocco and placed
his hand on his back, slowly caressing it in small circles.

"I won't tell anyone. You can trust me. You always did," he said softly, so
only Rocco could hear.

Rocco looked up from his legs and swallowed, his eyes betraying just how
much he was enjoying feeling Brad's hand on his skin.

In short, he told Brad everything he had kept secret for so long.

"And they think YOU caused her accident? Why? They are animals!" Brad
murmured angrily, his entire complex having changed.

"Well, I might have told her something in the heat of the moment that made
her take her yes off the road ...man, she was insulting me, degrading me to
the point where I couldn't stay quiet anymore. I told her...I told her
about us."

"YOU DID WHAT?" Brad hissed, pulling Rocco upwards and into the bathroom on
the paediatric ward. Making sure there was no one inside he locked the door
and stared at Rocco in confusion.

"I'm sorry! I couldn't stop myself! You remember how she was! Only cared
for herself! Mean, evil and just plain nasty! You told me yourself you and
Nikki overheard her shouting at me and Ryder numerous times! I couldn't
take it anymore!"

Brad seemed to calm down, as he paced himself around the bathroom.

"Should I be worried this gang is gonna come after me? I have a son to
worry about too," he whispered.

Rocco shook his head.

"Cheetah and his boys don't even know you exist. I told Teresa about us,
seconds before we crashed. There's no way they can know. This has been my
life for nearly two years, Brad. We can't stay here."

Brad stopped pacing, and tapped his fingers gently on the washbasin.

"You can stay with me."

"Come again?" Brad asked.

"What I said. Both you and Ryder can stay with me. At least until he's
fully recovered. Rocco, if he has a seizure or something else happens with
that head wound because you took him home too soon, you're never gonna
forgive yourself. Just until he's healthy again. I won't let anything
happen to you. I promise."

Rocco was tired. More than he had ever felt before. He didn't have the
sheer energy to keep on arguing.

He knew he could trust Brad.

They had been best friends. Mote than. They were lovers.

"Thanks. I guess. But only until Ryder can travel again! Please, go check
on him, and make sure you tell him I love him and I'm outside waiting to
see him!"

Brad nodded and turned to leave the bathroom.

Before he did, he looked Rocco in the eye, one more time.

"It...it wasn't just you, who fell in love. "

Rocco held his breath. He pleaded for Brad to finish his sentence.

Brad blinked twice, before continuing...

"I did too. I loved you, mate. I...I kinda still do. But there's more
important stuff going on now. Wait for me, I'll be back shortly."

**

Minutes after Brad had departed the bathroom, Rocco was still in there,
trying to piece together what had happened in these few short hours.

Ryder got a nasty head injury. A friendly nurse brought them here. He met
up with Brad for the first time in two years. The man he loved with his
whole being.

And now...

...now he was offering them a place to stay.

He knew of the danger Cheetah and the rest of the Harlem's posed.

And still...he didn't hesitate to help.

Rocco smirked.

He loved that man.

When you couldn't stop thinking of someone, when your whole heart and being
is yearning to be with them, even after two years, you bet your sweet ass,
it's love.

He had to trust Brad. He had no choice. Ryder was still in recovery. Brad
was right, one didn't take chances with a head wound.

Question is...how was he and Brad, who had been neighbours and lovers years
ago, gonna live in a house...together?

**

THANKS FOR READING!

It's been two years. I always hated myself for not finishing the story.

I owed it to you guys to do just that.

Lemme know what you thought xx

liciousryan@gmail.com