Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:18:14 -0700 From: Liquid Dream Subject: Forever Together/ Chapter 1 Disclaimer: The characters of this story are completely fictional. The setting has some small truth, but that is all. Forever Together Chapter 1- Old Scars Still Hurt It had been a year and a half since Heath Simmons died, leaving his old boyfriend Nick Huppe alone. Nick was now 16 and he could still remember the exact moment when Heath left him. It was as vivid in his mind now as it was minutes after it happened: Flashback: He sat next to Heath in the hospital room as he lay, hooked up to a life-support system. "Why did you have to get mixed up in that fight, Heath?" Nick asked out loud, knowing perfectly well that Heath could not hear him. Heath had gotten into a fight with a gang that was terrorizing Nick for being gay. Nick had begged him not to, but Heath wouldn't stand for it. Heath had put up a good fight for a while, but the gang fought dirty as hell, they out numbered him by 4 and had all picked up pipes. By the end of 10 minutes Heath lay unconscious and bloody on the ground and the gang members had fled. Nick had tried to stop them, but one quick knock in the back of the head knocked him out too, but they did not beat him like they had to Heath. When Nick awoke there was a crowd around the two of them and the ambulance was putting them into stretchers to be taken to the hospital. In less than five minutes they were in the E.R. It was then when Nick noticed that Heath wasn't awake yet. He tried to ask the doctors what was wrong with him, but they had to keep him calm. They gave him some anesthesia gas and Nick fell into sleep once again. Again he awoke, but this time there were no doctors, but his family was there. They were all crying. He looked to his left and saw Heath lying still in his bed. His family noticed that he was awake and they all went to hug him and cry some more. He tried to make them stop and ask how Heath was doing, but it was in vain. After some time they stopped and he realized that Heath's parents were there too, but they were beyond tears. "How is Heath?" Nick asked frantically. Everyone nervously eyed each other as if they were deliberating on telling him. "Nick...," his father began, "There have been some difficulties with Heath. He was beaten very badly and he sustained a lot of head trauma. He has been in a coma. And... they're not sure if he's ever going to wake up," his father struggled to say. At these words, Heath's parents began to cry and rock back in forth of each other's arms. Nick's mother went to comfort them. "Wh--What?" Nick asked in disbelief, "no, it can't be. It can't!" He began to yell as tears started to streak down his face. His father sat and hugged his son. "I know, Nick, it's a very hard fact to accept, but there is still a chance," his father said hopefully. Nick didn't want to talk any more, he huddled into a ball and cried. His parents tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. They decided it was best to leave him to rest. Nick cried for an hour before he fell asleep again. When he awoke the room was still empty. He decided it was time for him to face what had happened to Heath. Slowly he stood up and walked to Heath's bedside. The bruised and battered face of his loved one brought yet more tears to his eyes. "Why did you have to get mixed up in that fight, Heath?" he asked again. He sat next to his boyfriend's bed for hours, watching as the doctors and nurses walked in and out monitoring Heath's statistics. His parents had visited a few times that day, but every time they did, Nick asked them to leave him with Heath. A week passed and Heath still showed no sign of waking up. By the second week Nick hardly slept, he just sat next to Heath rocking back and forth begging him to wake up. A month had passed and Heath's parents made a painful decision, they were going to pull the plug on Heath's life support. As Mister and Misses Simmons walked into the doctor's office to tell him what they had decided on, Mrs. Simmons collapsed at the doorway and began to wail in pure agony. Her father didn't look so good himself, it looked as though he had slept even less than Nick in making this decision. Nick did not hear about the decision until the day of the procedure, when his parents came in to gently break the news to him. "Nick, son, I have something I have to tell you," his father began, "It's been a month and the doctors don't see a recovery coming for Heath. His parents have decided to... to let him pass on," his father said searching for the gentlest words possible. Nick looked at his father with his tired, shadowed eyes and for the first time he actually realized he would never see Heath alive again. His heart felt as though it had been put through a paper shredder. He was worlds away from crying. A single tear fell from his eye and he laid down and looked at the ceiling with blank eyes. "Dad, can I have some time alone, please?" Nick asked in a harsh voice that he had developed from lack of rest. "Sure son, no problem," his father replied as he gently smiled. Mr. Huppe walked out of the room. Nick stood up and walked over to Heath. "It should have been me. They were hassling me, not you. Oh God! Why didn't they kill me instead!?" Nick wailed as he embraced the unconscious body of his lover. Hearing the cries, the doctors and parents re-entered the room. "Nick you are going to have to calm down," his doctor said. "Calm down? You are going to kill my boyfriend!" Nick yelled. The room went silent. Both sets of parents knew about their sons' relationships, but the doctor had no idea. "Oh, I see. Nick, I know this is very hard for you, but you have to understand, this is the best thing for Heath," the doctor said in a soothing voice. "How? How can dieing be the best thing for him?" Nick spat back. "Try not to be so angry Nick. None of us can even comprehend what Heath is going through right now. Imagine being trapped in a nightmare and not knowing what is real or fantasy," the doctor explained. Nick looked away from the doctor and sat on his bed. He couldn't stand the fact that Heath was suffering more. But he still didn't know if he could let him go. Either way it was going to happen, it was not his choice. "Nick, we have decided to do this today, we have to give his parents some time with him alone, can you come with me for about an hour? I promise you can have some private time with him afterwards," the doctor said. Very hesitantly, he agreed. He had to let Heath's parents have some time to say good bye. He got up slowly and gave a hug to both Heath's parents. Then, he followed the doctor out of the room. TBC... Hi everyone, this is Liquid Dream again. You may remember me from the "Brian and Steve" series in the athletics and young friends sections. I want to thank all of the people who supported me throughout that series and I hope you guys enjoy this one too. As always, e-mail your questions, comments, suggestions, etc. to hot_n_sexy1290@hotmail.com ;) Liquid Dream ;)