Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2023 16:56:37 -0500
From: Keith Yates <keith.96@att.net>
Subject: Brent's Struggle 40

	This is a fictional story that may involve sexual acts between two
or more males. If this offends you, why are you here?  If you are under the
legal age to read sexually explicit material then do not read any further.
This story in no way represents any person living or dead.  Any resemblance
to any real person is purely coincidental.

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Take some time and go check out the trailer for the indie LGBTQ rom-com
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Readers Note: This chapter in Brent's Struggle starts off following the
events in Chapter 39 of Brent's Struggle. Devyn has left the hospital to go
get dinner with Joe and Travis and then go back to the hotel. I've never
written a series like this before so I'll be looking forward to your
comments. You can send them to me at keith.96@att.net. I do not believe
that you have to read Devyn's Struggle chapter 56 and 57 to follow the
storyline but it might help.

Brent's Struggle
Chapter 40

Matt heard a soft knock at the door. He wondered if it was one of the
nurses before he said softly, "come in."

"Hi Matt," Alex said, moving to the bed beside Brent. "How's he doing?"

"He was awake a little bit ago. He took some water. The pain meds are
making him sleep."

Alex lightly brushed back the hair on Brent's forehead. He then tenderly
caressed Brent's cheek. "I don't like seeing him like this. I wish I had
been able to do more. I wish I had known how bad he was feeling. I thought
it was just the interview and reliving all that had happened to him."

Matt's lips twitched at how Alex was doing the same thing Devyn had done
earlier. The two did look similar and it seemed they had similar
habits. "Bryan and I did as well."

"Did Bryan already go home?"

"Yes, about an hour ago. I didn't want to leave him alone. He feels so
alone as it is. If he wakes up at night, well I wanted one of us to be
here."

"You have to be beat, Matt. I'll stay with him." Alex could see Matt's
hesitation. "I won't leave until either you or Bryan come back in the
morning."

"Alex, it will be a long night."

"I don't care. I want to be with him. I want to be here if he wakes up. I
want him to know that what he said didn't change how I felt."

Matt put a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "You are a loyal friend,
Alex."

"I love him, Matt. I think I have almost from the beginning. He looked so
sad the first time I saw him in the theater. I wanted to cheer him up. I
wanted to see him smile. He did smile some when we were together."

"I am sure he did. I think his feelings for you are stronger than he
understands. I think that is why he was pushing you away."

"Well, I don't push that easily."

Matt smiled at Alex. "No, you certainly do not. Plus, you are persistent."

"I am that. Just go on home. I'll stay here. If there is any reason, I'll
call you."

"Only if you are sure." Matt was hesitant but he also needed a good night's
sleep. He would not consider leaving Brent if Alex did not care so much for
him.

"I am. I'll take loving care of him. Hell, if we need to we will get him a
private nurse. Maybe I should do that anyway."

"Alex I don't think..."

"We can also get him the best doctors. We can fly him anywhere he needs to
go. There is one in Boston that specializes in helping teenage boys that
have been through sexual trauma. Brent's is somewhat unique but maybe he
can help."

"It sounds like you've done some research."

"I have and I have permission to use the Caldwell corporate jet for
anything that Brent might need."

Matt was a little surprised by that offer but he figured with the Caldwell
resources, it was to be expected. "That is generous of your dad. Please
express my gratitude..."

"Hell, that came straight from Mom. Of course, Dad wouldn't argue that
point. Hell, no one argues with Mom."

"I haven't met her but I think I like her. Please express our gratitude to
both of them."

"She's a hell of a lady. She's the reason that stupid restraining order got
torn to shreds. Plus, I think she is still forming a connection with
Brent's Mom. That is if this has left any hope there. I'll let them both
know you appreciate the offer."

"There might be some hope there, but there is none with Richard. Brent will
never be forced to see him again." Matt had already told that to the social
worker and had his attorney already working on making Brent legally his and
Bryan's and Matt had demanded no mandatory visitation with either of
Brent's parents.

"If you need any legal help, I can give you the firm that oversees our
matters."

Matt believed his attorney was experienced enough to argue the custody
matter but he appreciated Alex's generous offer. Matt was sure the Caldwell
legal firm was the best. "If things don't work out, I'll let you know."

Matt hesitated only a moment longer. He could see the love and caring in
Alex's expressive brown eyes. He decided to leave Alex to tend to Brent for
the night. Maybe it would help Brent to learn just what kind of devotion
Alex had for the teenager.

Matt left, leaving Alex alone in the room with Brent. Alex sat there
watching Brent sleep. Alex brushed a hand across Brent's forehead. He
thought Brent felt cold. He wondered if he was warm enough.

Alex took Brent's hand and it too felt cold. He slid his hand under the
sheet and blanket and felt the bare skin of Brent's upper leg. It felt a
little cool too. Alex buzzed the nurse to ask for a warm blanket. "You know
it's kind of nice being able to touch you without worrying about you
flinching." Alex softly touched Brent's cheek. "Not that I mind. Well, I
mean I do. I want you to be comfortable with me. I want you to want me to
touch you." Alex wanted to crawl into bed with Brent and hold him. He
however knew better than to try that. The bed was not really big enough for
both of them. Plus, he was worried he might hurt Brent.

The nurse brought the warm blanket and Alex tucked it around Brent. It was
quiet in the room except for the sounds of the machines and the noise in
the hall. "You know I know you like that vampire show. I think you have a
crush on that lead actor. Not that I blame you. He is hot. Damn hot." Alex
brought up the show and sat watching it. He hoped that the sounds would not
disturb Brent but he was also hoping that maybe it would help Brent.

Alex was only half watching the show and watching Brent sleep. He could
hear the steady sounds of the monitors and Brent's even breathing. Alex
again stroked a finger across the smooth skin of Brent's cheek. "Look, he's
taking his shirt off again. I swear I don't know why they even bother to
send him to wardrobe. He might as well just go shirtless in every episode.

Alex then saw Brent's eyelids flutter. He hesitated for a moment. He wanted
Brent to wake up but he also knew that Brent needed rest. Alex saw them
move again and he lightly reached out and took Brent's hand. "You waking up
there?" Alex wanted Brent to know he was not alone. He wanted the younger
boy to know someone was there that loved him.

Brent tried to focus on the voice. He had been fighting his way up from the
deep sleep.  He wondered if he was dead. He thought he had heard Devyn`s
voice. It seemed like only minutes ago but it could have also been
hours. Brent felt as though he were in a time warp. The measurements of
minutes and hours had no meaning. It all blurred together into one plane.

"You gave me quite a scare, babe." Alex lightly brushed his fingers across
Brent's forehead.

Brent felt the coolness of Alex's touch. He finally forced his eyes to
focus and could see it was not Devyn next to him. The caress was tender and
caring but it wasn't Devyn. "He's dead. It was just a dream."

"You're going to be fine." Alex wanted to reassure Brent. He wanted him to
understand how much he was loved.

"It was you the whole time. It wasn't him." Brent had believed it had been
Devyn there earlier but the truth was it was just Alex again. "You should
just go home."

"I want to stay, Brent." Alex was hurt by Brent's words but he tried to
hide that. He knew Brent had been through an emotional roller coaster and
also understood that some of the medication might be distorting Brent's
perceptions. Alex was not going to be pushed away this time.

The door opened then and the night nurse came into the room. "How is he
doing? Oh, he's awake. That is good."

"He just woke up a few minutes ago." Alex turned to the nurse. He was not
sure he had ever seen anyone with such striking grey eyes. They made the
man look a bit like a rogue. The five o'clock shadow also added to that
image.

The nurse was looking at the monitors. "Your heart rate is a bit fast." He
proceeded to take the rest of Brent's vitals. "Your blood pressure is also
high. Are you in pain?"

Brent was in pain. His stomach hurt and the hurt at having believed Devyn
was alive to find out it wasn't true, hurt even more.

"Try and relax. We'll have that pain under control in no time." He
proceeded to give Brent a dose of the pain medication. "This is going to
make him sleepy."

All Brent wanted to do was sleep. If he was asleep, then he would not have
to remember. Maybe he could go back to the dream where Devyn was alive.

Alex took Brent's hand. "Squeeze my hand if it helps. I'm here. I'm not
going anywhere."

Brent was both glad Alex was there and wished the man would go away. He
wanted Alex to find someone that could be with him the way he
deserved. Brent did not believe he was that person.

"He's probably going to sleep most of the night." The nurse was studying
Alex. "You can go..."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for the night."

The nurse smiled at Alex. "You're one loyal friend."

"I love him." Alex looked at Brent as the blonde slipped back into slumber.

The nurse patted Alex's back. "Not even a blind man could miss seeing
that. Just buzz me if you need anything."

"Thanks."

# # # #

Matt lightly shook Alex's shoulder. He hated to wake up the younger man but
he also knew it could not be that comfortable sleeping in the chair.

"Oh, Hi Matt." Alex sat up trying to work out the kinks in his neck and
back.

"Sorry to wake you but that did not look too comfortable." Matt watched as
Alex stood and stretched.

"It wasn't too bad."

"You should go home and get some sleep," Matt said.

"I slept some."

"Not much, I would guess. Go on home. I'll call you but he should be out of
the worst of this."

"I hope he is. He woke up last night. He was a bit confused and in pain."

"I'm sure the confusion is from the anesthesia." Matt also wondered if it
had to do with the pills Brent had taken. They were not sure how many of
the pills the teenager had ingested.

"The nurse was on top of the pain. He gave Brent something and he drifted
back off to sleep. I have to say I like that night nurse."

"He is nice."

"He's also good to look at."

"Shame on you Alex."

"I was just looking. My heart already belongs to someone." Alex looked at
Brent. He took Brent's hand and squeezed it. He hoped some part of Brent
was aware he was still here. "If we need to hire a private nurse, I'll see
if that guy is interested."

"In the job or you?" Matt could not help but tease Alex a little.

"In the job. My heart is already spoken for..." Alex turned to look at
Brent's angelic face. He looked so sweet and innocent in his slumber. "Of
course, Pete might like to get to know him."

"Pete seems like a great guy." Matt had liked the little bit he had learned
about Alex's friend.

"He's the best. We really haven't known each other long but he's become my
best friend."

"Everyone needs a best bud," Matt said. Now, go home, Alex. I'll be here if
he wakes up. My mom is also coming by and so will some other friends."

"Alright. I'll come back tonight."

"You don't have to..."

Alex held up a hand. "I want to, Matt. I need to be here with him."

Matt could tell that Alex was determined. He knew how deep Alex's feelings
were for Brent. "If that is what you want."

"It is." Alex had to be there for Brent. He felt some guilt for not being
more forceful about spending time with Brent. He had stepped back thinking
Brent needed a little space and now regretted that decision. He had gone
into the self-pity party. Pete had been right, that he could not help Brent
if he was drinking and feeling sorry for himself.

# # # #

"Hey Matt," Devyn greeted as he entered Brent's hospital room.

"Hi." Matt felt a surge of joy at seeing Devyn again. There had been a
small part of him that had felt that yesterday had been a dream.

"How's he doing today?" Matt was sitting in a chair at the side of Brent's
bed closest to the door. Devyn moved closer and placed a hand on Matt's
shoulder.

"The nurse was just in and gave him some pain medication. It's put him back
to sleep." Matt reached up and covered Devyn's hand with his own. He half
did it to reassure himself that Devyn was in fact there. There was still
that small part of Matt that was still wrapping his head around the idea
that Devyn's death had been all a lie.

"Damn, wish I had managed to get here earlier."

"I actually thought maybe you would be by earlier." Matt hoped he did not
sound like he was scolding Devyn. He knew how hard this must be on the
teenager. It appeared that Devyn was coping but Matt was sure it was still
emotional for the young man.

"I looked up an old friend of mine and Brent's." Devyn had both wanted to
be here earlier and part of him had been pushing off coming back. He was
glad he was here now. "She actually dated both of us."

"Is this that girlfriend you told me about?" Matt could remember Devyn
talking to him about his feelings for her and how he had not felt for her
how he had felt for Brent. It had been one of their conversations when they
had run into each other at the construction site.

"Yes, Sue. She told me that after I left school that she and Brent dated
briefly. They realized they were better as just friends. She told me that
Brent hadn't been in school since last Christmas. She did not know the
details but there was some sort of accident."

"That's right," Matt said. "That was before Brent came to live with us."

"Do you know what happened?" Devyn was curious about that accident. "Sue
told me that Brent had some sort of brain injury?"

"That is right." Matt decided since Devyn already knew some of the details
it would be alright to fill him in. "Brent was dating someone then and when
another friend, sorry, the name alludes me at the moment, found out that
they were gay he flipped out. He attacked them. Brent got knocked out and
lost a good chunk of his memory."

"Holy shit. Do you mean like amnesia? I thought stuff like that only
happened in the movies."

Matt had to agree with that. It was something out of some crazy movie. "He
got some of his memory back but not all of it. He remembers you but there
is a big gap after you left and until he woke up in the hospital."

"Will he get that missing part back?" Devyn was concerned. There were parts
of his past he would like to forget but not all of it.

"We hope so but it is not a certainty." Matt wished Brent could remember
Alex. Maybe now that Devyn was back in their lives, that would help. "By
the way, was Albert able to arrange everything for...um... Matt's voice
trailed off as he was drawing a blank of the man's name.

"You're having trouble with names today." Devyn gave Matt's shoulder a firm
squeeze.

"Sorry, I'm just not playing with a full deck today." Matt thought the good
night's sleep would have helped him but he had not slept as much as he
wanted. It had been hard to turn off his brain.

"Yes, Joe and Travis are with him now. He seems like a great guy."

"He's the best assistant. I'm not sure what I would do without him."

Devyn moved around to the opposite side of Brent's bed from Matt. He took
the seat there and looked at his sleeping friend. He reached down and
lightly massaged Brent's forehead. "He does seem organized and capable."
Devyn's mind was only half on what he was saying. His eyes were focused on
Brent.

"He is and I think he's got a crush on Joe."

Devyn looked up from Brent. "You think so?"

"Yes, Joe's the...um...type Albert seems to favor. The...um..."

"Sexy superman type?"

"Um...well guys well-built and older than him."

"I'm surprised he hasn't put the moves on you then." Devyn's golden flecks
seem to twinkle with his suggestion.

"That would not be appropriate with our working relationship. Plus, I'm
married."

"Yeah, and Bryan is hot."

Matt shook his head. "You're a bit more bold than I remember."

Devyn took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I think we've all
changed."

Matt looked from Devyn to Brent's sleeping form. "I know that is true."
Matt looked back at Devyn. "So, what happened?"

Devyn took another breath. "You mean after Frank tossed me out?"

"Brent did tell us about that. He said you were going to school and then
one day you were just gone." Matt was trying to curb his curiosity but was
finding it difficult. He wanted to know what had happened to Devyn after
the teenager had disappeared.

Devyn looked back at Brent. "It hurt that Sunday afternoon when Brent cut
me out of his life."

"He regrets that more than I can express."

Devyn continued as though he had not heard Matt. "I was hurt and then mad
as hell at him. If we saw each other at school...well...all I wanted to do
was punch him. We avoided each other. Brent was still trying to pretend he
was not gay. He wanted nothing to do with me and at the time I wanted
nothing to do with him."

"Where were you staying? With other friends?" Matt's curiosity was getting
the better of him. He did not want to pressure Devyn to tell him about his
life after being outed to his parents but he also needed to know.

"No, I was ashamed. I was ashamed of being gay. I was ashamed of being
weak. I had a lot of self-loathing. I didn't tell anyone what had
happened."

"So, you were living on the streets?" Matt's heart was torn over the idea
that Devyn would be homeless. He hated what the parents of these two boys
had done to them.

"For a while, I was sleeping in the school at night. I had figured out the
routine and how to avoid being caught so I slept in a supply room. I got a
lot of homework done that way."

Matt chuckled. "I bet you did." Matt was a bit impressed with Devyn's
ingenuity.

Devyn went on to explain about sneaking in and out of the school. Sleeping
in his parent's garage until the locks got changed. Then back in the school
and in the park.

"Devyn, you could have called me. Bryan and I would have..."

Devyn did not let Matt finish. "I know that. Like I said, I had a lot of
self-esteem issues then. I didn't want to admit what had happened. I was
embarrassed and ashamed."

Matt wished Devyn had reached out to him. So much might have been
different. Brent might not be there in the hospital bed. Would it have
changed the course of all of their lives? Maybe Brent and Devyn would have
reconnected sooner. Would it have prevented Brent's accident and ending up
in Wilson's clinic? Matt let out a sigh. He knew there was no reason to
dwell on what might have been.

"I did eventually get caught in my supply room," Devyn told Matt about
being caught naked by a night janitor. "It is surprising I got away with it
for as long as I did. He quickly tossed me out though. I slept in the park
then. He was watching me closely so I knew there was no way I'd be able to
sneak back into the school again."

"Ever consider a shelter?"

"I just wasn't that smart. I was ready to give up. It was a cold and rainy
night and I was going to call you. I just didn't have that card you gave
me. I lost it somewhere."

Matt looked at Brent's sleeping form. He wondered. Was that how Brent had
known his number? He had written his personal number on the card he had
given Devyn. "I think that is how Brent called us. He must have found the
card."

"That makes sense. I was going to get your number from my dad's office the
next day."

"But you never called." Matt sure hoped Lucy had not fucked up that
call. If she had, he was going to be sure she never worked again. He did
not care what it took.

"I didn't...I guess fate stepped in."

"What do you mean?"

"I went into a bar. I just wanted out of the cold and the rain. They were
going to toss me out but a man intervened. He seemed like such a nice
guy. He fed me and...well let's just say he was not quite as nice as I
thought."

Matt had a horrible thought for a moment. "Devyn, not Joe. If he's..."

"No Matt. Joe's awesome. He's like...well...My Bruce Wayne. This guy was a
user. He...well...he seduced me. I thought he loved me. I was so stupid and
naive. I sometimes can't believe how much of an idiot I was."

"Devyn, you were desperate and a kid. You aren't expected to make the best
decisions. Parents are supposed to help guide you."

"Well, mine guided me right into doing some bad shit. I was
so...um...clueless. Tom knew exactly how to manipulate me. He played on my
ignorance."

"Shit Devyn." Matt's heart went out to Devyn. He wished he had been able to
prevent Devyn from making those bad choices. Again, he had to remind
himself he should not focus on what might have happened.

"Anyway, to make a long story short, I did some illegal stuff and got
busted."

"I think you're leaving quite a bit out of this story." Matt was watching
Devyn closely. "Did he sexually abuse you? Devyn, did he rape you?"

Devyn snorted before answering. "No, not in the sense that he forced
himself on me. He seduced me. I thought, at first, that it was love..."

"It sounds like a form of rape to me, Devyn." Matt reached across Brent's
sleeping form. He grasped Devyn's hand. He squeezed it. "Don't be
ashamed. I'm not judging you. I, well, damn, I care about you."

"I did some bad shit for Tom. Some of it I did willingly. Some of it, well,
I was blackmailed into. That's another story."

"Blackmailed?"

"Maybe the better word is coerced. He threatened someone that I cared
about. It was another kid that Tom had taken in. Todd was mentally
challenged. He would not have been able to cope with...doing the stuff I
was doing."

Matt wondered how Devyn could cope. Both Brent and Devyn seemed to have an
inner strength. These two boys were stronger than most men Matt knew.

"So, I did this bad shit and eventually got busted by an undercover cop. It
was the luckiest day of my life."

"That must be Joe."

Devyn chuckled. "You would think so, wouldn't you...No, it was Joe's big
sister, Hannah." Devyn had to hold back the tears that threatened, whenever
he thought of her. "Joe likes to say she looked inside me and saw more than
just a skinny kid that was fucked up by sex and drugs. According to him,
she saw my good heart. She thought my parents were going to come and bail
me out."

"I am guessing that went poorly."

"They did show up, only to turn their backs on me. I think they only showed
up because of my grandmother, my Mom's mom. She did not turn her back on
me." Devyn went on to explain a bit about the judge, his grandmother and
Joe stepping in to take him in. "Hannah had a backup plan. She must have
known something would or could go wrong. Joe said Hannah would have a plan
for having a plan. So, Joe became my foster dad."

"I'd like to meet her. I would like to thank her for going above and
beyond. We need more cops like her."

Devyn had to swallow down the lump in his throat. "Hannah was incredibly
special. She got me out of that situation and got Todd, the mentally
challenged kid, the help he needed." Devyn could feel his eyes burning as
he thought about how wonderful Hannah was.

"She does sound special," Matt said. He could see Devyn was getting
emotional. "You alright?"


Devyn pulled his emotions under control. "Hannah died last spring. A car
accident killed her and her husband Ben. Travis was hurt but not badly. It
is still not clear how he survived."

"Fuck." Matt could not believe all that Devyn had gone through in such a
brief time.

"In a word." Devyn had to wipe tears from his eyes. "So, Joe and I went to
court, got custody of Travis and now Joe has legally adopted both of
us. Adopting me was just a formality. No court could take me away from him
or Travis."

"It sounds like they had better not try." Again, Matt marveled at Devyn's
strength. His heart felt for the boy that had lost both his parents. He
guessed Devyn and Travis were similar. They had both lost their parents but
found a brand new family in each other.

Devyn looked at Matt. The golden specks in his eyes were burning with an
inner light. "I will do anything to protect them both."

Matt could hear the earnestness in Devyn's voice and there was little doubt
in the teenager's eyes that he meant every word. "It sounds like you have
found your true family."

"I have. It was for that reason that when Joe adopted me, I legally had my
name changed. I'm Devyn Vitanova now. That is my grandmother's name and I
took Joe's last name, Erikson, as my middle name."

"I'm glad you kept Devyn. I'm not sure I could get used to calling you
something else."

"Me either. Devyn suits me. It is a family name from my grandmother's
side. I wanted that connection with her. I wanted the connection to Joe and
to Travis. Of course, I didn't need a name for that. Those bonds are
there. Blood and names do not form the connection."

"They don't." Matt got up and moved to Devyn's side of the bed. "It's the
bonds of love that form the true connections. I for one am glad you found
your way back to us, Devyn Erikson Vitanova. Dang but that is a mouthful."
Matt then leaned down and hugged Devyn.

"Thanks, Matt." Devyn returned the hug.

Bryan stepped into the room just as the two were hugging. "Hey, that's my
man!"

"Hmm, I can see why. He's a good hugger. I bet he's even better at..."
Devyn's voice trailed off with a suggestive grin at Bryan.

Bryan moved to the foot of the bed. "He is good at everything!" Bryan added
extra emphasis on `everything'.

"You two knock it off," Matt said. "We are in a hospital."

"How is our patient?" Bryan looked at Brent who was still sleeping.

"He's doing well. Alex said he was awake a bit during the night but was
confused."

"That's those damn pain medications," Bryan said.

"Umm, Is Alex Brent's boyfriend?" Devyn was now curious.

"He's, well..." Bryan's voice trailed off. He was not sure how to classify
Alex. He was a friend but were Alex and Brent, boyfriends?

"It's alright if Brent has a boyfriend," Devyn said. He looked from Matt to
Bryan and then back to Matt. "We've both lived a lot since we were
boyfriends. We aren't together and Brent deserves someone to make him
happy."

"Does that mean you have given up on..." Bryan's words trailed off as
Brent's eyes fluttered.

Brent let out a slight moan as he opened his eyes. He first saw Bryan at
the foot of his bed. It took his foggy mind a moment to put the pieces back
together that he was in the hospital.

"How do you feel?" Matt asked. He was still standing next to Devyn, who was
sitting at the side of the bed.

Brent turned his head to look at Matt. "I'm a bit..." Brent's words trailed
off as he saw Devyn sitting next to the bed. "Devyn?"

"Yes, it's me." Devyn leaned in a little closer to the bed and took Brent's
hand. "I was here yesterday but you were kind of out of it."

"You were?" Brent was confused. He had thought Devyn was there but then it
turned out to be Alex. "I don't understand."

Devyn squeezed Brent's hand gently. "I'm sure you don't. It's been a crazy
couple of days for me and I'm not on the medication you are on."

"I'm sorry," Brent said.

"Don't be. It's been a strange two days." Devyn gave Brent's hand what he
hoped was a reassuring squeeze.

The door opened then and Matt's mom came into the room. "It looks like
we've got a full house in here."

She moved to the side of the bed where Bryan had moved. "He just woke up,"
Matt said.

"How do you feel?" Alison asked Brent.

"I'm sore and confused. It isn't making sense. I thought it was Alex."

"He's been here too," Bryan said.

"He just left a few hours ago," Matt said.

"You gave us one hell of a scare young man," Alison said.

"Mom, don't scold him," Matt said.

"No, not now but when you get home..." Her voice trailed off as she pointed
a finger at Brent.

Bryan leaned in closer. "Be glad that finger isn't loaded. It can be
deadly."

Alison slapped his arm. "You knock it off."

"Ouch!" Bryan cried in mock pain.

"So much for being a tough Marine," Devyn said, his lips twitching.

"Oh, Mom, this is Devyn."

"Oh, you know at first, from the doorway, well, I've heard a lot about
you." Alison had at first thought the boy was Alex but could tell now it
wasn't. This young man looked younger and there was something about his
eyes. "Matt has mentioned you several times."

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Chancellor," Devyn said.

"Oh, please call me Alison," she said.

The nurse came in then to administer Brent's next round of
medication. "We've got to stay ahead of the pain. The doctors had to stitch
your guts back together and you are going to hurt for a while."

"But, I haven't talked to..."

The nurse pushed her way past Matt and Devyn. "We need to check your vitals
and give you the pain medication. Trust me it will be worse if we don't
keep you on a schedule."

"But Devyn..."

"It's alright Brent," Devyn said. He placed a comforting hand on
Brent's. "Let her do her job of taking care of you. I'll be here for a
while.

"But I want you to..."

Brent's words were cut off by the nurse. "You can talk later."

"That's right," Devyn said. Devyn gave Brent's hand a squeeze before moving
back to give the nurse room.

The nurse moved away from the bed to make her notes on the computer. Devyn
resumed his place next to the bed. As he did, Brent reached out and grabbed
Devyn's hand. He held it tightly. "I am sorry."

"Rest Brent." Devyn squeezed Brent's hand that was now in his. "We will
talk later.

Brent could feel his eyelids getting heavy. He wanted to tell Devyn so
much. He wanted to tell him he loved him. He wanted to tell him he had been
wrong. He wanted to but sleep overtook him.

# # # #

"You know it is great of you to give up your weekend like this." Bryan was
sitting on one side of Brent's bed and Devyn on the other. Alison had left
soon after Brent had drifted back to sleep. Matt had left a few minutes ago
to go into the office and do some work.

Devyn shrugged his shoulders. "It's not a big deal. My plan was to track
down Matt and to...well...see my folks. I'd actually rather be here."

"Will this be the first time you've seen them since...um..."

"You mean since they threw my queer ass out onto the street."

Bryan looked at Devyn closely. "Well, yes. I would not have put it quite
like that."

"After they caught me and Brent together, I saw them once at home. Frank
made it clear that I was not welcome there. Then once more at the police
station."

"Um...police station?" Bryan's curiosity was up.

"I got mixed up in some screwed-up shit. Matt can fill you in but I got
busted and arrested."

"Crap Kid, that sucks. That had to be scary as hell."

"It was but it was also the best day of my life. It was the end of who I
was and the beginning of a brand-new life."

"Maybe it was good too then."

"It was. It got me out of the mess I was in."

Devyn and Bryan continued to talk while Brent slept. Devyn would
occasionally reach over to brush back some of Brent's blonde hair. "He
feels a little warm."

Bryan got up and placed his hand on Brent's forehead and then his
cheek. "He does." Bryan knew enough to be a bit concerned. He was hoping an
infection was not setting in. Stomach wounds were the worst at causing an
infection.

Devyn noticed the concern in Bryan's eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"It's probably nothing but I want to be sure." It only took a few minutes
for Bryan to get the nurse back into Brent's room. She confirmed that Brent
was running a slight temperature.

"Is it serious?" Devyn asked Bryan after the nurse had left.

"Probably nothing." Bryan had moved to the same side of the bed as Devyn
while the nurse had been checking Brent. "A course of antibiotics will
knock it right out." Bryan slid his arm around Devyn's shoulders.

Devyn placed a hand on Brent's cheek. "He feels warmer than earlier."

"That might just be your perspective." Bryan hugged Devyn to his
side. "He'll be fine."

"So, Bryan, Matt never told me about the accident. How did Brent end up
here? I mean in the hospital."

Bryan took a deep breath and then let it out. "Brent's been through hell. I
know you have as well but...well...maybe Brent's was worse. I don't
know. Maybe you're stronger. Maybe Brent suffered longer. But because of
that, he's had some issues with depression. He did something really
stupid. We think he was just...well...confused but mixed up medication and
tried drinking."

Devyn looked down at Brent. He could understand the drugs and the
drinking. "I can understand a bit where he was. I...um...didn't think much
of myself. I got mixed up with drugs and alcohol." Devyn took Brent's hand
in his own. He was looking at Brent as he spoke. He did not want to see the
disappointed look in Bryan's eyes. "They let me forget who I was or pretend
I was someone else." Devyn tenderly caressed Brent's smooth cheek. "It
sounds like we both tried the same thing to escape. We also both ended up
finding a family that is better than the one we started out with. Joe
helped me see the bad course I was on. I want to help you do the same."

"You're one hell of a man." Bryan put his arm back around Devyn. "I could
not be more proud of you."

"Joe says the same thing. I just see all the dumb mistakes I made."

"I think I'm going to like Joe. I want you to see those mistakes as
mountains that you climbed. Be proud that you worked through them and
overcame them."

Devyn shrugged his shoulders. "It all worked out. I'm where I belong. I
hope Brent can see he is where he belongs."

Bryan stood there holding Devyn to his side. He watched the tenderness in
Devyn's touch. He had heard the caring in Devyn's words when the teenager
had talked to Brent. "Do you think you two have a future?"

Devyn had asked himself that question. He had tried to understand his
feelings but he was not doing much in the way of figuring them out. Yes, he
knew he cared for Brent. He had believed he hated Brent but now he
understood that was not the case. Brent had hurt him and Devyn had been
angry but he had never truly hated Brent. He had blamed Brent for not
helping him or standing with him against their parents but that was not
fair. Brent had been as much of a victim of unaccepting parents as Devyn
had been. "Honestly, if you had asked me that two days ago I would have
said no. I still had some anger at Brent but now...well..."

Bryan waited but Devyn did not finish the thought. "Is there someone else?
Someone special?" Bryan thought he already knew the answer.

"Maybe. Maybe someone incredibly special." Devyn was torn inside. He had
feelings for Charlie. He knew that. He liked Charlie. He never wanted to
hurt Charlie. How was he going to figure it out? He knew he could not leave
Joe and Travis. That was not an option. Did that mean Brent was not an
option? Had the fates already decided that the two of them did not belong
together?

"He's a lucky guy then." Bryan wanted Devyn to be happy but he also wanted
Brent to be happy. He knew Brent loved Devyn. That had been obvious almost
from the moment he and Matt had rescued Brent from the clinic. Bryan just
was not sure if it was this Devyn that Brent loved or the Devyn that Brent
thought he remembered.

# # # #
Copyright 2023 by Keith yates (keith.96@att.net) all rights reserved.
No copying, reposting, or distributing is permitted without the author's written consent.

Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. Thomas Paine

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo
the fatigue of supporting it. Thomas Paine

To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and
whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like
administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by
scripture. Thomas Paine

  Character is much easier kept than recovered. Thomas Paine