Counting

Chapter 12

by Tux


This is all fantasy fiction. None of the events are real.

Please help Nifty keep our stories alive and donate! https://donate.nifty.org

Email me with comments and suggestions:
Proton Mail: Foxfire3730@proton.me

Edited by Andrew Thomas

This story is an original work of fiction ©Copyright 2022 Tux - Please do not copy or post without permission.


Hey guys it's Tux and I can't express the joy that I have that you all love reading my story. I wasn't really sure in the beginning but working with Andrew, he built my confidence and I wrote my story down. I'm so excited to keep writing the story and bringing you more emotional connection, drama, and victories for young AJ and Zack. After writing so far into the story, I've become very attached to AJ and Zack, more than I thought I was going to be able to, and I look forward to sharing the rest of his story with you.

I appreciate all the emails, suggestions, offers, and support that I get and for those who haven't emailed yet and are waiting or don't feel comfortable or safe emailing let me, let me express my gratitude for reading my story and tell you a little bit about my story. I've been reading nifty for many years about two months ago I just decided to start emailing people and let them know how much I appreciate their stories. I got replies almost instantly. The responses were supportive, encouraging, and some even held spoilers. I struck up a friendship with Andrew and it grew with my confidence and now Andrew is my most trusted editor. I cannot do this without him. Other authors like Lucas and Eric Murphy offer advice and support with my stories and it means the world to me. So, take a leap email an author and tell them how you feel, did you like the story did you not like it, all opinions matter to the author. Do you have suggestions on where you think the story could go, all suggestions interest the author. So take that leap and email your favorite author, you can change his day for the better, and might even influence or change the story. Thank you to all those that were supportive to me and I can't wait to show you the rest of... Counting.


Chapter 12 - Dude, We're Gay!


Zack

We wait for the elevator's door to open, and Mrs. Docker rubs my back. It's so relaxing I almost lost my balance. We exit the elevator and walk down the white halls, but instead of them being plain white, they have cartoon characters on the walls: Buggs Bunny, Porky Pig, Ed, Edd, and Eddy, and the Power Rangers. The nurses see me and greet me with a "Welcome back," and I clumsily give them a wave as I crutch by. I come to a stop at a door that I've stood in front of many times. It's white, of course, and has a blue stripe that circles the door frame. The window is frosted, and it has one of those chrome lever handles.

My breathing begins to go crazy. My breath is so short I think I'm going to pass out. I stumble for a second or two before Mrs. Docker catches me. She turns my sobbing face to her, and she already has tissues in her hand, knowing this isn't going to happen. "Oh honey, what's wrong? You have had me bring you here every day for two weeks, but you won't go in."

With snot trailing from my nose to my mouth and tears flowing down my face, I tell her, "I'm so sorry for what I did," and I collapse in her arms.

"Honey, why are you sorry? You didn't do this to him. He's sick. You saved my son's life, and I will be eternally grateful for your bravery and courage. You're my hero as much as his. He has been asking about you and when you will visit. I haven't told him that you come here every day and sit outside his door. You should go in, he needs you, Zack."

Wiping my face with my coat sleeve, I mumble out, "How can I face him? I just left him all alone to fight those wolves by himself."

"You are too hard on yourself. He wasn't alone; he had Stepper. You did nothing wrong."

I stare at the floor and whisper, "How do I make the guilt go away?"

She takes me into her arms and hugs me tightly. "Well Zack, it sounds like you need him as well."

She steps in front of me and opens the door for me. I hear my name and I look up to see him for the first time since that night.

AJ

6 Hours earlier

Sunrays beam in from the window, waking me up. I reach behind me to feel for Zack, but he's not there. Sadness washes over me, but not for long because Tina walks in. Tina is my nurse. She makes sure I can do my morning routine without pulling out my IV or stitches. She's really nice and has two boys around my age at home.

"Morning, my little prince." That is what she calls me. It makes me smile and feel good. "Morning, Tina," I say, with a little sleep still hanging in my voice. After the first couple of days, the doctors started to drug me because my night terrors would trigger every night with horrific visions of wolves and teeth gashing at me and Zack. I don't know what they give me every night, but I sure do like a solid sleep, but it makes my mouth taste real bad when I wake up. I guess it's the price I pay for sleeping without wolves.

She comes over and holds up the pee cup. "Can you make it to the bathroom or are you going to be lazy?"

"And miss a chance to make you hold my pee, no way," I say with a yawn and an eye rub. But my smile gives me away.

"You better get your little dinker in that bathroom, little boy, before I tan that hide," she says with a fake anger, and to sell it, she taps my chest with the pee cup until I start laughing. She calls my penis a `dinker," which is so funny.

She helps me with my blankets and makes sure my IV is clear as I walk really slowly to the bathroom. I pull down my Lego underwear and pull my `dinker' out and begin to pee. The stream is hard and strong like the memory of Michael, my nighttime nurse, sneaking in all those sodas for me to drink.

"Good lord child, how many sodas did Michael bring you?" Tina asks in a joking manner.

I just look up to her and say with a smile, "I'll never tell... I mean, what sodas?" I shake my penis like Zack showed me and then weakly walk back to the bed with my IV stand. Tina watches me get into bed and then goes back in the bathroom to flush the toilet and get my bath water ready. I grab the remote and turn on cartoons. Tina comes back with a pan, a towel over her shoulder, soap, and a washcloth. She goes into the small dresser next to the bed and pulls another pair of superhero underwear out, then sets them next to me.

"Why can't I wear the green boxers?" I whine.

"Little boys your size wear briefs, I don't want your little stiffy sticking out every time I check up on you. We need to keep that crazy thing contained," she says, and snaps the band on my underwear.

"Ouch," I say, giggling.

"You going to hold still today?" She says while she sets everything up.

I give her a giggle, remembering yesterday. "I can't help it, it tickles," I say as I try and look around her at the cartoon on the TV.

"That may be so, but today your little butt better be still. If you think I don't know how to wash a boy properly, then you're mistaken." She lifts my good leg up in the air and runs the soapy washcloth up and down my leg. She even gets the bottom of my foot and in my toes, which gets a few giggles. She does both legs and then has me pick up my butt so she can remove my Lego underwear off to wash my 'mid-section', as she calls it. This always feels really good, and things get stiff about the time she wipes over my butthole a lot. Even though I blush a little she doesn't seem to care. "You think you're the first boy I've had to wash his little bottom," she would say, and then she washes around my balls. Lastly, my `dinker.' She just makes a couple of passes up and down the little steel rod. Then puts my clean underwear on and asks, "Was it good for you?" and then laughs hysterically. I'm not sure what the joke is about, but it always makes me laugh too.

Once we are done cleaning my face, she hands me my little glasses that she has in her front pocket and a hearing aid. The shakes I had two weeks ago were so bad they hurt my hearing and eyesight. The doctor could tell I was ignoring the signs of an attack and must have hidden them from my friends. Then he told mom. I had to hear how disappointed she was for about a week and how lucky I was to be in this hospital bed because the whipping I would have gotten would have ended me up here. It sounds a little harsh, but I get the picture. I hid how bad I was from Uncle Jack, Zeke, and worst of all, from Zack. He knew something was up and I was hiding something from him, but he just didn't know what... I hope he doesn't hate me.

"Where is your cool teddy bear?" Tina asks me when she comes back into the room after dumping the wash water.

I smile and blush and say, "I sent it home with my mom a few days ago to help my boyfriend sleep."

"Oh honey, you're so cute. Your boyfriend is a lucky kid to have you," she says while taking my blood pressure.

"Yeah, I guess so," I say, and my voice goes quiet.

She finishes counting and sits on the bed. "Okay spill it, I know that face. What did you do?"

"I kind of hid from him how hurt I was and lied to him about it when he asked me... do you think he'll hate me when I tell him? He hasn't been to visit me; he might already hate me."

She pats my good leg and says reassuringly, "Cutie, no one can stay mad at this face. He'll be disappointed, but he won't be mad." That makes me smile, and she tickles me a little, then heads off to get the next boy ready for the day.

Mom says that she will be late today. She had some running to do and wouldn't be here till like two or three o'clock. So, I limp over to the shelf and get my bucket of Legos and bring it to my bed. Climbing back into it, I sit on my knees, and begin building my Lego house again.

Zack

AJ looks small, I know he was small before, but now he looks fragile. He's sitting on the bed in his little superhero underwear, bent over a half-built Lego building of some type. He has a tube that leads to his IV in his left arm. He is wearing a pair of little glasses and has a hearing aid device in his ear. His shoulder and leg are all wrapped up like mine. He hasn't noticed me yet, and I could leave.

Mrs. Docker must have seen my brain quickly changing its mind, so she says very loudly, "AJ, look who I brought."

AJ turns and looks at me and leaps off the bed, grabbing his IV stand and running over to me. He takes me into his arms and doesn't say anything, just holds me. He is hugging me with everything he has in his little arms. Mrs. Docker helps me balance us both and gives AJ time to finish. If she hadn't stepped in, I would have held him for years.

Mrs. Docker breaks the hug when I start to sway. They help me over to the bed, and I pull myself up and sit down next to the Lego house. His mom takes his house away, and he climbs up next to me. "I missed you so much," AJ whimpers as he wipes his tears and hugs me.

He reluctantly lets me go and looks me in the eyes and asks, "Why didn't you come sooner?" He isn't mean or accusing, but it hurt just the same. I stammer with my answer as my shame begins to build up, so I look to Mrs. Docker.

"Honey, Zack wanted to come. He really wanted to, but his injuries have kept him in bed this whole time. He wanted to come see you so bad."

I can see it going over in his head, then he just smiles at me and takes Max from my hand and says, "Did he help you sleep? I sure have missed him, but you needed him more."

"Yeah of course, it was like having you with me, but smaller and fuzzier." AJ lies on my lap and I rub his back. "Look AJ, I just wanted to say..." My words trailed off. He puts his small hand on my leg. My eyes follow AJ's arm up to his smile.

"I love you with all my heart. I would endure anything to be with you," he looks up to his mom and blushes, then back to my eyes.

"Well, I could use a cup of coffee, why don't I bring you two some hot chocolate," Mrs. Docker says while cleaning up snack wrappers and empty drinking cups. Then she stops before leaving to look at us one last time and smiles. Then we are alone.

AJ

Just Before Zack Enters

Shortly after two, I've have been watching the clock, I hear my name and look to the door. Standing in the doorway is Zack on crutches. I almost fell on my face trying to get off the bed but used the IV stand to keep my balance. I move as fast as my legs can go, and I stumble my way to him. When I get to him, I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight. Tears began to fall from my eyes and soak his shoulder. My mom holds him upright, and I just enjoy the warmth and the safety.

Mom breaks the hug when Zack starts to sway. We help him over to the bed, and he pulls himself up and sits down next to the Lego house. Mom takes my house away and I climb up next to Zack. "I missed you so much," I whimper as I wipe my tears and hug him.

I reluctantly let him go and looked him in the eyes and asked, "Why didn't you come sooner?" Zack stammers with his answer and becomes upset, looking at my mom.

"Honey, Zack wanted to come, he really wanted to, but his injuries have kept him in bed this whole time. He wanted to come see you so bad."

I think about my mom's words and decide that makes sense. I get a chance to really look at my love and he looks tired and worn and I take Max from his hand. "Zack, you look tired, did he help you sleep? I sure have missed him, but you needed him more."

"Yeah of course, it was like having you with me, but smaller and fuzzier." I lie on Zack's lap, and he rubs my back. "Look AJ, I just wanted to say..." his words trailed off. I put my small hand on his leg. I watch his eyes follow my arm up to my smile.

"I love you with all my heart. I would endure anything to be with you," I look up to my mom and blush, thinking about the last night I spent with Zack, then back to his eyes.

"Well, I could use a cup of coffee. Why don't I bring you two some hot chocolate," mom says while cleaning up some snack wrappers and empty drinking cups. Then she stops before leaving to look at us once more and smiles. Then we are alone.

"...look I'm sorry AJ," Zacks whispers to me. "I left your side..."

I interrupt him by putting my hands on his lips. "Zack, I'm sorry. I should have told you I wasn't doing well. I had been having the shakes since Friday morning and I hid them from you," I can tell he's so hurt. I take a deep breath and say, "...and I'm so sorry I lied to you about it."

Zack's face changes as he thinks about those days we spent together, "You lied to me? Even though I asked you not to lie to me again, you still lied to me?"

"I'm so sorry, Zack. I didn't want to have to go home and maybe to the hospital. It would have ruined your party and my birthday," I plead for him to understand and reach for his hand.

Zack pulls his hand away from me and looks really upset. "You died, AJ!" He yells and turns to me. I flinch as he shouts, "You died in my arms!"

"Zack... I never meant to..." Zack is so mad that I don't know what to do. He looks like he's going to hit me.

Quickly, he enwraps me in a tight hug and cries on my shoulder. "Why would you do that to me, AJ. I thought you loved me." Then he lets me go and slides off the bed. He picks up his crutches and he begins to leave.

"Where are you going! Zack, don't leave!" Zack didn't stop, he left. "I do love you," I whimper into Max's fur.

Zack

Mrs. Docker walks up and sits next to me on the couch outside AJ's room. She leans over and hands me a hot chocolate, asking, "It went that good, huh?"

"I don't want to talk about it," I tell her while I swirl the liquid around in my cup.

Mrs. Docker says, after a sigh, "Zack, that isn't how we do things in this family. Come on, what happened?"

"He lied to me, and I caught him, and I told him not to do it again. It wasn't about stupid stuff, he lied about the most important thing in the world to me. I feel so stupid! Why didn't I know! I only want him safe. He lied to me and I trusted him..." I stand up and shout at the door hoping he hears me, "...making it my fault he- died -on- me!" My shame and guild wash over me in a total wave, and I look at Mrs. Docker and say barely audible, "He left me alone."

Mrs. Docker pulls me back on the couch, hugs me, and I pound the chair arm. "Honey, I'm sorry. I'm not making excuses for him, but remember, he's only eight-years-old. He's been worried sick that you were going to hate him for lying to you." We break the hug, and she looks at me and smiles. "Honey, I know it hurts, but you love each other, and with love comes forgiveness."

Mrs. Docker stands and picks up AJ's hot chocolate and leaves me to think. When the door opens, I can hear AJ sobbing hysterically, calling my name.

AJ

No! What have I done! The door is opening! "Zack! Mom?! Mommmm!" I cry out as I fall off the bed trying to get to her and my IV is pulled out.

"Oh honey! Look what you've done." she says as I dive into her arms. She wraps her strong arms around me and reassures me, "Shhhh, shhhhh, it'll be okay AJ. Calm done honey."

"He hates me! I can't live without him! Mom, we have to go get him. Please help me!" I'm hysterical and she grabs my arms and shows me my bloody arm.

"AJ! You need to get back in bed. Something tells me Zack will be back soon. Please get in bed," she leads me back to my bed and pushes the nurse alarm button.

Tina comes in in a hurry and says, "What have you done little one? Oh, good lord! Tisk tisk AJ dear." She comes over and shuts off the alarm. Then she works on my arm. "Does it hurt that much? Why are you crying so much. Come on, be a big boy."

My mother walks over and holds my other hand and places her other hand on mine. "He'll be okay. His arm isn't what hurts." Once she has my attention, she looks over to the door.

Looking at the door, I see Zack standing in the doorway. He sighs and takes a deep breath to calm himself. Crutching his way over to me, he places his hand on my leg saying, "Hold still, little bro." He gives me that loving smile.

I lay down and stared into Zack's striking blue eyes. Everything that is going on and everyone in the room suddenly seems unimportant to me. I only see Zack. My tears slow to a trickle and I mumble to him, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

One Hour Later

Seven tiles, eight tiles, nine tiles, ten tiles, eleven ceiling tiles... Fred, my physical therapist, begins to bend my knee. Aaarrrgghh!! I cry out and grip the sheets tight as the knee bends using those reconnected ligaments and fixed tears. "Stop! Stop, I can't take it anymore!" I yell out, and Fred lays down my leg and rests it on the table.

"You're doing great, chico. I'm so proud of you," Fred says, and pats my good leg. "I'll let you rest a little, but I need you to do it once more. Okay, then we're done for today."

Tears begin to fall from my eyes when I think about doing it once more. "No, I can't. I can't do it once more. Please, can't we be done?"

Fred's face is sympathetic, but he shakes it no just the same. "I'm sorry, chico, you've worked so hard to get it loosened up. We must push it."

I look over to Zack and he's in the chair beside me. He's got Max in this lap and is trying to figure out one of my Rubik's cubes. His face is all turned slightly, and his tongue is sticking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. Just the sight of him like this makes me giggle.

Zack notices me watching and blushes a little, "How do you solve these so fast? I've been at this for over twenty minutes. There must be some kind of trick to it, right?"

"How fast is fast?" asked Fred, suddenly curious about our conversation.

With a little shrug, I answered him, "I'm down to 17.11 seconds on average. He responds with a whistle. "Zack my love, I use geometry. That's my secret." Calling Zack `my love' gets a raised eyebrow from Fred, but he doesn't press the subject.

"Okay- one more, ready?"

Fear takes over my face and I sit up, "No! I don't want to do it anymore today. I told you, it really hurts!"

Zack is there holding my hand and gently places his other hand on my chest. "AJ, this all looks hard, and I know it must hurt like crazy, but you have to do what Fred says. Your mom left me here to make sure you do. If you don't, how does that make me look? Come on, one more. Do it for me."

My eyes shift back and forth between Fred and Zack, then settle on my boyfriend. I let his hand push my chest back to the table. I took both of his hands in mine and nodded to Fred. I can feel my leg bending and the ligaments being stretched. The pain is excruciating, and even though my tears flow down my cheeks I don't cry out. I could see love in Zack's face, and I promised him that I'd be here for every day of his physical therapy when he gets his cast off.

"Ugh, don't remind me. I mean, sure, I want the cast off as fast as I can, it really itches, but I'm not looking forward to Fred here, pulling and pushing."

Fred looks to Zack and smiles, "It's not so bad, Zack. AJ here can do it; you should be fine." He puts my knee brace on and tells me, "Well, you're all done for today, chico." He comes around to my side and scoops me up. He carries me over to the wheelchair I came in and calls the nurses at the desk on my floor, telling them I'm done and ready to come back. Hanging up the phone, he looks at me skeptically and asks, "17.11 seconds, can I see you do it?"

Zack hands me the cube he was working on and as soon as it hits my hands, they go to work. My eyes dart back and forth as my hands struggle to keep up. Flip top right, flip bottom left, turn, turn, turn, I work on it and on the last flip right and I toss it to Fred. He surprisingly catches it and looks it over. "Wow, that's asombroso. You're like a little wizard or something."

Exchanging smile with Zack he reaches down and takes my hand. "You can keep it Fred, I have like ten of them here and hundreds of then at the house." He thanks me as the nurse takes my wheelchair and I'm headed back to my room.

Twins

Zeke throws up the basketball and it falls through the net-less hoop. The ball falls and hits the board at the bottom of the pole, which angles the ball back to him. "You're back early today," he says as he catches the basketball.

"Yeah, well AJ has some weird spine test stuff today," I say while I balance on my crutches. "I think he's going to be okay."

"But you still feel guilty," Zeke says, and turns to look at me, waiting for my response.

"You haven't seen him, Zeke. His eyesight and hearing are bad, and now he needs glasses and a hearing aid."

"But... I bet he looks really cute with the glasses on," and he tosses me the ball and giggles.

I flash him a smile and catch the ball. "Yeah, he does. I can't wait for alone time with him," and I return his giggle.

I toss the ball up and it goes into the hoop. "We're hoping he can come home soon. I can't wait to sleep together again. I'm still not sleeping well and I'm hoping it's because he's not in the bed."

Zeke catches the basketball and says, "Well, there is always room in my bed."

Giving it some thought, I asked him, "Is it hard that I don't sleep with you anymore?"

"No, are you kidding? No more of your freezing feet on my legs and no more of your little pecker poking me in the butt," he says, then takes a couple jukes forward and does a layup.

"Awe, you do miss me," I tease and set my crutches on the bench near the farmhouse. I clap my hands together, asking for the ball.

He tosses me the ball, I shoot a three-point shot, and it goes in the hoop into Zeke's hands. "I miss your little pecker," he says, shrugging with a smirk. "Don't worry about me, I've been spending a lot of my time with Missy," he says begrudgingly.

My face squints up and looks as if I just licked a lemon, "Yuk dude, what have you two been doing?"

He blushes and a wave of shame hits me, "Nothing man, Mrs. D would kill me. Well, so far she's only asked for me to kiss her."

"Yuk! Dude, you're kissing Missy. What are you thinking? AJ is going to freak. You have to keep it secret."

"Keep this a secret from everyone! No one can know," he says, being very direct.

"Dude, we're gay!"

"Don't you think I know that?" He raises his voice at me and throws the basketball.

Not exactly understanding him and not willing to push him any further, I pick up my crutches and begin to head back to the house, saying, "Yuk dude, just yuk." I can hear the basketball bounce down the driveway. "You better not do anything that I can feel," I shout over my shoulder, suffering a full body shutter from the thought.

Later that night, after dinner, us kids leave the table and head to the living room to watch the nightly movie. Uncle Jack and Mrs. Docker clean the table of dishes, then head out to the back porch with a bottle of wine. Since we moved in Uncle Jack, Zeke, and me have been included in the Docker nightly routine. I fell onto the couch and laid my crutches on the floor. To my surprise, Zeke doesn't sit next to me, he sits next to Missy, and she gives me a smirk, yuk. I stare at him and ask, "Zeke? What are you doing?"

"What? You've got your big old cast on the couch," Zeke says as Missy takes his hand and he flinches, pulling it away, but she recovers quickly, grabbing it again. Then, if he can look any more uncomfortable, she lays her head on his shoulder.

"What's wrong Zacky, do you feel alone?" Missy asks with a sarcastic tone.

"Don't call me that!" I yell at her as I bolt up from the couch. I look over my shoulder outside and our parents haven't reacted to my outburst, so I just calmly say, "I don't know what is going on here, but you better cool your jets before AJ gets back," I warn them. Zeke looks pissed while Missy is enjoying my little tantrum.

"Missy don't call Zack that. Our mother called him that," my brother said, as if putting his foot down.

She looks bothered for a moment, then smirks at me and lays her head in Zeke's lap. I can't take anymore, so I pull the blanket off the back of the couch. I wrap the blanket around my shoulders and stumble my way to the porch outside. I slid the door shut, ignoring my brother's requests to come back and watch the movie. Missy is laughing, as if this was all for her entertainment.

"Hey kiddo, where are your crutches?" Uncle Jack asks me, pulling my attention from the confusing scene in the living room.

I stumble past him, dragging my hand across his leg as I make my way to Mrs. Docker. She notices me coming and makes room for me in her lounge chair. I lay down in her lap and cuddled up next to her. She looks at Uncle Jack. He smiles and shrugs his shoulders.

"Honey, what's wrong?" She asks me as she rubs her hand through my hair and kisses my forehead.

"Mrs. Docker, can I call you mom?"

She looks at Uncle Jack, and he just smiles. Then she holds me tightly and says, "Of course, honey, you can call me whatever you want. I would be honored if you thought of me that way." I snuggle up to her and close my eyes. Not long after that I fell asleep.

AJ

The door to my hospital room opens and I turn away from it trying to make myself stop crying. "Hey, my little man AJ, how's the party room?" Michael says when he enters the room. I can hear him stop just short of my bed and realize I'm crying. He stands there for a while as I try and get myself under control, but I just can't. I feel so alone. I feel sick and like I'll never be able to go home. He lays a hand on my shoulder and begins to turn me around. I resisted him a little, but don't want to make him mad, so I let him. I must look terrible. I've been crying for hours, and I just can't shake this hopelessness feeling.

"Awe, little man, what's wrong?" He asks while sitting on my bed in front of me. I pull the sheets up to my chest and try to look okay. Suddenly I feel very naked sitting here in my underwear.

"I'm sorry for crying, I'm fine now," I lie to him.

"Hey, it'll be alright. Just tell me what's wrong?" Michael asks, while he begins to pat my bare leg that isn't covered by the white sheet. I quickly move it back under the covers.

In between breaths I managed to get out, "I... want... to... go... home."

"I bet it's hard not sleeping with that hot little boyfriend you have," Michael says jokingly, but I don't find the way he said it funny. He leans forward to envelop me in a hug. His touch makes me feel uncomfortable. I'd squirm out, but his grip is tight.

"I've been here for almost a month, and no one will tell me how much longer," I say as he releases me, breaking the hug. I sit back on my bed against the hand rail and hold Max to hide my bare chest and bedsheet covered crotch.

I use the bedsheets to wipe my eyes, and Michael gives me the tissue box. "If it makes you feel better, we can play our game again tonight after lights out."

I hold the sheets a little closer to my face and shake my head no, "No, I'm kind of tired and just want to go home."

"From what I hear, you're doing really well, and I wouldn't be surprised if you go home soon," he answers as he checks my IV.

"But when?" I ask as I blow my nose.

"Oh, little buddy, I don't know. But hey, what do you say you hang with me tonight for a few hours," Michael says, and he goes to the dresser in my hospital room. This sounds innocent enough and it'll get me out of this room, so I will admit, I get a little excited.

"What, like seeing the other kids?"

He gets out a pair of pajamas and hands them to me. "I can't let you roam around the children's floor in your underwear." He takes my IV bag and hooks it on the rod above the wheelchair. "Well, you can't come if you don't hurry and get dressed," and I scamper around putting my pj's on.

I push my way off my bed with Max in hand. Michael picks me up and sets me in the chair. "Man, I can't wait to leave this room," I tell him as he looks me over.

Michael gives me a little laugh and asks, "Where did you learn to dress yourself. You can't pick up chicks dressed like that," and he fixes my crooked buttons. "Just look at your pants, geesh." He takes a hold of my pants. My heart almost stops and I grip the wheelchair arm rest and hold my eyes shut, expecting this to be a trick. He waits for a few seconds, then gives my pants a jerk, turning them a little, so they're on straight. I have to admit, it does feel a little less tight on my balls. "There, you look like a million bucks in your little baseball pajamas."

We head out of the room and down the hall. Our first stop is the kitchen, and we get a silver cart that has my floor's snacks in it. I got to meet the kitchen people and take a tour of the kitchen, very cool. Once we get out of the elevator, he stops us and kneels down next to me.

"Hey little man, I need to make sure you're ready for this. You're going to meet the other kids on this floor, and I know you're sick, but these other kids really have it rough. Some of these kids will never be allowed to leave."

He lets me think it over, and I say, "Well, I don't want to bother them, so maybe I should..."

He quickly interrupts me and responds, "You won't be bothering them. You'll be the only visitor they've had all week. They're going to love you, but it wouldn't be right to not tell you about them before I take you into the rooms." He gets up and begins to push me towards a room next to mine. "In this room are Jacob and John, and they are twin, eight-year-old boys. They both have lymphoma cancer and isn't doing well. Our job tonight is to lift their spirits. So, I'm going to do chores and you are going to be cute and funny, two things I know you're good at."

Michael opens the door to the blaring sound of cartoons, and inside the room there are two boys about my size playing with Legos on a big rug on the floor. They are both hooked up to IVs and in cute little underwear. One kid has the Hulk and the other has Spiderman. They hear the door open and when they see Michael, the one in Hulk briefs, hides behind the one wearing Spider-Man.

"Hey you two!" Michael cheerfully greets them, "Look what I brought you. What do you want from the snack cart tonight?"

"Snacks!" They both yelled at the same time and ran to me. The one in Hulk underwear stays back a little while the other one runs right up to me. He begins to dig through the bag of chips, cookies, candy, milk, and juice.

"Hi, I'm John and this is Jacob," he said and then motions back to his brother who hasn't taken his eyes off Micheal. He walks over to Jacob and gives him a milk and cookies and begins to dig through the snacks for himself. "He's real shy even though I tell him we don't have time for that."

I shyly say, "I'm shy also, my boyfriend is always trying to make me more talkative."

John comes over to me and asks, "You have a boyfriend? Does that mean you're gay?" He said as his eyes bore into me. They make me feel very uncomfortable.

"You know what? AJ here works all day in his room putting together huge Lego sets," then he picks me up and sets me down on the rug next to the Legos.

"Really, how big is your biggest one?" asks John, completely forgetting his previous question. He took a seat next to me. Jacob hangs back a little and just watches Micheal intently.

"5,639 pieces. It's of an Italian stadium."

"Wow, that's big. How long did it take you to build?"

"A few days. My dad is an architect, and I think I got my building skills from him. What are you guys building?" I ask while Jacob sits next to me and the three of us talk and build. I didn't even realize Michael had left with the snack cart, but he had left me a juice and some red licorice candy in my wheelchair.

A while passes, and Jacob has long since fallen asleep with his thumb in his mouth. Me and John finish the work on what we're building. I yawn and can feel my head bob up and down as I try and focus myself. With John's help, I got back into my wheelchair about the time Michael got back. We watch him walk over and pick Jacob up off the floor and pull his covers back before he lays him in bed like he's done it a thousand times.

John begins yawning, and Michael walks over and scoops him up. John just lays his head on Michael's shoulder as they walk to his bed. I watched from my chair, trying to keep my eyes from closing. Michael begins taking blood pressure readings from each boy along with their temperature. He slips the thermometer right up each boy's butt and they show a little discomfort, but soon are asleep again. He removes it, covers them up, and takes my chair, wheeling me back to my room.

Back in my room, he asks me if I had fun, "Yeah they're great guys." I let out a big yawn. Michael picks me up and transfers me to my bed. He starts to take off my pajamas, and I hurry to do it before he gets to me. Soon my IV is back where it belongs and my blood pressure is taken. He holds up the thermometer and smiles at me. "Are you going to put that up my butt too?" I asked with worry on my face.

"I do it every night, but tonight you're awake," he says, as a matter of fact. I roll over on my stomach and wait for the entry. He pulls my underwear down and I close my eyes as tightly as I can. His hand is warm when he lays it gently on my butt. He moves it around in a circle as a tear falls onto Max's fur. His fingers spread my butt cheeks apart just a little, then a long, thick object slips in and my body sucks in a lot of air. "AJ, are you okay?" He asks me with a fake concern tone, even though I hear him.

"Yes sir," I whimper as his finger begins to pull out my butt.

"You know, it's too bad you're too tired for our game tonight," he whispers, then jams his finger back in as far as he can. I scream in Max as tears pour down my cheeks.

When his finger is pulled out, he pushes the thermometer in quickly and out of my butt with one quick motion. Then he pats my butt as if everything is okay between us. He doesn't even pull up my Superman briefs. I turn back around, pull up my underwear, pull my bedsheets up to my face, while I watch him clean the thermometer. I give him a sour look and he sticks his finger in his mouth, sucking it clean. I'm not sure why, but I found it disgusting even though I've had Zack's tongue up there before and I found it arousing.

"What's with that look? Your cock had fun," he points out to me. Looking down the bed at the obvious tent coming from my crotch, I turn red with embarrassment.

I pull the teddy bear down to cover my stiffy. "I didn't have fun!" I said it a little forcefully before I knew it. I was angry. I said I didn't want to play games tonight! I regret playing the first one!

Michael comes back over to me. "Do you think that matters?" He grabs the blankets tightly in his hands and then tucks them around me so I can't move and barely breathe. "Good night, AJ. I'm glad you had fun, if you want to admit it or not," then he takes off my glasses and yanks my hearing aid off, hurting my ear.

I struggle to get Maxwell pulled up to my chest as Michael leaves the room. My fingers glide over the seventeen beads that Zack sewed into the teddy bear's chest just for me. I count them, move one, then count them again. I repeat this over and over until I fall asleep on a tear dampened pillow.

Twins

I wake up in Uncle Jack's arms as he climbs the stairs to the third floor. He lays me in what has become AJ's and my bed. He covers me up and begins to sneak away. I felt a little braver after asking Mrs. Docker if I could call her mom, so I took the leap and said softly, "Good night, dad."

Uncle Jack stops before he leaves the room and just stands there. I just lay there and began to freak out a little when I heard, "Good night son, sleep tight."

I smile and release the air I had been holding on to for the last minute or so. A single tear falls down my cheek and I feel the sandman come for me for the second time this night.

I slept really well last night, and by really well, I mean I didn't wake up screaming. My dream still scares the shit out of me. I sit up in bed and notice my chest is shaking. I take a few deep breaths and get out of bed. I realized Uncle Jack must have taken my clothes off last night as I scratched my balls inside my boxers. I take out my hand and smell it, "Whoa, I need a shower after breakfast." I take clean boxers out of the dresser and toss them on the bed. I remove my filthy boxers and examine my body in the full-length mirror. I look real close I can see I'm starting to get hair under my arms and I think my hair above my dick is getting fuller.

"Zack, honey, get up and come get breakfast," yells mom and I hurry to put on my clean boxers and my shirt. I grab clean shorts and hurry down the stairs. As much as a kid with a cast on his leg can,

"I'm up!" I yelled down to the first floor.

From behind me, Mom says, "You don't have to yell."

I spin around and I see her eyes move down to my morning wood as it pokes out my boxers and I turn shades of red. My hands go to cover my stiff dick and I admit, "Ummm, sorry. I didn't know you were there."

She smiles and finishes folding a bath towel, saying, "Hurry, before you pee your boxers."

I nod and slip into the bathroom, placing my shorts on the vanity, and opening the toilet as I fish my dick out and pee. "Aaawweee, that feels so much better," I tell myself. I give it a wiggle and then give it the proper shake, then put it back in. I slip my shorts on and brush my teeth. I sigh and wonder why I brush my teeth, AJ isn't here to kiss. I wish he would come home.

Clumping down the stairs, I take them one at a time and mom comes up behind me. At least I hear her this time. "Morning honey, sorry for scaring you."

"It's okay mom, I was just lost in my thoughts."

"Missing AJ? We'll go see him today. How about it?"

Getting to the bottom, I step aside and ask, "Can we?"

Mom smiles at me and gives me a nod and says, while messing up my bedhead, "Of course we can, but first, how about you have some eggs." She walks around me and heads to the kitchen. I get to the bar and my crutches are there leaning against it. I pull myself up onto AJ's bar stool, cross my arms on the bar, and rest my head on them while I watch mom make my omelette.

She looks over her shoulder and smiles, "Are you going to tell me what's bothering you or am I to guess?"

"Have you talked to Uncle Jack today?"

"Sure this morning over coffee, why?"

I sigh and think about it before I tell mom, "I called him dad last night when he put me to bed. Do you think he's mad at me?" I find my fingers sliding down the notches and I start counting.

"Honey, he was fine last night and this morning. Your uncle is a strong man, but you calling him dad will make him cry every time."

"I don't want to make him cry," I tell her as she places my eggs on my plate.

"His tears are from loving you boys so much. I think he wants you to call him dad. If he doesn't want you to call him dad, he'll say something," she says as she places my eggs in front of me with a bagel and a glass of orange juice.

I poke at it for a few minutes with my fork while she watches me for a minute and then combs my hair with her fingers. I lean into her hand and she hugs me.

Suddenly uncle jack walks in and grabs his coffee thermos from the countertop. "I forgot this," he cheerfully says, and turns to leave.

Mom says, "You two need to talk," and then leans over and kisses Jack on the cheek. She hurries out of the kitchen, leaving us both looking a little uncomfortable.

"Ummm is there something you want to talk about?" Uncle Jack asks while he closes the door.

I fiddle with my eggs a little and say, "Ummm last night.... when I ummm... called you dad?" I looked up at him with worry across my face, "Was that ummm... okay?"

Jack sighs and puts his coffee thermos back on the counter. He comes over to me and I slide off the bar stool so I can stand for my spanking or whatever yelling he plans on giving. But he embraces me. The hug lasts a while, and I wiggle my arms free and return his hug. "I've been waiting seven years for one of you to ask that question. I've always treated you two as if you were my own sons, and the only piece I felt I couldn't earn was you boys calling me dad."

My tears begin to fall and my voice cracks when I explain, "We didn't want to remind you of our dad because it made you sad, so we have been avoiding it and tried hard not to bring up old memories."

Dad kneels down to look me in the eye and wipes my tears away. "Every time I look into either of your eyes I see my brother. I wouldn't have it any other way. He lives on through my looks for you boys, and you boys for me. If he was able to talk to us he would tell you to call me dad. He would tell me to love you with all my heart and I do." He wraps me up in one of his strong hugs and then stands up, messes up my hair. He grabs his coffee thermos and heads out the door, but not before giving me one last smile.

Gateway Academy, Montana

My dream is interrupted by a noise. I know what it is, but my mind drifts in and out of my dream. Suddenly, a pillow flys across the room and crashes on my head. "Okay! Okay!" I yell to the other three boys in my room, and they respond, "shhhhhh."

I work myself over to the desk and pick up my phone. It says 11 p.m. `Damn, I've only been asleep for an hour.' "Shit! Who is this?" I snapped at the fool calling me at 11p.m.

"Sorry sir."

"Yes sir, I still want to come home for fall break."

"Conditions? Yes sir, I'll do anything."

I set the cell phone on the desk. From across the room, the senior in the room is sitting up in his bed. "Your punishment will come tomorrow morning, eighth year."

`It'll be worth it, I'm coming home, AJ. Cya-ya soon.'


End of Counting - Chapter 12 - Tux


These stories have inspired my work:

The Boys of East Harbor - Michael Gay: Young Friends https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/young-friends/the-boys-of-east-harbor-michael/
Transitions Daily Life Gay: Adult/Youth https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/transitions-daily-life/
TransitionsGay: Adult/Youth https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gayadult-youth/transitions/
Andrew's Misplaced TrustGay: Adult/Youthhttps://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/andrews-misplaced-trust/

Andrew's Nifty Author Page: https://www.nifty.org/nifty/authors.html#andrewthomas
Eric's Nifty Author Page: https://www.nifty.org/nifty/authors.html##ericmurphey