Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2019 06:02:25 +0000 (UTC) From: rw6789@aol.com Subject: "A Trial Of Strength" - Part 488 by Rob Williams A TRIAL OF STRENGTH – PART 488 By Rob Williams Chapter 488 – "A COP GIVES A KISS OF LIFE" IN THIS CHAPTER: The young blond surfer Jamie – the cop Mark's boy – is in danger after a surfing accident leaves him in a deep concussion. The grieving Mark holds an all-night vigil by his bed, supported by his buddies Bob and Randy. While they wait and hope, the tribe rallies as the trauma brings men and boys closer. Their intense love-making sends powerful vibes to Mark and Jamie that love can solve everything. ___________________________________________________________________ IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER The Grady House party was a wild success. It had been the idea of Grady, the movie star of the hit Tarzan moves, and his lover, the handsome Italian Mario. The two-day party for the whole tribe of men and boys was meant to help everyone relax and shed various tensions that had built up during the past week. One such source of tension had been between the three construction bosses, Randy, Zack and Seth. But that had been brought to a dramatic and successful conclusion when Randy and Zack had subjected Seth to a trial of strength and endurance that in the end proved to everyone that Seth was man enough to join the macho group of alpha males, or as young Eddie mischievously called them, `The Brotherhood of Butch'. After the stallions had made peace it was the turn of the colts to overcome a senseless quarrel. Young Tyler had felt challenged by the new boy Ryan as a potential rival, but Ryan had managed to break down Tyler's resentment and they settled their differences with fumbling but exuberant rookie sex. They ended up laughing with the joy of release and the birth of a new friendship. After these minor triumphs the party wound its merry way through the afternoon and evening to a festive dinner and much drinking until late in the evening, when Mario stood up to make an announcement. "Signori, attenzioni, per favore. It is late, some of you are rather drunk and the party continues tomorrow for those who can stay. We have many guestrooms so you can sleep and make love as late as you like and there will be a buffet breakfast in the morning. Buona notte a tutti." Amid drunken cheers and slurred thanks, men and boys started to pair off. Among the overnight couples the cop Mark and his surfer boy Jamie had a room to themselves. But the mood there was not quite so merry. In the past few days the usually devoted couple had been going through a scratchy period as most couples do. Mark was in one of his surly cop moods and now they were tired and a bit drunk– too tired and drunk even for sex. Mark frowned when Jamie's phone rang. "It's my buddy from the beach." He had a brief muffled conversation that ended with, "Yeah for sure. I'll see you guys there." As he climbed into bed he said, "That was my buddy in Malibu. He says there's been a storm way out in the Pacific bringing high surf at the beach. Tomorrow morning is forecast to be outstanding with high, perfect high waves. I'm gonna get up early and go down there with my surfing buddies." "What?" Mark snapped in annoyance. "I thought we were gonna spend the day here together. Don't you think it's a bit rude to our hosts to just cut out like that?" "Come on, I'll only be gone for a few hours, back in time for lunch. Surely you can do without me for a while. There are plenty of other asses to fuck around here." "Whatever – do what the hell you want, you will anyway. And fuck you," Mark added softly. "I heard that." "You were meant to." They slept with their backs to each other but Mark was to remember those sour words in the morning – remember and regret them. He had ignored that time-honored maxim – if you have a row never leave home without making up. You never know what's gonna happen. ******************** CHAPTER 488 ********************* <><> MARK'S GUILT TRIP <><> Next morning Mark stirred early and in his half-asleep haze he automatically reached over for Jamie as he did every morning. But he was not there. Mark frowned, then the memory drifted back – that's right, he had gone surfing. Other memories came back of their conversation just before they went to sleep. He winced as his callous words stabbed at his consciousness – "whatever – do what the hell you want" ... "fuck you" ... "I heard that" ... "you were meant to ..." He had turned away from Jamie – no kiss, no hug, no sex. Damn that was cold ... and why? Jamie often went surfing early in the morning, especially when the waves were good as they were today apparently. And he said he would only be gone a few hours. Fuck, he had been in one of his sour cop moods – he shouldn't have said all that. He heard a door close downstairs and jumped out of bed. Wearing just his boxers he ran downstairs, eager to say sorry, tell Jamie he loved him before he left. He ran round to the parking area but Jamie's truck was gone. Then he saw the heavy gates closing silently, with a finality that put a barrier between him and the boy he loved. He heard sounds coming from the kitchen – the boys were making a start on breakfast. He went to Brian in the small security room and the boy smiled up at him. "Hello, sir, looking for Jamie? Sorry, he just left, I opened the gate for him. He muttered something about perfect surfing conditions so he's obviously off to Malibu. The guys have made coffee in the kitchen already, sir, if you'd like some. In a daze Mark wandered into the kitchen, not sure what to do next, when Bob breezed in to check on the chefs as he always did. "Hey, buddy, didn't expect to see you so early, you want some coffee? Just let me make sure the boys are doing OK then I'll bring you a cup." A couple of minutes later Mark was still standing mutely in the kitchen doorway until Bob's voice roused him. "Hey, Earth to Mark. You OK, dude?" "Er, yeah sure, I'm fine." Bob was holding a tray. "The boys have given me coffee and croissants. Let's go find a table in the garden." Mark followed him outside and they sat at a small round table in the early-morning sun. Bob poured the coffee and said, "OK, big guy, let's rewind to `yeah sure, I'm fine" `cos you're obviously not. So what's up dude?" Mark shook himself, nursed a cup in both hands and sighed, "Ah, it's nothing really. It's just ... well, Jamie and me. He got a call last night from his surfing buddies that the surf was up and he told me he would go to the beach this morning for a few hours." "Nothing unusual in that is there?" Bob asked. "Nah ... it's just ... I guess it just hit me wrong and, man, I was real nasty to him, said stuff I didn't mean. My last words were `fuck you', and I didn't touch him all night. Matter of fact I've been real scratchy with him the last few days. You know how cops can be – they have a rough week and take it out on the ones they love most. Jamie's used to that but he shouldn't have to be. I love the hell out of the kid, you know that, and here I am telling him to go fuck himself." "Hey, don't beat yourself up, officer. You got it right first time when you said it's nothing really. So, two guys have words, you get moody and say things you don't mean. Happens to everyone. "Hell, you should hear Randy and me sometimes when the curses start flying. By comparison your `fuck you' is like `have a nice day'. Then Randy grabs me, throws me on the bed and we make love. There is nothing like make-up sex, as you'll find out buddy when Jamie gets home." Mark brightened. "Yeah, I guess you're right, Bob. When Jamie comes back after surfing for a couple hours he's real pumped, and like a tiger in bed. I'll make it up to him real good. I can't wait. Er, don't mention this to the other guys, right? I don't wanna be a downer on the party." "My lips are sealed, officer." Bob imitated young Eddie's trademark gesture, drawing his fingertips along his lips and twisting them at the corner, making Mark burst out laughing. <><> BAD NEWS <><> Gradually the other overnight guests started to emerge from the house, rubbing their bleary eyes and making straight for the coffee. Bloody Marys were also popular, in the dubious hair-of-the-dog theory that it was the best remedy for a hangover. The mood was not as boisterously merry as yesterday as everyone appreciated the chance to hang out languidly in the lush surroundings – in the pool, in the sun or under cool shade trees. Mario and Grady made a late appearance, and everyone rightly supposed they had spent hours in bed making love. Eddie said cheekily to anyone who would listen. "Kinda gives a whole new meaning to the words `morning sex', don't it? No slam-bam-thank-you-man for those guys." The boys too were less energetic this morning. They were working shifts in the kitchen were the demands were much lighter today as the buffet brunch would be an easy, casual affair. Many of the boys lazed with their men in what was known as `quality time', an inadequately lukewarm phrase for what they got up to. Bob kept a supervisory eye on things and stayed close to Mark to make sure he didn't sink again into his guilt trip about Jamie. It was some time later that he grinned at Bob. "Just going up to get our room ready for when my surfer-boy gets back." Bob smiled encouragingly, then joined an animated conversation with Randy, Zack and Doctor Steve. Upstairs Mark was feeling much more hopeful about things as he busied himself getting the bed ready, smoothing the top sheet and blanket, then shaking his head and pulling them off completely. A bed with a single sheet was much sexier and more tempting. He even tied T-shirts loosely round the bedposts in case Jamie was feeling adventuresome. Knowing his boy after surfing he probably would be. He was making sure everything was just right ... when his phone rang. It was a doctor he knew slightly from when he worked as a cop in Santa Monica. As he listened his blood ran cold. Eventually he stammered, "Sure doc, I'll be right there." As a cop Mark had been trained to face an emergency calmly and stifle an impulse to panic. Instead of panicking he became analytical, laser-focused on the task ahead. No need to tell the other guys and end their party – nothing they could do anyway. No, this was just for him and his boy Jamie. He ran down to his truck and drove quietly away, letting himself through the gate with the remote control he had as the primary security man of the Grady House. As he drove down the hill to home the crucial words resounded in his head – `Accident ... Intensive Care ... Santa Monica-UCLA Orthopedic Hospital. He knew the place well – a leader in treating sports injuries and not far from Malibu. But it was twenty miles away across town often with heavy traffic, and speed was essential. At the tribe's compound Mark changed quickly into his cop uniform, thankful that by chance he had driven his police motorcycle home after his last shift. The uniform and bike would give him speed and easy access. The rule was that a cop used his emergency lights and siren only in a genuine emergency. Well if this wasn't an emergency, what was? His boy had had a surfing accident and was lying in Intensive Care. So he sped away, lights flashing, siren blaring. Traffic pulled over for him allowing him a clear, fast ride along the Santa Monica Freeway, and when he reached the hospital his uniform enabled him to park right out front and to avoid the usual questions inside. He was met outside the Intensive Care Unit by the doctor who had phoned him, named Chad. He was a good-looking man about Mark's age whom he had met several times before when Mark was a Santa Monica cop. Chad got right to the point, professional to professional. "Very high surf, Mark, a wipeout and a bad fall from the wave crest. And he seems to have hit his head on a rock. Lucky he had buddies to pull him out of the surf or he could have ..." "Prognosis, doc?" "Too soon to tell, Mark. What we docs call `guarded'. He's still unconscious and will probably stay that way for a while, which is a good thing ... help the body and mind cope with the trauma. The concussion is pretty deep. "We still have to do more X-rays but we've put a neck brace on him as a precaution and of course bandaged the head wound. So we've stabilized him – brought his blood pressure back up, given him IV fluids – and if his vitals remain steady we'll be able to transfer him from the ICU to a room. Then I'm afraid it'll just be a matter of waiting and hoping there are no complications. "I'll stay with him all the time, Chad." The doctor smiled. "Not strictly permitted in the ICU, Mark, but the uniform helps. I'll be on duty for the next twenty-four hours so don't hesitate to call me. Try not to worry, Mark. He's a strapping, healthy young guy so he has a good fighting chance." "How did you know to phone me, Chad?" "We took his wallet from his backpack and found a note saying `In emergency call Mark', with your number." The doctor led Mark into the ICU where Jamie was lying still, attached to various monitors. It was only then that Mark's knees buckled and he steadied himself. Jamie was pale, eyes closed, his forehead bandaged and a soft brace round his neck. His breathing was shallow but regular. "Nurses will be in and out, Mark, but I know you know how to read the monitors so give a holler if anything changes. There is a school of thought that coma patients can still hear voices. I'm not sure I agree with that, but it wouldn't hurt." "Oh I'll talk to him alright, Chad. I'll take good care of him." Chad smiled, "I had a feeling you would, Mark. Hang in there buddy." <><> MARK PHONES HOME <><> And so the vigil began. Mark pulled a chair close to the bed, held Jamie's limp hand and looked down at his face. "Jamie it's me, Mark. I hope you can hear me `cos I wanna tell you something I've told you a thousand time before. I love you buddy. I love you. And there's something else ... all that stuff I said last night, I didn't mean a word of it and I'll regret saying it as long as I live. "I hope you know that Jamie, and I hope you can forgive me. But right now you gotta fight hard to get to get better `cos I want you back in my life, buddy, in my arms and in my bed ... our bed, it's always been our bed. We share everything – our bed, our days and nights, our lives. So you gotta come back to me dude, `cos I can't make it without you. God, I hope you can hear me." He fell silent, waiting for some kind of response – a flicker of the eyes, a squeeze of the hand? But nothing, he was lifeless – no not lifeless, not that, only sleeping. Chad said he would sleep to help his body recover from the trauma. Recover, yeah that was the word he had to hang on to. And he would ... he had to ... he just had to. He spoke to Jamie a while longer until two technicians and a nurse came in. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait outside for a few minutes, officer, while we do a few procedures. We'll let you know when we're done." Reluctantly Mark left the room, tearing his gaze away from Jamie's placid face. He found himself in a kind of small waiting area and suddenly realized there was a place outside the room where Jamie lay, a world outside of his grief where life went on. He looked at his watch and thought of the guys at the Grady House where the party would be winding down and they would soon start to leave. Bob, he needed to speak to Bob. He pulled out his phone and saw all the many missed calls listed from Bob. He hadn't been answering his phone – he had been so focused on getting to Jamie he hadn't even felt it vibrate. Bob and the guys must be wondering where he was. He was right about that, of course. It had not been long after he left the Grady House before Bob said suddenly, "Hey, has anyone seen Mark? He went upstairs to get the room ready for Jamie. Do you know if he's still there, Brian?" "I don't, sir, but I'll go check." Brian wheeled himself round to the parking area and hurried back. "Sir, his truck's not there. I didn't open the gate for him but I didn't have to, he has his own security remote." "Thanks Brian." Bob pulled out his phone and called Mark but it went to voicemail. "I'm worried, Randy. He was really looking forward to Jamie getting back. Nate, would you do me a big favor and drive down to the house, see if he's there. You have a key to their apartment, don't you?" Nate sped away and a short time later called Bob. "Sir, he's not here but the clothes he was wearing are on the bed and the strange thing is his uniform's gone ... so is his police bike." Randy said, "Maybe he was so eager to see Jamie that he drove down to Malibu to watch him surfing." "In his uniform? On his bike? No, Randy, I don't like this at all. Why hasn't he called us? Only thing to do is keep calling him." Which is what they did, with mounting alarm spreading through the whole group, until a few hours later Bob's phone rang and the mystery was solved. <><> BOB RALLIES THE TROOPS <><> It was clear to Bob that Mark was holding himself together by force of will, trying to sound calm. "Jamie had a surfing accident. He's in the ICU in Santa Monica. He's asleep – a concussion or coma whatever they call it. They're letting me stay with him – the uniform helps a lot. Sorry I didn't let you know earlier – didn't wanna put a damper on the party." "What's the prognosis, Mark?" "Too soon to tell, they say – I know the doc here. I just stepped out of the room while they run tests." "Randy and I will be right down there," Bob said. "They won't let anyone else in the ICU room but hopefully they'll move him into a room soon and you can visit. In the meantime ..." his voice cracked, "I could use some company, dude. Bob I was so mean to Jamie last night ... last words I said were `fuck you." I keep hearing those words hammering on my brain." "Mark, stop thinking like that. You two love each other so much that a little spat ain't gonna make any difference. Hang tight, buddy. I'll just let the guys here know and Randy and I will be right with you." "Thanks, buddy. Oh they're letting me back in now. Gotta go." The phone went dead and Bob grabbed Randy's arm. Then he looked around at the crowd that was starting to break up and get ready to leave. Randy nodded and smiled and Bob cleared his throat. "Er, guys," he shouted, "hang on a minute." He faltered but got another encouraging nod from Randy. "I just got a call from Mark, he's at the hospital. It, um, seems Jamie's had a surfing mishap ... he's in Intensive Care with a concussion and Mark's there with him." There was a collective gasp and Eddie asked, "Will he be alright, sir?" "It's too soon to tell, Eddie. He's not responsive right now and they're still running tests." "What can we do, to help, sir?" asked Nate. "I knew that would be the next question," Bob said managing a smile. "OK, Randy and I will be going to the hospital right away. And in the meantime I want you all to keep doing what you always do, only more so. Eddie, you are the house manager so I want you to make sure things run as smoothly as always. And please get Mark and Jamie's apartment clean and tidy and ready for when they get back. "Brandon and Ryan, make sure the office runs smoothly in Jamie's absence. Nate, you and Jamie have always been close so I'll liaise with you with progress reports. We may need you to bring clothes and stuff down to the hospital later. You twins and Will, keep the troops fed as you always do. And Pablo, Darius and Ben, make sure to give extra help to Zack and Seth on the construction sites in Randy's absence – no work interruptions, OK?" "Above all, think good thoughts for Jamie, and love each other more than ever. You're a strong team and I know hard work and love will get us through this." Mario said, "Mi amici, the Grady House is at your disposal in whatever way would help. If anyone wants to stay here, they can of course. Grady and I are always part of the team." Bob's speech had the desired effect of pulling everyone together, and their resolve was evident in the determined way they now prepared to leave and play their part in this latest frightening event. It was what the boys always called circling the wagons – and they were good at that. <><> WORDS OF COMFORT & A SLAP IN THE FACE <><> Minutes later Randy was barreling down the hill in his big truck with Bob beside him. They were both in love with Mark and cold only imagine what he must be going through. Practical as ever Randy said, "He's gotta get over that bullshit guilt-trip about what he said to Jamie. Hell, every couple has fights – look at you and me!" "Yeah but when we fight, as angry as you are, you always come and kiss me hard before you leave the room. Mark didn't get to do that before Jamie left, that's the hard part." At the hospital they made straight for the ICU where the doctor, Chad, met them outside the room. "Hi, you must be Mark's buddies, I can tell. He's in with Jamie and asked me to keep an eye open for you." "So what's the scoop, doc?" Randy said, "Give it to us straight, we're big boys." "So I see," Chad said with a flicker of a smile. But then he frowned. "Jamie had a really bad fall and the concussion is deeper than I had hoped. I hesitate to call it a coma yet as the scans show no permanent brain damage, so we'll just have to watch and wait. His vitals are steady, good heartbeat, steady breathing, so he doesn't need to be monitored in the ICU anymore and we're going to move him to a room upstairs where you guys can visit him too. "Mark refuses to leave his side but while we prep Jamie for the move it would be good if he could be with you guys. There's a small private waiting room over there." They thanked the doc and sat in the room in strained silence, mulling the words `deeper than I hoped'. Then Mark came in looking strained, but he managed to force a smile. "Hey guys, thanks for coming. Damn it's good to see you. What a mess, eh? He's still asleep but I had a long chat with him `cos they say sometimes they can hear and I wanted to ..." His voice cracked and his eye brimmed with tears. Bob opened his arms and pulled Mark into a tight hug. And the floodgates opened. The macho walls crumbled and the cop's tough stoicism collapsed in a welter of tears and wracking sobs. Randy fought back his own tears as he paced the room and clenched his fists, his usual reaction to trouble, though this time his fists were of no use. So he just stood helplessly watching the two men he loved most embrace in grief. When at last they pulled back an embarrassed Mark ran his sleeve across his face and he murmured, "I just wanted to tell him I'm sorry ... I told him to fuck off ... I didn't mean it ..." Randy had had enough – he put his hand on Mark's shoulder and spun him round to face him. "Now listen up, dude. I don't wanna hear any more bullshit whining about your fucking guilt. Saying `fuck you' ain't nothing, I say it to Bob all the time. Anyway, this ain't about you and your damn guilt – it's about that boy in there. So get a grip, officer, and toughen up. Any more of that crap and I'll ... I'll fucking slug you." Mark looked startled ... and then his face broke into a smile. "Damn I love you, Randy. That was a real slap in the face and, as they say in the movies, `Thanks, I needed that." Just then the double doors of the ICU opened, the tech staff wheeled Jamie's bed out and they followed it to the elevator. In the room the nurses checked the IV bags, did another blood pressure check and left, with a promise they would look in frequently. Mark took up his position in a bedside chair and Bob said, "He looks as if he's sleeping comfortably, Mark. That bandage round his forehead makes him look like a pirate." "Yeah," Randy grinned, "except I ain't never seen a pirate in a neck brace before." Mark looked up at them. "Damn, I am so glad you guys are here." "As to that," Bob said briskly, "here's the plan of action. I know you're gonna stay with Jamie all the time, Mark. We'll ask the nurse to bring a cot in so you can rest and let Randy and me spell each other to stay with you. And buddy, you gotta get out of that uniform, so I'll call Nate and ask him to bring down some of your clothes. Then he can report back to the guys at the house." "Thanks, Bob. Could Nate bring some of Jamie's clothes too for when he wakes up and I bring him home?" His confident optimism tugged at Bob's heart. Obviously Randy's slap in the face had worked. <><> TRIBAL SUPPORT <><> Back at the tribe's house the guys were getting home from the Grady House. The mood was a mix of bleak, nervous and defiant, but they were determined to do as Bob said and maintain the regular routine at the house. It was getting late but the twins and Will served a light supper out in the garden and the men and boys gathered there – not so much for the food as for moral support. They talked in hushed tones about Jamie and their plans for the next day while they waited for news. One boy missing from the meal was Eddie, who had gone straight to the ground-floor apartment of Mark and Jamie to do as Bob said – tidy it up and make it ready for their return. Eddie was a surprising boy. Outwardly he was the comedian of the group with his unquenchable sense of fun, his non-stop breathless chatter and tongue-twisting verbal mistakes. But under this court-jester exterior he was also one of the most sensitive boys whose sense of the dramatic could make him overly emotional. He loved everyone but had a particular soft spot for Jamie who had always been supportive and affectionate. He loved his blond California surfer looks and his self-confidence as one of the most senor boys, much of that learned as the much-loved boy of the Greek-God cop. Eddie had been shocked and upset by the news. Now, with a determined set to his jaw, he worked feverishly, cleaning the apartment and putting fresh sheets on the bed, almost as if hurrying to get it ready would hasten Jamie's return. As he worked Brandon came in in his wheelchair to check on him. "What you doing, dude?" "What Bob said to do – getting this place ready for when they get home. That could be anytime now, don't you think? I mean he's a great surfer he can't be hurt that bad, can he? He's probably awake already." Brandon realized that Eddie was in a state of denial and said gently, "Well, I doubt if he'll be home until tomorrow, dude. They don't usually release people from hospital in the middle of the night. Er, right now the men and their boys are doing what Bob said to do – loving each other more than ever. Pretty soon me and Pete will go to bed `cos we really need to be close to each other right now. Come and get something to eat, kiddo." "I'm not hungry Brandon, but you're right. I should be with Hassan. He's prob'ly cut up about all this and he'll need me to calm him down." Brandon smiled, knowing it would be the other way round, but he was pleased when Eddie put the finishing touches to the room and followed him outside. Hassan looked up and smiled. "Hey, there you are kid. I wondered where you'd got to. How you doing?" "I was just getting Mark's apartment ready for them, sir, like Bob said. I'm doing great." Hassan could see instantly that wasn't true, especially when Eddie asked quietly, "Sir, do you think we could go home soon?" "Right away if you like," the Marine said. "I think that's a good idea." Just then Nate stood up with an air of authority. "Guys, before you all pair off I want you to know I just heard from Bob. Jamie is out of Intensive Care and in a room where he's still sleeping, but he's stable. Bob and Randy are with Mark and they asked me to take some clothes to the hospital for Mark and Jamie, and Will has given me a food package to keep them going. Adam's gonna drive me there now and I'll be sure to keep you all posted." The twins stood up too and Kyle said, "Bob called us too and told us not to bother to clear away this meal stuff until tomorrow morning. He feels it's important for the boys to be with their men, preferably in bed. So let's call it a night, dudes, and say a little prayer for Jamie eh?" They were only too glad to do that and they paired off. Seth wanted to sleep with his son Will, Darius went with Ryan, Pablo with Tyler and Miguel with Finn. Brandon wheeled himself across the street with Ranger Pete, followed by Hassan with his arm round Eddie. "Sir," Eddie said, "do you think we could ... I mean, would it be in bad taste if we, you know ...?" "If you mean make love, kid, try stopping me. I have a feeling it's what you need. I know I do." <><> SENDING GOOD VIBES <><> Hasan and Eddie lived in one half of the duplex across the street, Pete and Brandon in the other. After the couples said their goodnights, more affectionately than usual, Eddie found himself alone at last with the rugged Marine captain he idolized, a man he knew loved him and would always take care of him, as he did now. Hassan shrugged off his shirt, leaving his khaki tank-top stretched over his sculpted chest, and pulled Eddie into his arms. Now that he was in a place of complete safety Eddie shed his armor, his protective shell of denial and frenzied work that had pushed the stark reality of the situation from his mind. He let go and wept. "That's it kid, let it all out. I've got you." "Sir, he's not gonna die, is he?" "Eddie, you heard what Nate said – he's sleeping comfortably and he's stable. We just gotta wait and take care of each other." Eddie sniffed and gulped. "I know a Marine's boy shouldn't blub like this, but ..." "Kiddo, Marines get scared like anyone else, and I've watched many a tough solider cry. It's not a sign of weakness – it means you're a real man and you don't bottle things up. Hey, I thought you said you wanted to go to bed." Eddie managed a grin and quickly shed is shirt, shorts and sneakers and fell into bed. He gazed up at the macho Marine as he pulled off his tank and walked around shirtless putting water and lube on the bedside table, his magnificent torso gleaming under the bedroom lights. Eddie's anxiety did not stop him getting a hard-on – nothing could prevent that when he watched the rugged soldier stripping naked. Hassan lay on the bed beside Eddie and kissed him gently and Eddie inhaled his master's breath as if it were the breath of life. Hassan pulled away and lay on his side, his face propped up on his elbow gazing at his boy. His chiseled Arab/Asian features were often stern but now his dark almond-shaped eyes smiled down at him. "Eddie, there's something I want to say. You know sometimes that macho Marine thing takes over and I get gruff and even say mean things to you. You know I don't mean it, `cos you're my boy and I love you, but here's the important thing. Never let me go to work without us making up. Grab me, don't let me leave until I've wrapped my arms round you and kissed you. Got it?" "Got it, sir. But, er, what about times when you're not being mean – like right now, sir?" "Oh that's easy. Then I make love to you and shove my dick in your ass. I have a feeling that most of the guys right now are doing the same thing with their boys. Maybe, with everyone in the tribe making love at the same time we'll send enough powerful vibes to Jamie that he'll have to wake up and make love to Mark." Eddie grinned. "Kinda like a labor of love, sir." "You know, kiddo, you talk a whole lot but sometimes you hit on exactly the right words. So let's labor." Hassan rolled over on top of his boy and kissed him again, this time with mounting passion. He pulled back and licked the drying tears form Eddie's face, then kissed his eyes. "Tell me what you want, kiddo." "Sir, I keep thinking about Jamie and how every day he waits for Mark to come home and fuck him. I want you to do that, like you've just got home from work. Maybe if we do that it'll make it come true again for them too." "You're such a sweet kid," Hassan smiled. "OK, but I gotta hold you down, just like Mark does to Jamie." "Go for it, soldier," Eddie said with a hint of returning mischief. Hassan got up on his knees, greased up his cock, then leaned over his boy and pinned his wrists to the bed. Instinctively Eddie bent his knees, pulled his legs back, and felt the tip of his master's cock brushing against his ass. "Fuck me, sir," he said. "Do it for me and for Jamie." Hassan's love-making had never been so tender. Slowly he slid his long, thick cock in Eddie's ass, held it in deep, then pulled back and eased in again, and again. "Mmm," Eddie moaned as he watched the soldier's muscular body rise and fall above him, the deep brown eyes penetrating his. As he fucked, Hassan bent down and kissed the boy again, harder this time, driving his cock in harder and faster. As mesmerized as he was by the Marine captain dominating him Eddie thought too of Jamie, how he must feel when the handsome blond cop did the same to him, of Mark making love to his boy, as he surely would again. Eddie's fears for his friend lessened. Something this good, a love as deep at theirs, couldn't just stop, it just couldn't. "Fuck me hard, sir, please ... let's send those good vibes." Hassan had never loved his boy in just the same way as he did now, a kind sweet boy overcoming his fear and thinking of his friend even in the throes of making love. "I love you, Eddie, the best boy a man could have." As it went on and on the pounding intensified and Eddie's head thrashed from side to side on the pillow as he had seen Jamie do when his cop fucked him. He felt sweat drip on him from the soldier's face and at last heard his deep voice growl, "Now you're gonna cum for me, boy. That's an order. No hands, just look at me and feel my rod pounding your ass." "Yes sir," Eddie panted. "I can do that. I love you, sir ... fuck my ass ... fuck me hard, sir ... I'm gonna cum ... I'm gonna cum ... yeaahh ...!" As the Marine buried his cock deep in his ass and flooded it with cum Eddie's own cock erupted in a stream of juice that splashed down on his writhing body, all the way up to his throat. Hassan smiled down at his boy and panted, "Well, kiddo, if vibes really do travel we sure sent those guys a message. Eddie grinned, "Yeah, like banging a symbol over Jamie's head. `Wake up and fuck, dude'." Hassan fell forward and scooped Eddie into his arms. And he had been right. The tribe had been jolted into holding their loved-ones close, and similar love-making scenes were playing out in all the other houses too – across the street in the compound, down at Jason's house, the guys in the Grady House and at Doc Steve's house in the hills. The twins had suggested saying a little prayer for Jamie. But in this tribe, their way of praying was making love – which always seemed to solve everything. <><> ALL-NIGHT VIGIL <><> Whether or not this mass love-in was a real harmonic convergence or just wishful thinking, the atmosphere in Jamie's hospital room was peaceful at least. Mark had changed into the casual clothes Nate had brought and had settled in for the long term. He refused to budge from Jamie's side or even take a nap. It was as if his unwavering vigil protected his boy from harm and guaranteed his continued soft, steady breathing. Bob and Randy remained close by, sometimes in the room with him, bringing him coffee, but often giving him the privacy to talk to Jamie, which he did most of the time. He talked of the time they met when Jamie was a running wild on the streets with his buddy Larry. And of their first trip up the coast when Jamie had been transformed from a self-proclaimed ladies' man and had fallen in love with Mark. And of all the good times since, their little adventures and their undying love. But for all Mark's talk there was no change in Jamie – just closed eyes, steady breathing and no tactile reaction. Nurses came and went checking his vital signs and the doctor, Chad, looked in too. "What do you think, doc?" Mark asked anxiously. "Shouldn't there be some improvement by now?" "Um, yes, I would have hoped so, Mark. But at least there's been no deterioration, his vitals are holding up and he's stable. It's hard to tell, I've seen it all. Sometimes all it takes is some stimulus – once even the sound of a car backfiring outside did the trick. Oh I'm not suggesting we go around crashing and banging to wake him up, that could have an adverse effect. No ... something quieter, more loving, like your voice, Mark." And so the night wore on and Mark lost all track of time as he spoke softly and focused on Jamie's face, willing him to show some small sign of life. He was only dimly aware of the occasional hand squeezing his shoulder as Bob or Randy came in with coffee. And despite their urging, there was never any question of lying on the cot for a while and letting them take over. No, this was his fight – him and Jamie together, as they had faced other challenges together. He felt more at ease when it was just the two of them alone in this quiet room with the soft beep of the monitoring devices. In the early hours of the morning Bob came in and said gently, "Mark, it'll soon be dawn. Are you sure we can't take over for a while?" "Bob, I really appreciate everything you and Randy have done. Don't think me ungrateful but I'd really rather be all alone with Jamie for a while. I just have a feeling that ... I can't explain it ..." "OK, Mark, whatever you say. I'll take Randy out for breakfast for a while. I'll bring something back for you – gotta keep your strength up. You have my number so give me a call if there's any change and we'll be right back with you." Mark looked back over his shoulder with a wan smile. "I love you guys, you know that. Your support means everything. Yeah, go get some breakfast. I'll call if I need you." Left alone Mark gazed down at Jamie's placid face. "OK, dude, it's just you and me here, and it's time you came back to me. I need you, boy. Can't make it without you." Some stimulus, Chad had said. Maybe something tactile? Bob stroked Jamie's face lightly but there was no reaction. His hand ran down the blanket but his body didn't flinch, only the slight rise and fall of his breathing. He felt under the blanket, under the sheet and let his hand travel down the thin hospital gown, over Jamie's waist to ... what?! He expected to feel Jamie's limp cock, but it wasn't limp. He felt the shape of a semi-erect bulge under the gown. He slid his hand under the gown and folded his fingers lightly round the cock. It didn't move, even when he stroked it a little. But it was a sign of life wasn't it?" He pulled out from under the covers and held Jamie's hand lightly. "Hey, what do you want from me, kid? You want me to suck that dick, make it hard? You want me to fuck you, would that wake you up? Remember how you get naked on the bed every day waiting for me to come home and fuck you? Man, I want that so bad – and I bet you do too, don't you." He felt Jamie's fingers stir. He held his breath. Had he imagined it? "You trying to tell me something, kiddo?" This time there was no mistake. Jamie's fingers curled round his and squeezed feebly. "You coming back to me, Jamie? I love you, boy. I need you so much." He leaned down, licked his boy's lips and kissed him lightly. He heard him sigh and thought he saw his eyelids move. He kissed him again, more firmly, pushing his tongue in his mouth ... and the eyes flickered open. Wincing at the sudden light they closed, but then opened again and actually focused ... on Mark. His heart pounding, scared he would lose him again, Mark said, "It's me, Jamie, Mark. Don't speak, kiddo, don't try to speak." "Why not, sir?" came the dreamlike voice. "Am I late for work? I should get up." He looked up at the ceiling and frowned. "Where am I anyway?" "Jamie, don't move. Stay still, relax. Jamie can you hear me? Listen, you're in the hospital and I'm here with you and you're gonna be fine. You had a tumble while you were surfing and you've been sleeping for a long while. But everything's gonna be fine, just fine." Mark pressed the call button and asked the nurse to send the doctor in right away. A minute later Chad hurried in and smiled when Jamie's eyes swiveled toward him. "Hey, sleeping beauty, so you decided to join the land of the living, eh? About time. Just let me take a look." He took out a pencil flashlight and shone it in each eye. He pulled a pin from his lapel and jabbed it into the back of Jamie's hand. "Ow, why did you do that? It hurt." "Just as I was hoping it would. You're looking good, dude. What did you do, Mark, give Sleeping Beauty the kiss of life or something?" "Something like that, Chad. Part of our cop training." "Cop training be damned," Chad grinned. "OK Mark, I want you to stand back and let me and the nurses do some tests. If they go OK, we'll take him away for a head CAT scan. But I gotta say, buddy, things are looking pretty darn good. As the activity in the room ramped up Jamie said, "Don't leave me, sir." "I'm right here, kid. And Chad will take good care of you – he's one of the good guys." The doc flashed a smile at Mark, then got to work. Pretty soon he said, "OK, Jamie, your vitals are perfect so we're gonna wheel you to another floor for a scan. Won't take long, you won't feel a thing, and then we'll bring you back here to Mark – who I assume will be here waiting for you," grinning at Mark. "You bet your life, doc," Mark said, with tears in his eyes. They wheeled Jamie out and suddenly the room seemed empty to Mark without his boy. He pulled out his phone and called Bob. In the coffee shop Bob pounced on his phone. "Hey, Mark, what's up?" "He's back, Bob ... he's awake. I kissed him and he woke up. Doc says he's looking great. They're doing a CAT scan to make sure – just routine. But he's alert, talking normally, no signs of damage. He's back, dude!" <><> DOCTOR'S ORDERS <><> Bob and Randy rushed into the empty room where Mark was still standing looking stunned. They hugged him in turn and Bob said, "So everything's OK? No slurred speech, clear eyes?" "Everything. And when the doc jabbed him with a pin he said `hey, that hurt'. Music to my ears." "So how did you do it, officer?" Randy grinned. "You fuck him awake?" "Randy!" Bob protested but Mark said, "Well almost. I felt under the covers and his dick was semi-hard ..." "Always the first thing to come back to life," Randy chuckled. "So I talked to him about how I always fuck him when I get home and I felt his fingers move. I bent down and kissed him, his eyes flickered and then opened. He said he was late for work." They talked excitedly for a while, got coffee from the vending machine and after a long wait the nurses wheeled Jamie back into the room. He grinned up at Bob and Randy. "Hello, sirs. Have you come to take us home?" The nurses warned them not to get Jamie too excited and eventually the doctor came in. "I've been looking at the scan results and everything looks great. Seems you bounced right back, Jamie. Now, about releasing you. Strictly speaking I should keep you another day for observation, but you have Mark, and is there anyone else at home to take care of you? "Only a couple dozen guys," Mark smiled. "You should visit some time, Chad." "Careful, Mark," the doc grinned, "I might take you up on that. It'll be an hour or two to make sure there's no relapse and we'll change the dressing on the head wound. You should keep the neck-brace on a couple of days as a precaution, but you can take it off in bed. I'll give you a prescription for medication and Mark, if you have any concerns call me right away. I'll give you my cell number `cos I might be going away for a few days but you can still reach me. "As for you, young man, I want to see you in my office in a week for a checkup." Chad smiled, "And then we can talk about why you wiped out in the first place. I go surfing a lot and we can work out what happened." "Oh I already know that, doc, it's all coming back to me. It was my own fault. At the top of the wave I lost my concentration. I was thinking about ..." he frowned ... "about something else." Chad noticed he didn't make eye contact with Mark, who winced. "Anyway," the doc said quickly, "that's all water under the bridge – and washing out with the tide. Just take good care of your boy, officer. Lots of bedrest, no strenuous activity. Doctor's orders." <><> MORE BED THAN REST <><> Randy and Bob drove back home first, having arranged for Nate to drive Mark's truck to the hospital, put Mark's motorcycle in the back and drive him and Jamie home. As Randy drove Bob home he said, "Hmm, that doc was something else eh? Looked real hot in those scrubs. A man wearing scrubs always turns me on, especially when they're built like that stud is. What's his name ... Chad? Maybe we should invite Chad to the house to thank him. I could sure think up a way to show the guy my personal gratitude," he grinned salaciously. "Randy stop. The guy's probably married with kids." "So? What's your point?" Bob sighed and shook his head in mock despair. When Bob had called Nate with the good news Nate told Eddie and it sped over the grapevine in seconds. "Course I always knew it would work out fine," Eddie said to Hassan, who smiled, remembering Eddie's tearful despair. "It was prob'ly all us guys having sex that did the trick, sir, all those good vibes. Jamie wouldn't wanna sleep through that." Mark, Jamie and Nate were due back around noon and most of the guys had gathered for lunch. The midday meal was usually a sparsely attended affair as most guys were at work, but nobody wanted to miss this. Eddie had brought Brandon's spare wheelchair to the gate and a big cheer went up when Mark's truck pulled up. The doctor had recommended the wheelchair and minimal fuss. The first was easy, the second not so much. Jamie blushed as Mark wheeled him through the gate and through the crowd across the lawn. They stopped briefly for Jamie to say, "Thank you, guys. Sorry to have caused so much trouble. We'll party later, but right now I wanna be alone with Mark. I got a lot to thank him for." With cheers still ringing in their ears they went into their ground-floor apartment and the door closed behind them. "OK, kid, straight to bed for you. You want something warm to wear?" "I'll wear what I always wear in bed, sir – nothing. Not even this stupid neck brace that Chad said I don't need in bed. He pulled it off, stood up carefully and shed his clothes. Then he lay on his back on the bed in the same sexy pose Mark always saw when he came home each day. Mark grinned, "You don't seriously think I'm gonna fuck you, boy. The doc said no strenuous activity." "He also said lots of bedrest. Well I'm on the bed and resting – two out of three ain't bad." Mark protested but Jamie persisted. "Sir, when I was in that concussion it was like I was dreaming that I heard your voice. You were talking about me naked on the bed waiting for you to come home and fuck me. But it was like that dream where your limbs are heavy and you can't move. I even felt my dick get hard but nothing else would move. "Then I felt your lips on mine and suddenly my eyes opened and there you were. It wasn't a dream, it was really you. I thought you were gonna fuck me like always but then I realized I was in a hospital bed, so we couldn't fuck. But now I'm home in our bed. Damn, if you don't fuck me now what was the point of waking up? I think I'll close my eyes and go back into a coma." Mark grinned, "Fuck you, boy" "Yes please, sir." Usually the horny Mark wouldn't even take off his uniform before pushing Jamie back on the bed and ramming his cock in his ass. But now was nothing like that. Slowly Mark stripped his clothes off and Jamie gazed up at the Greek-God cop, his naked body gleaming in the room's sun-dappled light, his chiseled, square-cut features smiling down at him. "That's what woke me up, sir. You don't want me to fall asleep again, do you?" "That's blackmail, dude. But I guess I have no choice." Usually it was just spit but now Mark reached for the lube and spread it on his rigid cock. He knelt on the bed and carefully raised Jamie's legs. "Let me know if it hurts, Jamie." But the only sound that came from the naked surfer were sighs of pleasure as he felt his master's cock slide in his ass. "Mmm, should have done that last night, sir, in the hospital bed. Would have jolted me wide awake. I just need you to love me, sir." Tears welled up in Jamie's eyes and trickled down his cheeks. He smiled a watery smile as he felt Mark's cock gently massage his ass. "I do love you Jamie, always and all the time, even when I'm saying spiteful things that I don't mean. If that ever happens again I swear we'll never leave without saying sorry." He gazed down at his beautiful boy, lit by stripes of sunlight coming through the slatted blinds. He bent down and kissed him, their tongues sliding playfully against each other. When he pulled back Jamie raised his hands and stroked Mark's bare chest, pressing his palms against his pecs and digging his fingers in the solid flesh. And always the exquisite sensation of the shaft driving slowly in and out of him. It pressed deep against his inner sphincter, then pulled back and paused, making Jamie hold his breath until he exhaled with a joyful whimper when it pushed in deep again. Their passion was heightened by their escape from grief, aware that the dice could have rolled another way. But fate had been on their side, they were together, making love ... and approaching their climax. Jamie took one hand off Mark's chest and curled it round his own cock. "Would you like to see me shoot juice all over myself, sir?" "While I cum inside you? What do you think, buddy? Let's do it." As they gazed into each other's eyes it was as if nothing existed outside this room, everything else faded to black leaving only the glow of a man and his boy making love. And that's how their adventure ended – in their daily ritual where the young surfer spurted juice on his naked body, while the cop came deep in his ass. <><> ABOUT CHAD <><> Suddenly they were tired. Mark had not slept all night and a post-trauma fatigue drifted over his boy. But before they slept Mark murmured, "How would you like it if we took a few days off in the desert at Uncle Mike's place in Palm Springs? It's a great place to rest and recuperate and you could see your old buddy Larry? We have to be careful but would you be up for that?" "I'd love it, sir. The doc, Chad, said I wasn't to go back to work until after he's checked me out in a week. I really liked Chad, didn't you, sir?" "Yeah, I knew him a bit some years ago when I worked in Santa Monica. He's even better looking now than he was then. Looks like he's been working out at the gym – or on his surfboard – or both." "Funny thing, sir. You know Chad mentioned to us he might be going away for a few days. Well I heard him tell the nurses that he might head out to the desert." Jamie's eyes gleamed. "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if we ran into him?" "Hardly likely, kiddo. Palm Springs is a big town now." "I dunno, sir. Stranger things ..." *********************************** TO BE CONTINUED in "A Trial Of Strength" – Chapter 489 Hey guys, this is Rob Williams. I hope that chapter got you off, and I welcome your comments and suggestions, which can be very helpful in planning future chapters. E-mail me in confidence at rw6789@aol.com. ALSO, I invite you to visit my own Web-site www.atrialofstrength.com. You can read the whole story, with extras including pictures and biographies of all the characters. AND DON'T FORGET – IF YOU ENJOY THESE STORIES, PLEASE DONATE to this site. Nifty needs your donations to provide these thousands of wonderful stories. So please go to http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html and donate what you can. All the other writers and I thank you.