Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 15:09:42 -0700 (PDT) From: T Chase McPhee Subject: The Nature Walk 26 The following story is a work of fiction set in the format of reality. Any resemblance to real people is entirely coincidental in nature, and is not meant to accurately reflect persons in towns, cities, or governmental areas, in which the story is staged. If sexual scenes involving male to male relationships offends you, then you should not read this story. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age, in most states and countries, you are not allowed to read this by law. This is fiction. Don't forget, in real life, to think about 'sexual safety matters'; got condom? "Nature Walk" 26 (M/t oral gunshots homophobic) wriTten by T. Chase McPhee "Sean?" "Hey kid, he's calling for ya," one of the paramedics called over to Sean, in the trio of conversation. "Yeah, Ken?" "Sean....." "Sorry, that's it for now, kid... um guess you're Sean. I'm Callan O'Meara." "Ah.. yeah... nice to meet you. Um, is Ken going to be alright?" "Yeah, your buddy's should pull through. Um, you coming with us Sean?" "Um, I could. Yeah, let me just tell my boyfriend." When Sean turned his back and headed back to where Riley Sanchez and Jacq stood, Callan snapped his fingers, saying, 'shucks!' when he heard Sean mention 'boyfriend'. "Hey, Jacq, the guy asked me if I would come along with them. That okay?" "Um, sure. Hey, I'll pick up the stuff at the registrar's office, like we talked about, okay?" "Sure.... that'd be...." Sean's voice faded as the noise from the propellers of the chopter drowned out their conversation. "Wow! First time I've ever been in a helicopter." "No different from a car. Here, put your seatbelt on, Sean." "Thanks," Sean replied as Callan reached over to grab the end stuffed almost under the seat. "So, the guy you went to talk to is your boyfriend, Sean?" "Oh. You caught that, huh?" "Hey. I have nothing against two guys that love each other." "That's a welcome relief." "Oh and how's that go, Sean?" "Well, Callan it seems that there's been some homophobic assaults in the last two days." "I heard about the boys over at the high school, but didn't know they were terming it homophobia." "Keep it to yourself, Callan. I don't know if it's public yet." "No problem, Sean. So, how do you know Kenitchi here?" "It's Ken'ichi. Pronounced 'eechee'." "Good thing you told me that, Sean." "Oh?" "Well sure. Um, when Keneetchee wakes up..." "Ken'ichi... eechee." "Haa haa.. oh well I guess I'm better at Gaelic." "Why don't you make it easy on yourself, Callan and go with plain ole 'Ken'?" "Oh now that I 'can' say!" Sean and Callan had some lite laughter over that, then it was back to the facts, which Sean had hoped Callan got distracted enough, wouldn't venture forthwith. "So, how did you say you and Ken met, Sean?" "Um, do you want to sit in the seat here, Callan?" "No thanks. I have to make sure the IV stuck in Ken's arm keeps flowing the right way. Um, by the way, Sean, were you and Ken boyfriends or something?" "HuH! I guess you picked up on why I'm beating around the bush, Callan." "Told you Sean. I'm far from beating up on anybody because of their sexual preferences." "Okay. Yeah, so Ken and I were a couple. Friends. However, I think Ken pictured us more than that. Yeah, we had some lite sex together, kissing and laying together, but nothing that would point out that we were on the road to a full blown affair." "I see." "While Ken and I were together, I met Jacq." "And how did you meet him?" Sean had rather not divulge the bdsm circumstances revolving around their hookup, so took the silent approach." "No problem," Callan read into the situation, "I don't have to know all the nitty gritty details." "Let's just say that we hit it off real good and I'm not really proud of myself, but sort of dumped Ken for Jacq." "Well things happen Sean." "Right. After that even my friends Matty and Chad seemed to think that Ken took it real personal. He seemed to lose interest in school and everything else. Plus, I know he doesn't have the perfect relationship with his folks like some of us have." "Poor guy. Um, does he have any other friends that I can give a call to?" "No, Callan. I think other than myself, Matty and Chad, I don't think he had any... oh wait a minute! Yes, there is a cousin, Hiro. I forget where he said he lived, but not far away. He owns a service station." Sean was real careful not to tread on the bdsm path, even knowing the fun the Hiro liked to have, regarding that subject. "But no other guy he was interested in?" Now it had been time for Sean to turn to the proverbial relationship status question. "Why, you have an interest, Callan?" Callan swung around, serious face staring at Sean, grinned, flashing his brighty-whities from ear to ear. Callan broke into a smile, saying, "Well now at least I can unburden you Sean and pack up your gaydar!" "Hey man," Sean said, reaching to shake the twenty-three year old's hand, "welcome to the real world!" % Frankie Wade creaked open the bedroom door and peered into the small livingroom. He could see straight through to the kitchen. There stood his big brother, Wade. He yelled something to their father. The gun remained on the table, after Bill focused in on it. Then slinging some more profanity at the father, the man jumped up and planted his fist right in his son's gut. Frankie dashed back inside his room. Leaning up against the wall, he squeezed his eyes shut tightly. Suddenly, like a trance he fell into a reverie of images. Picturing Bill up against the wall he heard his brother belch over and over, his father's fist delivering punches to his gut. Then he peeked out the door. Bill lay on the kitchen floor, doubled in half, holding his stomach. "It's you who got us into this mess with your fucking attitude. If you'd had just come to me... but no, you had to go and workover some kid... deny it?" Bill didn't answer right away. Frankie watched as his dad pulled up on Bill's mane of hair. "Huh? Huh?" He screamed at Bill, as he reached for his dad's hands, pulling at his hair. "Stoppit! You're hurting me, dad!" "You think that hurts!" Again, Frankie was horrified as his dad's boot swung forwards and kicked Bill right between the legs. Again, Frankie flew back inside his room, his back to the wall. This time his mind roved inside the closed eyelids, seeing his brother lying in a pool of blood, on the floor, though outside the door he heard his brother pleading for mercy. Next thing he knows, he hears, "where's that fuckin' Frankie. Might as well end this thing right here and now!" Heavy footsteps trekked towards the door to his room. He thought of hiding under the bed, but instead, the ten year old opened the window, hopped up on the sill and pushed himself out through the opening. He gasped, as some branches from a bush poked him everywhere from the waist down. However, it wasn't time to stop and think about the pain, as his hysteric nature bore down on him, with the only thought ot 'escape' on his mind. With his pajama bottom tearing, he ran off straight into the bushes on the farside of the property. He didn't know if his dad ever came out of the house to chase him. For one thing, he didn't intend on sticking around to find out if his dad were after him. He knew he weren't far from 'Silly Lane', aka Sully Lane. From Frankie's memory, he jogged loose the fact that many homes populated that area. Somewhere up in that highend development his friend, Philip Clark, lived. At this point he would gladly be willing to meet up with anyone that wasn't his father! % "Well, I guess this is all wrapped up. Thanks Jacq for your help. Surely if you hadn't come along, the Kitajima kid would be dead." "Hey, 'blame' Sean. If he wasn't with me I would have driven right by." "Where you headed now?" "Well, I was supposed to drop Sean off at West Richland Community College. I still want to pick up some registration materials there for him." "Hey, would you mind doing me a favor, Jacq?" "Not at all, if it's in my power." "Would you mind picking me up a packet of graduate materials." "Not at all, Riley. Thinking of going back to college?" "Yes. I think I'm as settled as I'll ever get, so no time like the present to begin thinking about that Master's degree." "Very good. How about stopping by after you get off and picking them up?" "Well sure, if it's no bother for you." "Nah. Let me write down the directions and everything." "Just give me the address. I'll run it through Mapquest back at the station." "Oh sure. That's cool!" Jacq picked up on the 'cool' lingo, then jotted down the addie. "There you go, Riley." "Thanks Jacq. I owe ya one." "Nah. I never call on favors, so you're wasting your breath." "Okay, but hey, why don't you let me take you and Sean out for some dinner?" "Better yet, how about I pull some steaks out of the freezer." "Better than that.... I'll bring the steaks!" They laughed at each other for getting the higher dibs on each other. Jacq mentioned five o'clock for bringing the steaks, so he would have an hour to marinate them, ala Martha Stewart, before chucking them on the grill. % "Dad Steve, why isn't my dad answering the phone?" "Well, maybe he went out for a walk or maybe he's.. um," Barry picks up, "Maybe your dad is on a nature call." "Huh?" "My dad means," Philip interpets, "your dad might be going pee pee." "Oh. Maybe. Can you try again." "I will," Steve promises, "in a little while." "So, shall we go back and continue our housewarming?" "Dad, I think Aidan and I have our room picked out." Steve and Barry look at each other. They hadn't brought up the facts surrounding separate rooms for the two boys yet. "Philip," Barry begins, "Steve and I think you two boys should have separate rooms." "But dad, we love each other." "That may be the case Philip, but there's something here to take in consideration." Aidan gets on 'his' dad, "What does dad Barry mean, dad?" "Well, Aidan. It's not like you and Philip are... um, older." Philip comes out of the blue with, "Dads, Aidan and I are not gonna do fuckin' stuff like Matty and Chad." The dads are quite taken aback by the facts strewn in their ears. "Um, and where did you get facts that that, Philip?" Aidan pitches in, "When we watched the Queer Folk. One guy had his cock stuck in the other guy's ass. Matty said that's because they were older and that little kids don't do that stuff." "He did, did he?" "Yeah and," Philip adds, "Chad said he better not catch us kids doing fuck stuff like that or he'll take us out back and give us a swishin'!" "Sounds forceful to me, what do you think Barry?" In other words, Steve is looking to Barry for the 'almighty word' to end the dispute. "Look you guys," Barry puts his hands on each of their shoulders, "and you too, Diego," corrals the trio in a huddle, "being gay means a lot more than..." with reluctance adds, "fuck stuff. Even kissing at your age is a deep step into a gay relationship. At your ages, even your age," Barry singles out the nine year old, "there's so much more to boyhood." "Like playing Monopoly?" Diego asks. "Yes and sports, art, playing a musical instrument, even doing homework. So many things to keep boys busy. When you get into a relationship, it takes away from all that." Philip wisely adds, "Yeah, dad. You and dad Steve spend a lot of time together." "Well, we try to keep it to bedtime or in between when you three are involved in a project," Steve throws his two cents in. "We did play Monopoly with you guys, didn't we?" "Yup," they all reply. Diego asks, "Do you think my dad is having this fucks tuff instead of being with me?" "Fucks tough? Oooooh yeah... I mean no, most likely not Diego," Steve replies, now informed of what the kid meant and relying on the unknown factor, making it sound rightfully moral. "I hope my dad meets a dad like one of you dads someday." Barry and Steve smile. "You'd like that, would you, Diego?" Philip comes out with, "If your dad doesn't, Diego, we can share you know?" "Really? Thanks Philip. "I can share too," Aidan offers. "Thanks Aidan. Boy you to guys are the bestest buds." The three little guys do a trio hug. "So dad," Philip continues, "what about Aidan and I shackin' up together?" "Why don't we go over there and look at the situation again?" At least the dad's buy themselves some time. "Lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes, boys!" Jade calls out to the males, as they make their back door exit. Barry lingers to say, "Thanks Jade and sometime today will you look at kitchen in the new house?" "Sure. What am I looking for?" "Whateve improvements you think there should be, as well as inadequacies you find here that could apply." "Do I have a budget?" "Yeah, after the new frying pan the budget is spent!" Barry leaves still filled with laughter. "C'mon, hustle it up Dylan!" Steve calls out. "I don't look like Dylan McDermott, okay?" "I'd think you would be happy to be compared to that hot stud, Barry?" "Eh, he's okay." "Hee hee he he heee.. modest, aren't we?" "Anything wrong with me being your 'Barry'?" "Okay. I wouldn't compare you anymore." "Good. I'd appreciate that, Noah Wylie." "Get outta here!" Barry takes off, running to the new house, Steve on his tail. "Whew! I 'am' out of shape!" "Then I think we should make this a formal vow to officially do our daily walk." "You're right Steve. I betcha McDermott doesn't get tired like me after fifty feet!" "How about a quick smooch you hairy beast!" With the kids inside, the two lock lips, taking in some expectant moment of affection. "Dads! Dads! C'mon quick!" "What? What's the problem?" "Jus' come quick!" The boys call out. Barry and Steve hightail it towards the back of the house and enter. "What's the matter?" "C'mon and see. There's some kid in here who looks dead!" Aidan calls out. "Dead? Shit!" Steve calls out. Entering into the home, Aidan leads them towards the front of the house. "Dad, this is my friend Frankie from school. He says his dad wants to kill him!" Philip calls out, almost in hysterics himself. Diego is crying, as Barry and Steve approach Frankie, looking to be in shock. "Aidan!" "Yeah, dad?" "Run and tell Jade to call the police and bring some blankets back here." "Okay, dad!" Aidan makes a swift about face and hightails it outta there. "Frankie?" "My dad... he... killed...Bill." "Frankie, where is your dad now?" "He kill me." Still had taken Diego and Philip into the kitchen. In a minute he heard sirens. "Wow! That was fast!" Steve says. "Steve?" "Jade, watch the kids, please." "C'mon boys, let's go have some lunch." Philip says, "Jade, how can you think of food at a time like this?" Under more jovial circumstances, the comment could prove funny. "Philip, don't give me a hard time. Just march!" Jade got tough on the troops, ordering them out the kitchen door that turned out into the backyard. She pulled Diego's hand as the two older boys marched behind her. "What happened here?" "We're not sure Officer, um..." "Sanchez." "On our way over from the house behind us, the boys called us to come quick. Heeding their shouts of concern, this is what we found." Barry kicked in, "My son, Philip, said he knew the boy." "Oh?" The other police officer asked, "What did your boy say his name was?" "Frankie." "Any last name?" "No. I'm not sure if he knows." "Anything else?" "Oh yes. Frankie kept mumbling over and over that his father killed his brother and was after him." "Karl, you better call it in and get an ambulance." "Right." The officer Sanchez called 'Karl', took off for the outdoors. "So, neither of you have seen this boy before?" "No." "Um, would you mind if we talked with your son, um..." "Barry. Barry Barr and no problem, if you think it would help." "I think it will." "My dad is near... he's going to shoot his gun." "What's the kid saying?" "I'm not sure. What did you say Frankie?" "He's going to shoot." Just then a shot rings out, sent a bullet through the front window of the house. It shatters the glass. "Oh shit!" Reilly has his gun out of it's holster in no time, flat. Steve and Barry drop to the floor. "You okay, Steve?" "I'm fine, you?" "Good." "Barry, take the kid and get to the back of the house." Steve helps Barry pick up the blanket, with Frankie wrapped up and take him in the next room. Another series of shots ring out. "Oh shit!" Steve calls out. "It's like a war is going on!" "My dad's dead." Barry who holds Frankie in his arms, asks, "What?" "They killed him." With that, a flood of tears cascade down Frankie's face. His body shakes uncontrollably. Steve looks at Barry. There's no words that can describe what they are feeling. Steve pats Frankie's hair. Officer Sanchez comes to the doorframe. "I'm sorry." Steve stands and confronts Sanchez, "We know." Taking Sanchez into the foyer, Steve explains that before it all happened, Frankie new what the turn of events had been. "Amazing. Must be like a sixth sense." "Hey, call it supernatural, Officer Sanchez, but whatever it is, the kid knew everything before it came to be." "Hmm... I don't know if that's really a gift. Sure as hell, I don't think I would want to know what is happening before it does." "Um, your partner, he okay?" "Oh yeah. Seems the kid's old man came out of the woods shooting. Karl figures he sensed a confrontation as soon as he saw the police vehicle." "Um, what about the brother?" "They're checking it out right now. Oh, here's the ambulance, finally. Hey, would one of you be interested in going with the kid?" "Um, he seems attaches, literally, to Barry." "Great. Let's see. Let me take down your names real quick here." Officer Sanchez pulls out his little pad and pen. Steve, not really being nosy looks at the pad. "Heeeeey, wait a minute." "What Steve?" "From what turn of events do you have my son's name written down there?" "Who?" "Sean Clark.. it's right there!" "You're Sean's father?" "Yes." "Then you're a lucky man." "I tend to think that's good news, Officer Sanchez?" "Very good news, indeed. You see, your son Sean saved a man's life today!" "What?" % Arriving at West Richland Memorial Hospital, the chopper set down in a field similar to a baseball diamond. The path, bumpy, made Ken groan in pain. "Sean, could you give a hand? Maybe between the three of us, we can carry him." "Sure, Callan. No problem. Show me what to do." Letting the bottom of the gurney roll off onto the side of the path, the two men and one woman hefted their way across the field. Sean held the precious plastic bag with the clear fluid drifting into Ken's arm. "You want me to take that for you, miss?" "No, I've got it, thank you." They entered a side door. "Ouch!" Sean quickly dropped the bag onto Ken's chest, grabbing the back of the stretcher. "Dammit all! sorry!" "It's okay, I've got it. You okay, miss?" "Yeah, dammit! Caught my hand on the doorframe, that's all. Thanks, Sean." "You're welcome, um..." "Catherine." Catherine forgets her hand, holding it to her midsection and picks up the IV bag, holding it high. "This way, Callan," a middleages nurse calls out. "Lead the way, Maggie." Finally they reach the emergency room. While holding the stretcher, a team transfers Ken'ichi to a new table. Scissors begin dismantling Ken's clothing. "Oh man, this guy's taken some beating!" A doctor reports. "C'mon Sean, we can wait out here." "What about Catherine's hand?" "Oh, I'm fine, Sean." "It doesn't look fine to me," Sean insinuates. "You're right Sean. C'mon Catherine, let's find somebody to take a look at that." "Oh for crying out loud, guys!" Sean says, "Looks like we've got a stubborn one here!" "Yeah, Sean. My sister can be that way!" Sean smiles at Callan's comment. A nurse comes up from behind, speaking rather loudly, "Callan, Catherine, the boss wants to know if you can pitch hit in the emergency room?" "Sure, what's up Maggie?" "They brought a kid in, in shock, plus a guy's been shot and they're still not sure about some kid that might be dead!" All Sean can think about are his brothers and Steve's kids. He hustles along, tailing Callan. "Sorry, Sean, you have to wait out here." "Okay. No problem, Callan." "Thanks for your help, Sean." Sean stands there, hands in his pockets, watching through the big plate glass doors as they swing closed. Then he notices a familiar face on the face side of the room. "Barry? Oh fuck!" It's then Sean notices a kid on the stretcher they are bringing in. His heart rushes, as does his hands towards the double doors. "No Sean, you can't come in here, please!" Cathering motions, pressing against his chest, with her good hand, like stopping traffic. "But, that's my dad.... I mean." "Who is?" She asks, hand still on Sean's chest, looking over her shoulder. "Over there with the kid they're bringing in." "Damm, he looks just like Dylan McDermott. What a hunk!" Sean sees the point of Catherine's humor, but is also concerned about the reality of the situation. "If anybody asks, I tried to fuckin' stop you, Sean." Looking around to make sure nobody's looking, Catherine withdraws her hand, letting Sean slide by. "Thanks Catherine." She smiles, then puts on her evilest face and screams, "Hey, you can't go in there, buddy!" % "What the hell's all the racket?" "Nothing to get yourself all in a fret over Bernice." "Oh thank you Lord, the children are okay. What's happening Jade? What about Tom, Marc, Eric and Denis?" "They're out bike riding." "Oh my Lord, no... Barry? Stevie?" "Here comes Steve now." >From the briar patch, way in the back of the yard, Bernice watches Steve make his approach with a police officer at his side. "Steeeeeeeviiiiiiiiiiee!" "Watch out, Riley," Steve kids. "Think I'll need the riot gear?" Steve laughs. Like a football blocking, Bernice scoops Steve up in her arms. "Thank God you're alright, Stevie... I heard shots fired!" "Yeah, but don't worry, Bernice. You don't have to pay for the broken windows." "Broken windows? What the hell's happened here, Stevie?" "I'll explain it to you in a moment. I've invited Office Sanchez for a drink of 'koolaid'." "You ain't one of those Sanchez boys are ya?" "Hee heeee.. I know what you're going to say, Miss Bridges." "Um, you two know each other?" Steve asks. "Indirectly. My kid brother, Jason, accidentally broke her car window," Riley reports, smiling. "On purpose, I'll have you know!" Bernice, hands on hips, says indignantly. "Okay, Miss Bridges, so it was, but he did say he was sorry." "Yeah, well... what flavor of koolaid d'ya like, Riley?" Bernice asks the officer. Steve tends to think there's more to this story and not such a federal offense involved! % "Hey, look! There's flashing lights up at our new house!" "I hope nothing's happened to our families." Four boys on bikes, put the peddles to the metal and pump iron to get to the front gate. "Sorry boys. This place is off limits." Right away sixteen year old Denis notices the tall, blonde police officer. He looks him up and then down. "Um, we sorta live here." "C'mon son, nobody lives here." "Well, we're going to be living here. All of us." "For now it's closed to visitors." "What happened here?" The officer decides these four kids wouldn't be of any security threat, nor report back to any terrorist squads! "First I have to get your names." "I'm Denis Clark and that there is my brother Eric. These are our other almost brothers, Tom Barr and his brother Marc." "Almost brothers is it?" "Yeah, our dads are going to be living together here." Officer Maarten seems to be piecing the facts together right fast. "I see. I think I've met both of them." "They're not hurt, are they?" "Oh no. Now don't you go worrying yourselves over that. They're just fine. We just came over to check out somebody shooting squirrels." "Oh, is that all. Whew!" Tom states. Eric says, "We thought maybe somebody got hurt or something." "Nah." Karl didn't want to stress the kids out with a dead man lying on their front lawn. He was a little stressed out himself over having put the man down. Yet, it wouldn't be the first man he killed for a good reason. He had the bullet stuck in the windshield of the patrol car, to prove it. "I guess we'll go back around the block to get home. Thanks." "You're welcome." Karl watched as the boys rode away. "My...my that Denis' ass sure is a hot one. Sure wouldn't mind fuckin' it!" Officer Maartens said to himself, rearranging his crotch. % if it ain't one thing, it's another... continued......... Copyright 2005 T. Chase McPhee All Rights Reserved. www.assgm.net www.nifty.org Permission is NOT granted to publish this story to any PAY site, nor any site that is not listed above, without the author's prior consent.