Briarwood

All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language, please exit now.

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"BRIARWOOD"

Copyright Ritchris, 2006

A dramatic saga

by

Ritch Christopher

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BOOK NINE

"A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH"

Chapter Ninety-nine

"When all is said and done, you happen to be

The best thing ever that's happened to me."

Stephen Sondheim

from "Bounce"

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The telephone awakened Valerie Danforth. When Will was in Iraq, she never bothered to answer the phone for fear it would be bad news from the Defense Department, but since Will hadn't yet come home from Father Chris' house, she felt for sure that it must be he who was calling.

"Hello?" Valerie answered, still groggy from the sleeping pill she had taken at ten o'clock.

"Hello. Is Will Danforth there?" asked a voice with urgency.

"No, I'm sorry, he hasn't returned for the evening."

"Are you his mother?"

"Yes, I am...and whom are you, if I might inquire?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Danforth, I apologize if I woke you, but my name is Forrest Kidman. I served in Iraq with Will."

"Oh, yes! I DO recall your name."

"Mrs. Danforth, is there ANY way I can get in touch with Will? It's a matter of life or death."

"Oh, heavens! I hope you're not in trouble, Forrest!"

"No, ma'am, but one of Will's and my buddies is."

"Forrest, if it's a matter of life or death, I'm certain Will won't mind my giving you the telephone number where he can be reached."

"I would appreciate that very much, Mrs. Danforth!"

"He went to our acting priest's home for dinner and I suppose he's still there talking." Valerie gave Forrest Chris' telephone number and Forrest jotted it down very quickly. "Forrest, if he's not there, then he must be on his way home. Try there first and if he isn't there, call me back in fifteen or twenty minutes."

"I certainly will...and thanks, Mrs. Danforth!"

"You're quite welcome. I just hope that Will can help whomever's life is in danger."

Forrest disconnected his cell phone without even saying goodbye to Valerie. He dialed Chris number immediately.

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After the last bout of sex, Chris and Will had dozed off to sleep in a spoon position. Chris was cradling Will in his arms. His penis was still tautly embedded in Will's back orifice. Both of them had had a wonderful evening together, but all night long, Chris kept wondering if they were doing the right thing and where their 'coupling' might lead.

Chris reached for his telephone on the bedside table when Forrest called. Chris and Cliff were both used to getting parishioner calls at all hours of the night and day. On the first ring, Chris cringed, wondering what member of St. Genesius was in trouble and if it would require his personal attention. He lost his erection and popped out of Will's body when he answered.

"Hello?" Chris answered.

"Excuse me, sir, for calling so late, but I'm trying to find Will Danforth. His mother said he might be reached at this number."

"May I inquire whom is calling?"

"I'm sorry. I'm Forrest Kidman. I was in Iraq with Will."

"In that case, I'll call him to the phone," Chris replied, putting the call on hold while he awakened Will. Chris put his hand on Will's shoulder and gave him a little shove on his upper arm. "Will? Will?"

"Don't try to wake me, sweetheart. I've just died and gone to heaven," Will replied, not opening his eyes.

"Will, it's the telephone. You have a call..."

"Kiss me first, my new love..."

"I will AFTER you've taken your call..."

"Fuck! What does my mother want now?"

"It's not your mother, baby, it's a guy who served with you overseas. He said his name was Forrest Kidman."

"FORREST? Calling me here?"

"That's what he said."

"WHAT THE HELL?" Will sat straight up in the bed and Chris passed the telephone to him. "Hello?"

"WILL?"

"FORREST?"

"It's me, buddy!"

"What? I mean, how did you know to reach me here?"

"Did I awake you?"

"Yeah, I just dozed off to take a little nap."

"I know it's late, but, I didn't know who else to call!"

"What's wrong, pal, your voice is trembling."

"Will, it's about Barry..."

"BARRY? Barry Winston?"

"Yeah!"

"What happened to him? I...I didn't know...Hey, are you calling me stateside or from overseas?"

"Stateside."

"What about Barry? Is he back home, too?"

"Yes."

"Well, why in hell didn't you let me know? I thought I'd left you on the outskirts of Baghdad."

"Barry and I were discharged and sent home."

"You weren't injured were you?"

"Physically, no."

"Don't tell me that the two of you were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome?"

"No, buddy, Barry and I got KICKED out!"

"Shit! Don't tell me that you two got caught torturing Shiite prisoners?"

"I...I wish it were that simple, Will."

"Then, don't keep me in suspense. What the hell happened? Where are you and where's Barry?"

"I'm in Richmond and Barry is in jail."

"In jail? What the fuck for?"

"Brace yourself, but Barry shot his wife and three kids."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, he killed his whole fucking family. The kids were three, four, and six years old!"

"Jesus Christ! And I thought 'I' had mental problems. What did he do? Just snap?"

"Will, it's a long story...one you probably wouldn't believe."

"Try me...if you want me to help you."

"Well, all the time we were serving together in Iraq, Barry and I got REAL close...closer than close."

"You and Barry had a 'thing' going?"

"Don't be shocked. I...I could hardly believe it myself. We were both lonely and scared and well, Barry and I...sorta fell in love."

"HOLY SHIT, FORREST!"

"Now don't look down on us. I mean my parents always taught me not to criticize anyone unless I had taken a walk in his shoes."

"What size do you wear?"

"What?"

"WHAT size shoe do you wear?"

"Ten D."

"I've been there and I've worn your shoes."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean if I didn't know about you and Barry, then it's obvious you didn't know about me and Rick!"

"You gotta be kidding."

"Like I said, been there...done that?"

"Jesus H. Christ. I would never have suspected..."

"Tell me more about Barry."

"Well, since I don't have to watch what I say to you...Barry and I were caught in the latrine outside camp in Baghdad."

"Doing what?"

"He was giving me a blowjob when Lieutenant Salters came in and caught us."

"THAT fucking asshole. I'm surprised he didn't stand in line and wait for his turn."

"Any rate, to make a long story short...we were both given less than honorable discharges and they sent us back home to the states."

"Christ! I still don't understand why you didn't call me, Forrest."

"That's not the kind of thing you call up one of your best straight friends, so to speak, and blab. Hey, Will, Barry and I got caught giving blowjobs in the latrine and we're back home because of it. I mean if you hadn't just told me about yourself and Rick...God, you must have died inside when he got it."

"Rick's death DID send me over the edge...but luckily, we were never caught by anyone."

"Well, when Barry and I got home, we swore NOT to tell a soul. We said we'd tell everyone that we had PSST and got discharged. Barry and I were NOT going to see each other for awhile until we thought it was safe to meet again."

"...and?"

"When Barry got to his house, Patricia was MORE than glad to see him. She had her husband back and the kids had their dad back home from the war."

"Then what happened?"

"Apparently, Patricia wanted Barry to take her to bed immediately and I found out later that he couldn't get it up with her any more. Then, she got very angry and accused him of fucking a female soldier or an Iraqi woman. They fought like cats and dogs about it every day. Finally, when Barry had had enough of her banter and chiding, he let it slip that he'd been involved with me...sexually."

"Oh, shit!"

"She said she was going to call his parents and tell them that the U.S. Army had turned their son into a queer. You know, Barry's dad was a colonel in Vietnam and he lived by the army manual. So to keep her from making that call, he...he picked up a rifle and shot her and their three kids. Then, he called me to tell me what had happened before he called the police to confess his actions."

"God damn, Forrest! I'm so fucking sorry!"

"I was wondering...since your family is rather aristocratic, if you'd have the name of a good lawyer to come to Barry's defense?"

"I'm sure my mother knows dozens at the country club."

"Do you think you could talk to one of them and get back in touch with me? I have all my back pay in one lump sum, so I can pay a hefty price to a good lawyer."

"What jail is Barry in?"

"Richmond."

"Where can I reach you?"

"I'll give you my cell number. I keep it on my person all the time, so you can call me day or night!"

"Forrest, I'll see what I can do."

"You're at your priest's house, aren't you?"

"Did my mother tell you that?"

"Yeah. Maybe he has some lawyers in his congregation."

"I'll ask him."

"I'd appreciate it, buddy."

"How are YOU, Forrest?"

"Fine, except for all this shit Barry's going through. You see, my folks are dead and I had no one to answer my shame to..."

"Forrest, what you and Barry did in Iraq was not shameful. Love is love...no matter where or from whom we get it or give it to."

"You know, Will, I feel so much better just TALKING to you. It's like you're the only friendly voice I've heard since I got back."

"Maybe you can come to Briarwood and visit me for a few days. Clear your head out and get your thoughts straight."

"I might just do that."

"I'd love to see you, Forrest!"

"Same here...oh, here's my cell number..." Forrest gave Will the number and Will memorized it.

"Forrest, call me if you need me, but I'll call you first about the lawyer."

"Are you going to be home?"

"Either there or here where you reached me, just now."

"You...you're living with the priest?"

"It looks like I might..."

"Uh oh. Is there a new romance in your future?"

"God, I certainly hope so, Forrest."

"DAMN! I hope I didn't disturb you when I called. I mean you two weren't doing the dirty deed, were you?"

"For the past four hours..."

"Holy crap! I'm REALLY sorry, now, dude!"

"Hell no! I'm glad you called. I'll call you back tomorrow."

"Thanks, Will..."

"Don't mention it, buddy!"

They hung up. Will sat in the bed looking stunned. Chris couldn't help but notice that the telephone call had upset Will.

"Hey, little guy, are you all right?"

"Chris, do you know a good lawyer?"

"I know the best! His name is Walter Clayton. Why?"

"Would you go make us some coffee? Boy, do I have a story to tell you!"

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As the crow flies, the nearest hospital from the Four Seasons Restaurant on East 52nd Street would probably be Lennox Hill Hospital on East 77th Street. In most states, unless a patient requests a specific hospital, the law states that an EMS unit MUST take him to the one closest in case of emergency. However, for some unknown reason, the paramedics took Hunter to St. Abraham the Poor's Hospital west of Hell's Kitchen.

Since Roger nor any of his group were that familiar with Manhattan medical facilities, they were unaware where Hunter was being transported. However, Roger's limousine followed closely behind the siren of the ambulance. When both vehicles stopped, Roger looked out of the window at what appeared to be a hospital...old, dark, dirty, with part of the neon sign which read, 'HO P AL'...the 'S','I', and 'T' were burnt out.

Not believing what he was seeing, Roger exclaimed, "JESUS CHRIST ON A BUNGEE CORD!" He reached for the phone and buzzed his chauffeur.

"Yes sir?" Wilson answered.

"Wilson! Did you see a street sign that said we had entered Transylvania?"

"SIR?"

"Never mind!" Roger hung up the receiver. "Cliff! Would you take a look at this place? I wouldn't bring a dead frog here to be dissected!"

"Roger, calm down!" Cliff replied. "The hospital might look a little old but they might have a very good staff working here. There must have been some reason the ambulance drove Hunter here..."

"Probably to bite his neck and drink his blood!" Roger retorted.

"Roger, not all hospitals have the budget or the facilities that Cole Institute has."

"I hope they give us surgical masks before we enter? Only God knows what airborne germs are buzzing around inside!"

The paramedics opened the back of the ambulance and took Hunter out on a stretcher and then switched him to a gurney once they were inside with him. However, inside the 'limo', Roger was still ranting and raving. He asked Cliff and Lee to accompany him inside the hospital and for Billy, Marc, Rob, and Tim to remain in the car for fear they might contract some disease should they go with him.

The receiving area of the emergency room was almost as dirty looking as the outside. It was dimly lit and the hospital registrar was using an old-fashioned Smith-Corona typewriter instead of a computer. Roger was still aghast at what he was seeing.

"I'll bet they have a HUGE morgue here?" Roger said to Cliff. "I wonder if anyone is ever discharged while they are alive?"

"Roger, please, don't talk so loud. You know of the hospital budget cuts that were made in Washington last year..."

"I'd love to see old Dubya bring Mama Barbara in here to have her toenails cut! She'd be dead in half an hour!"

"ROGER! SSSH!!!"

"Go ahead and say it, Cliff, 'ROGER SHIT!'!:

"Roger, please let me do the talking," Cliff said, calmly. "Why don't you go outside and bay at the moon!"

"TOO LATE! The werewolves all work here!"

"Then, please, take a seat!"

"What? And get diphtheria on my trousers?"

Lee was so concerned about Hunter, he hadn't heard a word of Cliff and Roger's bantering. Lee had a very worried and concerned look on his face. Hunter showed no signs of being sick or ill all day yesterday or today. What could have made him faint at the restaurant?

Finally, Cliff, casually, pushed Roger aside and spoke to the registrar...a very plump lady of fifty-five or sixty. She was wearing MUCH too much makeup, with bleached hair which looked as if she had piled it in a beehive earlier, but it had fallen since.

"Excuse me, Miss," Cliff said. "We're here with the last patient that was just brought in."

"Are you members of his family?" She asked in a very Brooklynese accent.

"No, but we are very close friends. He doesn't have any family which lives in New York."

"Then will you be able to give me some info about him?"

"This young man can," Cliff replied, pulling Lee forward to be with him at the receiving counter.

"I suppose we can start by your giving me his name."

"It's Hunter Miller Morgan..."

"Three last names, huh?"

"What?" Lee was momentarily, confused. "...Oh, yeah...three last names."

"His address? Lee gave her the address. "Oh, fancy-schmancy, upper east side. Must be rich to live there AND have three last names."

"Does he have any insurance?"

"I...I don't know...but I'm sure whatever it costs, he'll pay in cash or credit card."

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know, ma'am. That's why we brought him to the hospital."

"This sounds fishy to me. Why would a rich guy come to this hospital unless he was broke or had no credit. We get mostly charity cases here."

"This is where the paramedics brought him. We didn't know where they were taking him until we got here."

"It still sounds fishy to me."

Roger, by now, had lost ALL patience and came to the window. "MISS, you DO have doctors that work here?"

"What a snide remark!" She retorted. "And just WHO are you?"

"Miss! Have you ever heard of the Cole Institute of Medicine in Briarwood?"

"Nope! Sorry!" She replied while she kept typing Hunter's admission papers.

"Oh, dear Lord! You didn't answer me!"

"What did you ask?"

"I...I ASKED IF YOU HAD DOCTORS ON STAFF HERE?"

"Of course we do! This is a hospital, MISTER? Where did you think you are?"

"I'm beginning to believe I've led a very sinful life and I've been sent to hell. Tell me, when do I get my pitchfork issued?"

"Sir, are you on some kind of drugs or are you inebriated?"

Roger cried, "ARRGH!" in disgust and turned away. He was just about to charge back toward the window when a young doctor entered through the swinging emergency room doors.

"Pardon me, but is one of you a member of this man's family?"

Before Cliff OR Roger could speak, Lee stepped forward and answered, "YES SIR! I AM HIS BROTHER!"

The registrar gave Roger a dirty look and said, "I thought you said none of you were related to the patient."

Cliff replied, lying, "WELL, WE ARE...or at least, HE is. Lee is Hunter's brother!"

"Then would you come with me, sir?" The doctor said to Lee.

Lee started toward the doors and Roger stopped him long enough to say, "Son, don't touch ANYTHING back there. We might have to send you home to the Institute to find a cure!"

Lee followed the young doctor to the first curtained cubicle where he saw Hunter lying on an examination table. Hunter was awake and alert. "Hey, buddy!" Hunter said when he saw Lee.

"Hey, there, yourself!" Lee replied. "How're you feeling?"

"Okay as soon as I can find something to wash the red off my body...red from embarrassment from the way I made a fool of myself at dinner."

"Heck, man! You passed out. That's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Yeah, but I passed out in front of EVERYONE...including Tim and Rob, whom I was trying to make a big impression before my audition tomorrow."

"You're still going?"

"I HAVE to, Lee. It's my one big chance."

"What if you're not well enough to go?"

"I will! I'll be all right. I just forgot to take my medication this morning before we went sight-seeing all day."

"I didn't know you were on any medication?"

"I have been for about three years..."

"You're sick?"

"Only IF I don't take my meds."

"What kind of sick?"

"Oh, I have this little chronic virus that doesn't want to go away."

"You've had a virus for three years? Damn! Why didn't your doctor put you on a different antibiotic? That's one thing I learned at the Cole Institute. Lots of times, a person can become immune to one antibiotic and the doctor has to change the prescription for one that fights the infection or virus."

"Lee, during the past three years, I've changed doctors and medication over a dozen times!"

"Yeah, but...doesn't your virus have a name? I could ask Roger to call Cole Institute to see what it can prescribe for it."

"Lee?"

"Yes?"

"Please, take my hand."

"Sure," Lee said, walking toward the table and taking Hunter's right hand in his. Hunter squeezed Lee's hand.

"I...I...Lee, for three days, I've wanted to tell you this, but I was afraid I'd lose you. You see, I wasn't lying when I said I was falling for you...I am."

"What is it that you wanted to tell me, Hunter?"

"I've got it, Lee."

"Got what?"

"IT!"

"IT, WHAT?"

"HIV. I'm HIV positive!"

"Heck! Is that all?"

"Look, I know you had it and yours turned into AIDS and you were cured at Cole Institute. I'm sure you know how desperate I feel..."

"But what if you have the same strain that I had? Cole can cure that one."

"Yes, and what if I DON'T? As much as I think I love you and as much as I pray that you might love me, it...it isn't fair to make you fight the virus again as you once did. I mean, you just lost your brother and left Briarwood, trying to find something peaceful and meaningful in your life."

"In the past two days, Hunter, you've bought me the moon and showed me the universe. Why can't I give you something back?"

"I...I kinda tricked you by saying that I wanted you to live with me as a companion. I didn't want to be alone. There have been a lot of meaningless one-night stands in my life with lots of forgetful faces. When we shared that first snack together in Briarwood, I knew I'd never met anyone like you...honest, sincere, dedicated, humorous...loving. I think even then I was beginning to fall in love with you. BUT, I knew I could never stand a chance of having you for a lover...my virus, for one thing, and secondly, I didn't know what I could offer you in a way to make you fall in love with me. Hell, with this goddamned virus, you don't know from one day to the next if you t-cells are going through the roof...go into full-blown AIDS and die. I couldn't ask you to be with me IF I died...especially after you told me that you'd lost Jake just a few weeks ago."

"Why didn't you tell me EVERYTHING and let ME decide?"

"Switch places with me and figure that one out for yourself."

"I've BEEN where you are. I was scared shitless that I would leave Jake. I didn't want him to be around to watch ME die. Instead, look what happened..."

"Lee, I would never want to take Jake's place in your life, but if you could just be my friend. That would be enough..."

"It might not be enough for me, Hunter."

"I know...and I'm sorry."

"You didn't let me finish, Mr. Rich Britches! It might not be enough for me if you knew that I've fallen for you, as well. I couldn't say anything about the way I felt. I ran away from my feelings and became very belligerent towards you."

"I wondered why were such an asshole last night...and then, a cockteaser in the shower earlier tonight. WHOA! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?"

"If you'd shut up and listen, you'd know that I said, I've fallen for you..."

"IN LOVE?"

"No, silly, down the subway entrance. OF COURSE, IN LOVE, YOU NITWIT!"

"My God! Now I don't know WHAT to do. In the past forty-eight hours EVERYTHING in life that I EVER wanted is in hand's reach...and this goddamned VIRUS is standing in my way!"

"Let me see what I can do to make all your dreams come true! You said you've been pretty stable on your meds WHEN you take 'em?"

"Yeah..."

"From now on, 'I'm' monitoring your medications to see that you don't miss a single pill. In the meanwhile, I'll ask Roger to send some of your blood to Cole Institute to see what THEY can do with your HIV strain."

"I..."

"SHUT UP! Now, if you feel well enough BY TAKING YOUR MEDS, to go to Tim's audition tomorrow, then go!"

"What if I get the part? I'm scared to death I might get sick and not be able to do the show."

"Hunter, IF you get the part of Sammy, Roger Cole will do everything in his power to protect his investment. You know that he's putting up all the money for Tim's show."

"What will Roger or Tim say when they find out about my virus?"

"Not a damned thing. Roger has seen more cases of HIV and AIDS than anyone in the world and it doesn't faze him at all because he knows of the thousands that have been cured at his Institute!"

"I don't know what to say..."

"GOOD! Then don't say it..."

"Lee?"

"Yes?"

"That part about your falling for me...?"

"What about it?"

"Shouldn't we kiss or something...or are you too afraid now that you know that I'm carrying the virus?"

"It didn't stop us on top of the Empire State Building OR in the shower. Hell, I'm not afraid of HIV OR AIDS. You want a kiss?"

"More than anything in the world!"

"Then, pucker up!"

"WHAT?"

"Oh, I'll have to shut you up!" Lee leaned forward and kissed Hunter passionately for a very long time. When the kiss was finished, both of them were breathless.

"I...I love you, Lee," Hunter said in a whispered gasp.

"I love you too, Hunter," Lee replied as he kissed Hunter again.

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Lee left Hunter and returned to the anteroom to see Roger and Cliff.

"Lee, how is Hunter?" Roger asked, anxiously.

"He...he's fine, but is there any way we can get him discharged to take him home?" Lee asked.

"If he's ready, nothing can keep him here, Lee," Roger assured him. "Where's that cute little doctor?"

"He's inside the examining rooms."

"Will you go get him?"

"Sure!"

Lee went back to get the young doctor and soon, thereafter, both of them returned to Roger.

"Doctor, your patient's 'brother' says that your patient feels well enough to be discharged. Can you write an order?"

"I don't see why not. Just make sure he takes his medication regularly."

"I'll do that!" Replied Lee.

The young doctor left to write a discharge order. Roger looked at Lee and asked, "What kind of medication does Hunter take?"

"I...I'd rather Hunter tell you about it. It's of a rather delicate nature and I don't think he would want Tim or Rob to know about it."

"Is is serious, Lee?"

"Yes, but he's worried about his audition tomorrow and feels that it might hurt his chances if Tim knew about it."

"I'll tell you what! I'll ask Wilson to take Tim, Rob, and the boys back to their apartment and the four of us can call a cab. I would like to know more about Hunter and what's wrong with him. I mean if there's anything I or my Institute can do to help..."

"I was hoping you'd offer, 'Uncle Roger'."

"Is that the first time you've ever called me uncle?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Come here, boy!" Roger said, taking Lee into his arms and giving him a big hug. "I hope you'll always think of me as your uncle. When you left Briarwood so suddenly, I felt that I hadn't made it sure to you that you're part of a big family who all love you!"

The tension of the moment became too much for Lee to bear alone. He raised his arms and put them around Roger's back and embraced him even harder. "I...I'm so sorry I left without so much as a goodbye, Uncle Roger. I don't know what I was afraid of...but now I know I DO need a family. I've been so lost and so alone," Lee said, through his tears.

"Never again, Lee. You'll never be lonely OR lost again. You're one of Cliff's and my Briarwood Boys and that puts you in a special place for the rest of your life." Roger kissed him on the forehead.

"Can I join this ménage à trois?" Cliff said, looking warmly at 'the Roger' and Lee.

"By God, you'd better!" Roger said to Cliff.

Cliff put his arms around Roger and Lee to unite the love circle.

"Lee," Cliff said, "One can't go through this world alone without family or friends. It's a tough road to face alone. You've been one of us for a long while. I'm so sorry we didn't make you feel as if you were loved and wanted."

"I...I feel it now!" Lee replied.

"I know I'm not your priest and I can't ask you to confess anything, but if you're willing to answer one question..."

"What?"

"Do you love Hunter?" Cliff asked.

"I...I didn't know it until five minutes ago."

"And does Hunter love you?"

"He told me first."

"Then, it's up to the three of us and ALL the Briarwood Boys to let him know he's one of us now."

"He's not really close to his dad and his mother is in some kind of institution."

"DAMN!" Roger interrupted. "He needs a family almost as much as you."

"You'd accept him?"

"Lee, if he's the one you love, you're damned right we'll accept him!" Roger said, making his hug around Lee tighter.

The young doctor came through the swinging panel doors pushing Hunter in a wheelchair.

"Hey! What's going on?" Hunter asked.

"It's the beginning of a new world, Hunter, for both of us."

"Or as it says in the scriptures, I saw a new heaven and a new earth..." Cliff added.

"I...I don't understand," Hunter said, looking puzzled.

"Excuse me a minute!" Roger said, as he went outside to tell Wilson to drive Rob, Tim, Billy, and Marc back to Tim and Rob's apartment. Billy and Marc were delighted knowing they were going to spend the night together. Roger reentered the hospital and went to the crabby nurse's desk. "Excuse me, Miss, but do you have a telephone or does this place still use a Dixie Cup with a waxed string?"

"YOU ARE A MEAN BASTARD, aren't you?" the registrar replied.

"My dear, you just don't know!"

"Here's the phone!" She said, slamming an old dial phone on the counter.

Roger called information and got the number of the nearest taxi and ordered one. Then he walked back to his group. The young doctor had watched the emotional embracing scene, relishing what he saw.

"Son, you ARE a qualified physician, aren't you?" Roger asked him.

"Yes, sir. I'm a third year resident," the young doctor replied.

"What's your name?"

"Carson Beal...Carson Beal, M.D." he replied.

"Well Dr. Beal, I would LOVE to know why you chose this place to practice?"

"I love being a doctor, sir. Most of the patients who come here are indigent and I love helping people who can't help themselves!"

"In this neighborhood, do you treat many patients with HIV and AIDS?"

"Yes, sir. I specialized in STP's in med school."

"Have you ever heard of the Cole Institute?"

"The big one in Briarwood?"

"That's the one!"

"Sir, that's my dream to work there some day."

"If you ever get to Briarwood...NO! MAKE A POINT of going to Briarwood and visit the Cole Institute. When you get there, go to the administrator's secretary and tell her that he's expecting you."

"You know Roger Cole?"

"Those three standing there know him quite well."

"Well, gee! I don't know what to say. Do you have a business card?"

Roger riffled through his inside jacket pocket and retrieved a solid gold card holder and handed one to Carson. Carson took the card, read it and turned white as a sheet as if he were going to faint.

"YOU'RE...?"

"That's right, doctor. Now will you consider a trip to Briarwood in the near future?"

"Wild horses couldn't keep me from going!"

"Good."

Roger gave Carson a pat on the back and saw the taxi had just arrived. Roger handed the registrar a wad of cash...perhaps, five-thousand dollars, to cover Hunter's bill. Lee pushed Hunter's wheelchair out the door, followed by Cliff and Roger.

Hunter looked up at Lee, who were both still amazed with Roger's transaction with the young doctor. "Does Roger change everyone's life as soon as he meets him?"

"You ought to see Father Cliff in action. What they do TO and FOR people is staggering!" Lee replied.

The four got into the cab.

Roger said to the driver, "PLEASE STEP ON THE GAS! YOUR LIFE MIGHT BE IN DANGER!"

"What did you say?" the cab driver asked.

Roger then said to Cliff, Lee, and Hunter, "Don't turn around to look. You might be turned into a pillar of doo doo!" Cliff laughed out loud!

<><><><><><><><><><><>

Jeff was zonked out after listening to dozens of confessions which was standard each Thursday evening, usually lasting until 11:00 pm. There were no really serious confessions to worry about. As happy as everyone seemed to be in Mackintosh, there was very little bad things to confess...mostly, impure thoughts, sometimes even about movie stars. Joe had jerked off while looking at a Brad Pitt movie. Jerry had remembered how much his ninth grade science teacher had excited him...and he'd never forgotten about it. Delmar had gotten into an argument with his mother and told her how much he hated her for not accepting his contracting AIDS with his lover, Bill. Still, they were things which were bothering Jeff's parishioners at St. Aloysius and it was part of Jeff's duties to hear each word, take them to his heart, and offer some nominal penance.

As a rule on Thursdays, Jeff stayed at the church through dinner until confessions were finished. Johnny always fed little Roger and little Cliff and put them to bed before Jeff got home, then the two of them would have a nice late dinner. Johnny met Jeff at the front door with a kiss and a drink in one hand.

"Hi, sweetheart," Johnny greeted Jeff. "Bad night?"

"No, but long!" Jeff replied, taking the drink from Johnny's right hand.

"Hungry?"

"Famished! What did you cook?"

"Peanut butter on Ritz crackers!"

"WOW! My favorite!"

"How about chicken breasts marinated in gin and lemon juice, saffron rice, and snow peas?"

"Sometimes I don't know whether I love you or your cooking more," Jeff joked.

"They come together...me and my cooking! It's a package deal. You can't have one without the other."

"That's good to hear. It would be a strain trying to make love to a gin-coated chicken when I go to bed."

"You never fucked a raw chicken in your teens?"

"No, that's one thing Alex and I missed."

"Next Thursday, I'll get you a raw chicken. I'd hate for you to go through life without knowing that sensation!"

"You sound as bad as Jay. Cliff told me that Jay bought Billy a watermelon for his first sleepover date."

"AH! Now THAT I've tried. At my home we used to have a wild watermelon patch. My folks didn't plant them, the vines seem to appear each year and we had scads and scads of watermelons. A bunch of my buddies and I used to go pick two or three of them, cut out a plug in one side of the melon and fuck the juice out of it. They're more real and life-like if they're warm...just sitting all day in the sun," Johnny bragged.

"Tell me, while you and your buddies were fucking watermelons, did the melons remind you more of a woman's vagina or a man's anus?"

"Well, that's where my buddies and I had different ideas. They used to name their melons girl's names. Eddie would call his 'Daphne'. Bobby named his, 'Cheryl', Brooks kept yelling 'Helen! Helen! Helen!' each time he drove his cock into it."

"What did you call yours?"

"Well, since I'd never been with a girl and had no idea what a vagina felt like. NOW WAIT! I hadn't been with a guy either...but I would pretend mine was a guy, but I couldn't call it by his name."

"What did you call it?"

"Exactly!"

"Exactly, what?"

"IT!"

"IT?"

"IT!"

"Shit!"

"No, IT!"

"God, someone must have had you in mind when they made up all those blonde jokes!" Jeff replied, grinning.

"You think I'm a dumb blonde?"

"An adorable dumb blonde...but you're much smarter than I."

"Come on, go wash all those sins off your hands and sit down while I serve you!"

"I knew there must be some reason why I love you so much."

"Only one?"

"One million!"

"I love you a million PLUS a million, Father Jeff!"

Jeff went into the kitchen, turned on the faucet and washed his hands while Johnny began getting dishes out of the warming oven.

"Did you hear from Steve and Wade?"

"Yeah, Steve called today."

"Are they enjoying Paris?"

"Loving it! So much so, that Kyle and Hal have asked them to extend their trip to Rome and then on to Athens!"

"WOW! That's a honeymoon and a half!"

"They're all brothers now. Just like they're OUR brothers. We've always known how to respect each other's privacy. Danny and Pete are having a blast. They all went to the top of the Eiffel Tower today!"

"Johnny, I thank God each day for sending Hal to Kyle after Ryan's death. They are truly in love."

"Speaking of God, have you heard when Roger and Cliff are arriving with Billy?"

"Could be tomorrow or Saturday. I talked with Roger and it seems Billy has met a young man about his age and Roger doesn't want to separate them just yet."

"Billy still doesn't know about Chuck Brindley's suicide?"

"No. He's having too much of a good time with this kid named, Marc, and neither Roger nor Cliff wanted to upset Billy with more bad news."

"Cliff and Roger know best!"

"Hey! You'll never believe this!"

"What?"

"Out of eight million people in New York, guess who they ran into while dining at a restaurant?"

"Bill and Hilary Clinton?"

"No, if Bill and Hilary knew that Roger was in town, they'd've had HIM over for dinner."

"Well, WHO then?"

"Lee."

"Lee Malone?"

"The same!"

"My God, that's incredible!"

"Johnny, you should know by now that with Cliff's direct line to the Almighty, NOTHING is incredible OR impossible."

"You know when I first met Cliff and you made a similar remark about him, I had my doubts, but after knowing him all these years, I'm a true believer. I swear if Cliff were Roman Catholic, he'd be a saint BEFORE he dies. Has there ever been a saint named Cliff?"

"Not that I know about, but I'll google it after we eat!"

"Are you ready?"

"More than ready!"

"Then, SIT! Dinner is served!"

"Good heavens! This looks delicious!" Jeff said, sniffing the aroma of the gin and lemon chicken.

"Not as delicious as you look when you're naked."

"I must remember to splash some gin and lemon on my private parts before we go to bed."

"Now stop that or I won't enjoy my meal thinking about you later."

"Damn, babe! It tastes as good as it smells? Where did you find the recipe?"

"Food Network dot com."

"Emeril?"

"Nope! Sara!"

"I didn't know that Sara could cook. I thought she just washed dishes for Julia Child, when she was alive."

"Now, let's not get sarcastic about dear old Sara if you like this dish."

"I LOVE IT! The saffron rice just sets it off! I hate to ask, but did you make a dessert?"

"I thought my penis was your favorite dessert!"

"It always has been, but I'd hate to see you try to bake it!"

"OH...THAT kind of dessert?"

"Yes!"

"How would you like a slice of Lindy's cheesecake?"

"YOU DIDN'T!"

"Oh, but I did! Nothing's too good for the love of my life."

"You've GOT to make this dish for Roger and Cliff. Roger will just die!"

"Oh, God, don't even say that in joking. We haven't spent all the last millions he gave us."

"Idiot!"

"You know I'm kidding. I don't think ANY of us could live without Roger and Cliff."

"I know."

"You know that the residents of Mackintosh feel the same way about you, don't you?"

"And of you! You run the center and it's you that have given them hope, Johnny."

"And YOU have given them faith and the will to live."

"I hope so, Johnny. I really hope so!"

<><><><><><><><><><>

"You're HIV positive, Hunter?" Roger asked, when the four of them were inside the taxi.

"Yes, sir. I didn't tell Lee until a few minutes ago. I had forgotten to take my meds before you picked us up to go to the Four Seasons. I really feel bad that I spoiled everyone's dinner," Hunter replied.

"Hunter, running one of the largest medical facilities in the world...PLUS being married to one of the most famous Anglican priests in the world...BOTH of us are used to being interrupted at dinner and at all hours of the day and night. You didn't spoil ANYTHING."

"Still, I'm sorry."

"Well, the first thing we have to do is see how we can get you well, son," Roger added.

"I...I don't want Tim and Rob to know. I...I have to audition for the part of Sammy tomorrow and if they know I'm sick, I won't even be considered before I sing or read."

"You look healthy enough to me. You say you've had the virus for two or three years?"

"Yes, sir."

"And this is the first episode of syncope?"

"The first I can remember."

"Then, let's first see if you're okay tomorrow once you've gotten back on your med regimen."

"I...I SHOULD be fine, sir."

"How old are you, Hunter?"

"Twenty years old, sir."

"And how old do you think I am?"

"I don't know, sir. I'm not very good at speculating about people's ages."

"Cliff and I might LOOK old, but neither of us has reached forty yet."

"Sir?"

"That infernal, 'SIR', you keep calling me, makes me feel I'm OLDER than forty. so would you please stop it?"

"Yes, sir...I mean 'YES'!"

"GOOD! I feel much younger already!" Roger said.

"Now, this business about your being in love with Lee...is that true?"

"I love him very much!"

"AND you love Hunter, Lee?"

"Yes...VERY much!"

"Then, that makes it official, Hunter! From now on, you call me 'Uncle' Roger and Cliff, 'Uncle Cliff'! If you're gonna be part of our family, we have to treat each other as such."

"Are you saying that I'm a Briarwood Boy, now?"

"You better believe it!" Cliff said, chiming in.

"CAN MY LIFE GET ANY BETTER? So much has happened since I met Lee and it's ALL been good! Every hour seems to bring a new treat!"

Mike and Tom told me that Uncle Cliff believes in divine intervention...that all good things come from God!"

"Wait until we get you well!" Roger said, smiling.

"DAMN! Now if I just do well at the audition, my life will be perfect."

Cliff interrupted, "Hunter, whether you get the part or not, your life will be perfect with Lee."

"Would it embarrass the two of you if I kissed Lee, right now?"

"I think if you don't, 'I' WILL!" Roger said.

The taxi driver got an eyeful when he looked into his rear view mirror and saw two young men kissing in the back seat while two older adults were watching, smiling from ear to ear.

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(To be continued in "Briarwood" BOOK NINE, 'A New Heaven and a New Earth'...chapter 100).

***Author's note: After ninety-nine chapters and a complete rewrite, changing "Whence Cometh My Help" into "Briarwood", I need to pause a pay a special thanks to my friend, Ken, who lives in Canada. For the past thirty or so chapters, he has taken time out of his busy schedule to proofread each chapter before I post it at Nifty. I only know him via emails and his being a big fan of "Briarwood". A million thanks, Ken, and as long as you feel up to proofreading, I'll keep this saga going. Best wishes! Ritch...08/25/06