College in the Desert

CHAPTER III-College in the Desert

THE AUTHOR: Barry Mattison

WEBSITE/EMAIL: http://storiesbybm.webs.com stories@barrymattison.com

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INTRODUCTION:

This is a fictional story about how two young guys met at college, started a friendship that eventually became a long relationship, and endured all the good times and the bad times of that relationship over the coming years. The characters in "College in the Desert" are all fictional and any semblance to real persons--living or deceased--is purely coincidental.

DISCLAIMER:

This fictional story is written for the gay reader in particular and describes scenes of male nudity and sexual acts between two or more guys that some readers may find inappropriate and/or unsuitable for their reading. Please do not read any further if you find such reading offensive or if it may become property of anyone under the age of 21. This is copyrighted by Barry Mattison with permission to publish given to the Nifty Alliance Archive and is exclusively for the readers of this website. Copying, distribution or re-publication of this writing in any other web site, private or otherwise, is a violation of local, national and international copyright laws and will be pursued to the fullest extent allowable by law.

When we last left Jeff and Doug they had been relocated to another, secluded part of town in a gated community, given the same last name of MacFarlane, living as brothers. Doug had started going to university as planned and Jeff had a new job. Both of them had bodyguards due to the trial currently in progress in which Jeff's ex-lover, Joe and two of his 'friends' were up for attempted murder charges for shooting Jeff...

Our good friend Don, a Captain on the Metro Police Force, was making sure that we were taken care of and protected. We had been given our own house in addition to the items mentioned, we both had bought new cars; Jeff because he couldn't even think of getting near his after almost dying beside it, and me because I didn't have one yet as I had recently moved to the area.

Don's son, Don, Jr. was Jeff's personal bodyguard and I must say, they made a good pair. Donny, as he liked to be called, turned out to be gay and as it also had turned out, had asked for this duty from his father once he heard about the situation.

Up until this time, through all the hospital days, the trial testimonies, moving, everything, people assumed that Jeff and I were partners. In reality, although we were extremely close and often slept together for comfort, we never had sex after that first night. It truly was a hard relationship to explain to someone, but to us it made perfect sense.

I also had a bodyguard. His name was Steve. He was about 45 years old, married with two kids, probably a dog and a house with a white picket fence for all I know. He was a nice guy and all that, took his job seriously, fortunately for me, and was always there when things went wrong. We never really talked all that much as he seemed more like a fatherly figure to me than someone I could relate to. But all in all, he was very understanding of our relationship and even asked us questions occasionally about what it was like to be 'gay' and what kind of problems we had to deal with...things like that.

Life was getting down to some sort of regular hum, both of us off to work with our bodyguards in tow, then Jeff would usually come back home where he was a little safer while the trial continued; me, I'd be off to school in the evening four nights a week for classes, then there was physical therapy somewhere that Jeff had several times a week...I had some odd jobs and volunteer organizations I participated in. Everything considered, our life was pretty much mapped out until the trials were over. The only difference in our daily routines was that we never did anything the same way once we left the house, including changing the time we left and who left first. The reason, as we had found out before, was that the two guys in the truck with Joe belonged to a local Latino gang that Don, Sr. was concerned would try to finish the job Joe had started.

Since I had witnessed the whole incident and identified them, I was right in the line-of-fire as the primary witness, hence all the relocation stuff and protection. Of course, I don't know how all this was going to turn out, but I was getting a little tired of being trailed by this forty five year old guy on campus--it looked a little odd to say the least.

Jeff thought it was funny. "So Doug, you and Steve have a date tonight chasing babes on campus?"

"Ha ha...very funny butt head," I said as I tackled him on the floor and tickled him. He was very ticklish and would almost stop breathing when he got to laughing so hard when he was tickled in the right places.

"STOP IT DOUG! I CAN'T BREATHE!" Jeff was trying to say in between giggles as I had his torso trapped on top of me, my legs criss-crossed over his legs, trapping him tightly, and tickling his armpits lightly like a feather until he couldn't take it anymore. I let him go as Donny and Steve watched us from the TV room and laughed.

Jeff had the beginnings of a semi going from the intimacy of the two of us being close together, which didn't go unnoticed by the guys in the other room. Of course Donny was gay and knew we were--although he also thought we were a couple--and Steve, being straight and knowing was not only understanding and kind to both of us, but I think he secretly was a little curious about what went on behind closed doors. That being, in our case, nothing; but we didn't let on any different. It was all too easy because of what Jeff and I had been through not to act like we were a couple, except we knew where the boundaries were and rarely crossed them.

Several months after the shooting incident we both finally went downtown and got our AIDS tests done. If you remember back a bit, Joe had been 'playing the field' quite a lot, which led to this whole mess...well, actually, things turned out fairly well...but there was a chance that he could have passed the virus on to both of us one night. So we had to wait an appropriate amount of time before getting tested and now we were finally getting our results.

Test results were anonymous by number, so we called the special number and since I had never done this before, Jeff went first. We each had a paper with some numbers to enter at different times, the end result being a negative, or, a need to call another number to talk with a Medical Representative. We were in the kitchen, alone when we did this, having explained the situation to the guys and asking for some privacy.

After entering his numbers, Jeff was waiting for the automated machine to give him his results. I was intent on watching his facial expressions for some indication of what the answer might be when he seemed to finally get it. He slowly hung up the phone, looked down at the floor, and seemed to go into an instant depression.

My mind went into overdrive. He couldn't be positive, not my best bud, my first love.

I put my hand on his shoulder and lifted his chin up and turned his face towards me with the fingertips of my other hand.

"Jeff babe, just tell me, what did it say? Whatever it is I'm there for you forever and always and you know it. Now tell me what your result was...please."

He looked at me with a blank stare, then slowly a smile started to spread across his face. I was confused.

"I'm okay honey, negative result."

"Now I'm really not sure what to do with you, smack you for scaring me like that, or kiss you hard for not being positive."

"Well, first make your call and get your results, then you can decide."

"Okay, where's that number?" He handed me the number to call, and just as he did before, I went through the paces of entering all the required numbers to get to the final piece of data to enter. Suddenly I started to feel clammy all over. I had been laughing a few minutes ago, but now I wasn't sure if I wanted to enter the last few numbers to find out the answer.

I felt a hand on MY shoulder this time,"It's fine Doug, finish it, I'm with 'ya." I looked Jeff in the eye, then looked back at the phone and entered the last few numbers. I waited for an eternity, in earth time a few seconds, before a computer voice mumbled a bunch of stuff. The only word I heard though was negative. Now I too slowly hung up the phone and didn't say anything. I was still shaking and Jeff still had his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

"Now I know what I need to do with you," I said to Jeff. I reached up with both hands, placing one on each side of his sweet face and kissed him so passionately that I thought it would last for an eternity, and I wanted it to.

"Negative huh?"

"That's all I heard, but now I understand why you reacted the way you did. I would have felt so bad had I said something to hurt your feelings before going through the same thing myself. That is such a terrifying feeling that I will never put myself in a position to have to do that again."

"It's the same way every time too, although Joe never used to think anything of it. It's like he was always expecting to hear something else. That always bothered me."

"You know something Jeff, I wish we both had that 'extra' thing, whatever it is, that's missing from our relationship. It's like I'm so in love with you, yet there's something telling me to hold back and wait and it's driving me crazy. I love you so much."

"I know what you mean, I feel exactly the same way, and I love you too. In fact there's something I've been wanting to talk with you about, and now seems like a good time."

"Sure, what's up?"

"Well, I'm not sure how to say this, or even how to begin because I don't want to hurt you."

"Then just come out with it. I can handle it."

Jeff looked at me with his beautiful, soft hazel eyes and then looked down a little, shying away from looking at me in the face.

"I think that I have feelings for Donny, but I didn't know how to tell you without hurting you."

"How long have you had feelings for him?" I was feeling a little hurt now, but in view of what we had just said to each other, I had known all along that the time would come when someone could come along and grab either of us. I was just hoping it would either happen at the same time or not at all. So I needed to keep my feelings in check and at least give them a chance to make this work for Jeff's sake.

"We've been talking a little here and there, but I wouldn't do anything or make a move without talking to you first. And if you have a problem with it, I'll have to take that into consideration. You've been there every inch of the way for me, even when I died and came back; I dare say that what we experienced through that alone nobody else has ever been through. We share a bond that can never be broken by anybody or anything and it's been confusing I think for both of us. But now Donny has come along and I have a different feeling on top of all those that I have for you that I can't explain and I'd like to spend some time with him to see if he's the one that I'm meant to spend the rest of my life with as a couple. Can you handle the feelings that are sure to surface if you see us together? It's not like I'm moving out or anything, and nothing will change between us, I promise."

"Jeff, I've known all along that this would happen sooner or later to one of us. I was hoping it would be you first because nothing would make me happier than to see you with someone that was perfect for you and treated you right. I think we both know that that option has always been open for both of us; that's why we agreed not to have sex together."

"Okay then, how about spending some time with us together at first 'cause I trust your instincts about people? Based on my last choice, I think I could use some help."

"Sure, thanks for asking me. Besides, I've never been able to really talk to him for any length of time to get to know him. This will be my chance to get to know him better if he's going to marry my bro. I wouldn't go so far as to say he has to pass the 'Doug' test, but he better be pretty good with you."

Jeff walked up to me, wrapped his arms around my chest in a big hug; as I did the same he looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Just remember babe, you'll always be the rock that I come to when I need a shoulder to lean on. Thanks for understanding and for watching out for me." Then he leaned his head on my shoulder and hugged me tight as I did the same. A feeling of warmth enveloped both of us as we stood there. I felt okay about this change.

"Hey Donny, can you come here for a sec?" In a flash Donny was standing beside Jeff, thinking something was wrong. Doug and I have been talking about you and I and he's okay with us exploring a relationship together. But all I ask of you is that you please respect the relationship that Doug and I have, which I'll explain to you so you don't feel threatened by it. But the word is...go for it!

Donny grabbed Jeff and wrapped him up in a big hug. "Uh, not that hard please, I still have a few sore places."

"I'm so sorry. I just go so excited. I've been waiting since first seeing you in the hospital to do that and I got carried away. Are you okay?"

Jeff and I laughed, then I looked at Donny, smiling, and said, "good luck, you're going to need it."

"Jeff, I'm heading down to to the bar for a beer, I have my phone and my trusty shadow. You guys going to hang out here?

They looked at each other, and Jeff said "yeah, I think it's better under the circumstances if we stay home. I still feel better when we're going out if we're all together until all three of those guys are in jail for good."

"Amen to that. I feel the same way, but I think that with the happy news it would be nice if you guys had some 'alone time' today. Besides, a beer sounds real good today and I want to be able to tell Steve about this in my own way. So just to let you know we'll be at number 12-2+." I looked at Donny and said, "Jeff and I developed a system of codes between us since the shooting so that only he and I would know certain things. Maybe while you two love birds are cuddling up while we're gone Jeff 'll teach it to you since you're on the 'inside' now. It comes in handy sometimes."

"Okay with you Jeff?"

"Good idea. We might get around to doing that in between the hugs and kisses, and the cuddling, and the..."

""All right...enough...I won't want to leave if you keep it up! I'm going to go change into my 'come fuck me jeans' now so I can sit and have a talk with 'dad' about the two new love birds. Uh...where did I go wrong?"

This time we all laughed as I Went to change. It only took a few minutes to change and fluff up before returning to the living room where I found Jeff and Donny already sitting on the couch--Donny's leg sprawled over Jeff's, lips locked, making all sorts of spooky, luvvy noise.

"Ewww...get a room you two," I said as I buzzed for Steve. He showed up just as I finished changing into a clean pair of jeans and a fresh shirt.

"What's up Doug? Heading out?" He had a hilarious look on his face when he looked over and saw the two hotties on the couch going at it. "Uh...what's up with that?"

"I'll explain it to you later over a beer. Jeff and Donny are going to hang out at home and I'm treating us to those beers...well, a beer and whatever you want. Okay with you?"

"No problem, you okay to watch things here alone Don?"

"We'll be okay. Make sure you guys have your phones and that's it. Have a good time. See 'ya later. Here, let me get the door," he offered as he unwound himself from Jeff and jumped up. As we walked out I turned to Donny and smiled...he smiled back and and formed the words 'thank you' with his lips as I turned back and heard the door close and lock behind me.

"So Steve, how've you been today?"

"Fine," he replied with a funny look on his face. I knew he wanted to ask me something in the worst way, but I just kept up question after question until we got to the bar. He was so frustrated by then that I thought he was going to burst open or duct tape my mouth shut.

"I'm grabbing a Lite beer, what would you like?"

"I think I'll have whatever you're having for a change."

"Can you protect me under the influence?"

"Hell, I'm not sure what's going on anymore between you young guys. I'm getting too old for this shit. For all I know they've got someone protecting me from the three of you."

"You're pretty funny for an old guy...grab us a booth and I'll tell you what's going on you old fart. I'll get the drinks and be right back."

"What do you mean old? I can still handle myself quite well; I'm still have a wife after 18 years--or something like that--two kids, my sanity...I think...and a babysitting service. Not bad for an 'old man' I'd say." We both chuckled over that one

"Keep thinking that way Steve and you'll live a long life." I went to the bar as Steve walked over to grab a booth. I knew the bartender by name, but I waited until he was free before asking for the two Lite beers. I paid for them, left a buck tip and found Steve towards the rear of the bar in a quiet, dimly lit booth. I really didn't care for bars much because of the cigarette smoke, but at least where we were sitting wasn't too bad.

"Well Steve, I know you're straight and all that, and that you're cool with us being gay, so I feel like I can talk to you without any problem. Am I right?"

"Of course Doug. You guys are almost sons to me...boy that clinches the 'old' thing pretty much...but you can talk about anything, I'm cool with it."

"Thanks. Well, I don't know what kind of relationship you think Jeff and I have, but we're not lovers in the sense that we're married or going to live together forever. We are forever bound together by what has happened between us, and as a result of that and other things that we share that even we don't understand, we're bound together like blood brothers, maybe more like identical twins. We share the same thoughts, we think alike, we do things the same...it sometimes even confuses us. But the end result is that while we will always have that and will always have each others back, we are individuals and as such, are starting to look outward for long-term relationships with the right persons. Follow me so far?"

"So far."

"Okay. Well, today, when Jeff and I were talking he told me that he is really interested in spending more time with Donny and letting their relationship develop. They've been talking and sharing between themselves here and there, but Jeff wouldn't go any further without talking to me, which is what he did this afternoon. I have to admit that a first I was scared because all I could think of was that I was losing my best mate, but then I realized I was really gaining another brother. I was also a little sad because I thought I was losing the intimate relationship with my bro, but I realized that this is what we both need, after thinking about it, I gave him my blessing to date Donny, not that he needed it. Why am I telling you all this? It's that we both care a lot about you too. You've become part of our little family and Jeff and I wouldn't want you to be left out of a major decision like this.

So...what are you thinking? What's running through that old gray matter of yours?"

Steve sat there, mulling over everything I'd said for a few moments, sipping on his beer, while I sat and occupied my mind by trying to pull the label off the cold, icy beer bottle. Finally he cleared his throat and spoke up.

"Well Doug, you know I'm straight, have a wife and kids and all that. But you also know that I don't have a prejudiced bone in my body. I have never had an assignment like this one, but in the same sense, I've never enjoyed being around guys more than you three. You have really changed my perception of what 'being gay' is all about. I can see how much you and Jeff love each other and I respect that so much. I wish my sons would care about each other as much as you guys do for each other. And I also see how much this whole assignment has changed Don, Jr., or Donny as you call him. He used to be just like his old man, so formal and 'by-the-book'. Now, after being around you two he's seems more relaxed, more compassionate towards others in his job, more tolerant, but most of all, more confident of himself. And don't think that his father hasn't noticed the change in him either. He knew what he was doing when he let Donny have this assignment."

"I'm glad he did too. Don, Sr. really helped me at the worst time in my life and treated me so nice that he's almost like a second dad to me."

"That's a nice thing to say. I'm sure he would appreciate knowing that."

"So first of all, thank you both for including me in this. You didn't have to, it's not part of my job and your personal life isn't my business. But by doing so you have only added to the respect and admiration that I have developed for the both of you, even a certain love for you guys, even Donny, that I just never expected to experience in my life. This whole thing has really opened my eyes and heart to how much of a struggle it is to be gay in a straight world and the abuse that you guys have to put up with. I think all three of you are very brave for showing the strength and honesty that you have and I very much appreciate the lessons I've learned through all this. And by the way, thank you for including me in this. By doing so it will help us all, not only in the day-to-day business of my work, but I get to watch Jeff and Donny grow together, if that works out between them. I think it will. What do you think?"

"Well, I know Jeff inside and out, and I know Donny enough to know that they have a better than even chance of making this work."

"How's that really make you feel, deep down, inside your heart?"

Whoa, I wasn't expecting a curve ball from Steve so fast. Gulp! I hadn't had enough time to really examine those feelings...I'd felt a few of them already...but hadn't had enough alone time to put words to them, and now the straight guy was asking me how I felt about a gay relationship.

"Ummm...to be honest, there are going to be times that I'll feel lonely without Jeff by my side. I've gotten awful used to him being there. But on the other hand, I also know that we both really need a complete and full relationship with the right person and that we'll still be part of each other. So in some ways I'm a little torn, but in others I'm okay."

By now I was starting to tear up a little. Steve reached across the table and grabbed my hand with both of his. They were warm and comforting.

"Doug, there will always be someone there for you when Jeff can't be there; count me in as one. And I know that Donny's father is another. Besides, like you said, you're not losing a brother, you're really gaining another one."

When he said that it struck right through to my heart, confirmed what I'd been thinking, and suddenly at least this past fell into place. In one day I had gained a new bro, plus a couple new families to support me. I counted myself as a rich man in many ways.

"Steve, I am so glad that we talked. You just turned everything around in one split second for me and freed me from a lot of future hurt that I feared was coming. Thanks."

"One good turn deserves another, as they say anyway. Besides, the 'ole man does know a few things about love, straight or not."

We both started laughing out loud before looking around and realizing that most of the rest of the 'gay' patrons were staring at us. We stopped for a sec, then started laughing again. We could've cared less.

"Shall we have another?" I asked.

"No thanks, not for me anyway. If I have to shoot someone to protect your ass I want to be able to hit them the first time. By the way, speaking of that, I forgot to tell you that Don called me just before we left the house and Joe was convicted of first degree attempted murder as well as several other charges based upon both of your testimonies. Sentencing is scheduled for tomorrow and the judge wants to know if either of you either want to be there, write something to say, or do the closed camera thing again."

"As far as I'm concerned he can rot in jail forever. I don't have anything to say to him and never want to see him again. I'll ask Jeff what he wants to do, but I know he'll say the same thing. We've both put it behind us and are trying to move on. Especially for Jeff now that he and Donny are starting to date. What about the other two guys? I'm more worried about them than anything?"

"Don is too. Their trial has ended and the jury is out for deliberation. No word yet on what they may come back with."

"Do you know what they're charged with?"

"I'm not sure. Probably accessories to attempted murder plus a bunch of other charges. I did find out that they were both on parole, so if convicted, they will have to serve their previous sentences in addition to whatever they get for the new charges. Hopefully they'll all be gone for a very long time. The problem is that they are part of that gang and may still feel that you and Jeff need to pay for putting them away for so long."

"That's what concerns us too. How are we supposed to live our lives having to look over our shoulders all the time? It's kind of scary."

"All I can say is that Don and I are working on it and some things hinge on the sentencing tomorrow and the verdicts and/or sentencing of the other two. In the meantime, nothing is going to change except that Don is going to move in with you guys for 24/7 protection for Jeff, how 'bout the timing on that one?, and I'll be watching you during the day and someone else will be staying over in the spare room at night to watch out for you. That way each of you can have your own independence and feel better about being separated. How do you feel with all that? Of course things may change, but that's the plan at the moment."

"I think that sounds good. It's time I got out and started looking for my own mate before I get gray hair too."

"Aw shut up you little squirt. You'll have gray hair soon enough. Enjoy your life now."

"You hungry old man?"

"A little."

"How about picking up some fast food and then head back to the ranch and catch Jeff and Donny up on all this? I'll call and see if they want anything."

"Sounds good to me."

Just as I was opening my phone to call Jeff a text message appeared, it said "Code 50, 56,100."

I jumped up and grabbed Steve by the collar. "What is it?" he said.

"It's a secret code from Jeff, they're under fire. Someone is shooting at the house, they're okay, send help fast!"

Steve immediately took over from there as we jumped into his car and headed to the house with lights and sirens going.

He called in on his phone to Don, told him what was happening and that we were only a few minutes away from the house, but Jeff and Don were in the house. I was scared to hell by now. The hairs were standing up on the back of my neck, I had goosebumps, my stomach was upside down, everything was going nuts. But I knew that the boys would be okay. We had built into the house a hidden hideaway that was undetectable and could not be opened except by Jeff and I. I sent a text code to Jeff and immediately got back our code letting me know that they we safe in the bunker.

Meanwhile, Don called Steve back to say that a helicopter had a car in sight that was parked outside the home with several men staged around the house shooting into the house and that police cars were only seconds away. Steve stayed on the phone as we parked about a half mile away. Three cruisers pulled up and a bunch of cops jumped out and surrounded us to protect us while we watched the helicopter hover over our house.

About ten minutes later Don spoke to Steve and told him it was okay to come on up, the situation was under control.

"Get down on the floor and stay there," Steve said.

No problem with me as I scrunched under the dashboard as far as possible and pulled a small blanket over me.

As we slowly rolled into the yard Steve quietly told me that police were starting to unroll yellow tape around a four-door with blackened out windows sitting around the corner from our house. They extended it around our house and blocked off the street for about a quarter of a mile in all directions.

Steve didn't stop outside the house but pulled up into the garage and the doors came creaking down until all was quiet.

"Are we safe?" I asked Steve.

"Yes. It's okay to get up now, but keep down below window level and go to your safe place, wherever that is."

"Okay. Thanks Steve"

I crawled out of the car, across the concrete of the garage floor and into the house. There was broken glass everywhere. Almost every window had been shot out and the walls looked like someone had let a bunch of kids loose with a handful of hammers. Bits and pieces of furniture were strewn about and mixed in the glass, making it hard to stay under the line of the windows so I couldn't be seen from the outside. I had no idea what they wanted me in the safe place for, but at this point I didn't care. I was crawling through the living room and turning the corner, almost to the entrance of the safe place when I suddenly looked down on the face of a guy wearing a black hoodie lying on the floor staring me in the eyes, dead. Blood was still oozing out of his chest where he had been shot several times. I jumped up and back several feet, scared that he was going to come alive, but he wasn't going anywhere. I could see several tattoo's on his arms and presumed he was one of the gang members. I quickly side stepped around him and hunkered down once again and continued the rest of the way to the hidden spot. There was a hidden fingerprint scanner that I placed my index finger into and the first of two doors quietly opened. I jumped in and it closed quickly behind me. It was only then that I felt safe.

I reached the second door, scrounged around in my pocket for my phone and dialed a special code to Jeff. I waited until I received the return code, then placed my hand on the hidden reader, whereupon a heavy door opened up and I ran inside and hugged Jeff as tight as I could without squeezing the air out of him. The door closed behind us as we both broke out into tears. Donny was standing there looking like his whole world had collapsed. Jeff and I both reached out and pulled him into our hug where he also let it all go and began to cry uncontrollably. I don't know how long it was that we stood there like that, but eventually we lay down on a bed together and just held each other without speaking. We had fixed up the place just in case we had to survive down there for a while for a few weeks without being seen.

After what seemed like days Steve's voice broke the silence as he called on Don's phone. They talked for a few minutes, then Don listened while Steve talked for some time, then Don said he'd call back in a few minutes.

"Here's what's happening. Apparently the jury came back with a guilty verdict on both of those two involved with Jeff's shooting and they are looking at life with no possibility of parole. About the same time as the verdict was announced the police think that the six heavily armed members of the Latino gang came to settle the score with you two for putting them away." Donny stopped for a moment because this was so close and personal to him now.

"One of them stayed in the car as a get-away driver, the other five surrounded the house and just hammered away with AK-47's, hoping to hit you guys. They probably didn't know that Doug was gone. Luckily you guys had the foresight to have this hideaway built. We didn't even know about it."

"I'm sorry Donny," Jeff said, "I was going to tell you about this later today and get your prints into the system."

"That's okay babe, we're together and safe. Anyway, when Jeff sent out those codes to Doug that's what saved the whole day. The calls went right out to all the necessary people, the helicopter was right on them in seconds with the police, and they were able to capture three of them alive. Two of them were killed, one was inside the house and the other one, the driver of the car was killed."

"I know about the guy inside, as I was crawling across the floor I rounded a corner and came upon him face to face on the floor. Scared the shit out of me. He isn't very far from the entrance to the hidden doorway."

Donny continued, "okay, here's what my father wants to do if you're up to it. He figures it's a perfect chance for all of us to escape out of here without being seen. The police are scouring the area for gang lookouts and there are helicopters everywhere out there. What he would like to do is make it look like all three of us were killed in the shootout. He'll have the country coroner vans come to pick us up in body bags, the whole thing. The newspapers will report that we were all killed...blah...blah...blah."

So that's the way it went down. For a few days we were hidden away like squirrels in winter until things calmed down. Then all three of us were picked up by a helicopter on the roof of a local hospital and whisked away to our new home in another city. Hopefully it would be temporary until all this was cleared up, but who knows. The newspapers reported it just like Donny had said they would, which seemed sort of weird, and also made me worry about how my family would react to all this when they read about it in the news.

Donny promised me that all that would be taken care of and not to worry, but that I couldn't contact anyone until I got the okay from his father.

So the three of us started life over, again, in a new place where we didn't know anyone. To me that wasn't any big deal, and since Jeff and Donny had each other they were happy. Once again we were set up with new jobs, a nice place to live, the three of us set up a much better safe house with much better technology and also wired the house with hidden cameras, sensors and other things to hopefully prevent the same thing from ever happening again, although that was highly unlikely. The way our house was located prevented access from three sides by an eighteen foot cement wall and a wide river behind that nobody had ever crossed.

This time we felt much safer. I started school again at the local university and we pretty much picked up right where I left off, with the exception of having a new relationship in the family. Jeff and Donny were now sleeping together in the same bed and I was sleeping alone...again! Steve arrived early in the morning and had coffee ready when somebody, usually Donny, got up. By the way, Donny was allowed to continue as Jeff's bodyguard even though they were in a relationship. Even Don, Sr. was pleased with his son and happy with the fact that he had settled down with someone as dependable, honest and as grounded as Jeff.

Somehow, out of all the previous court proceedings with Joe and his two buddies, our lawyers had filed for civil damages and Jeff was awarded a very large settlement; I also received a large sum for my part in putting them behind bars. Something about mental anguish and all that lawyer speak. But I didn't complain and neither did Jeff. Jeff gave me some of his very large settlement which I put away in the bank and invested into some very safe CD's and things so my future would be secure. Plus my attorney had done the same thing with the manager in the motel case and I had received quite a large sum in damages from the motel chain. It almost seemed like money was falling from the sky, but it was all put to good use.

By this time Jeff and Donny were well on their way to becoming a couple, and I couldn't be happier for them. They loved each other so deeply that I was getting a little depressed. But each time that happened my bro would grab me and somehow bring me right out of it in a snap. All it took was a good hug, a sexy kiss and his special look and I'd be reminded that I was special and overdue for someone for me to love.

I kept busy by joining a few clubs at the university, like the Gay Student Alliance, the Hiking Club, pledged and finally made it as a member of one of the Greek houses--a whole other story unto itself--and various other activities to get involved in something where I might meet someone.

One Saturday the hiking Club decided that we would invite the members of the Gay Alliance on a hike down to some springs. We ended up with about thirty five people, boys and girls, who were up for the two mile hike down to some springs where we could eat lunch and swim; all we had to carry was a picnic lunch which we were each to carry in for ourselves, and then bring out the garbage with us. The spot we were headed for had some cool swimming spots and was a natural hot water spring, heated from underground by volcanic activity from thousands of years ago.

We all met at the designated spot, grabbed our gear and followed the few guys who knew the way to the springs. It was only late morning so we had allowed plenty of time to get down and back. I had seen this guy when we first started, but lost track of him as we got started down the trail. All was soon forgotten as we found ourselves climbing big boulders, up and down, then climbing down ropes on straight walls and all sorts of other fun stuff. We finally made it to the springs and found them to be really neat and well worth the hike. The water was warm, actually hot, and you could swim under rocks and come up in these caves with waterfalls to sit under. Overall, it was a great idea. Soon I'd had enough swimming and perched on a rock to each my lunch overlooking the group below.

I was only wearing a small, sexy swimsuit in hopes of finding someone on the hike that day, but hadn't seen anyone that I was interested in. And in all reality, most of the group was the Hiking Group, supposedly the "straight jocks" of the group.

As I was sitting there on the rock I thought I noticed the guy I saw when we first unloaded the gear, but I couldn't really tell with all the people mulling about. Then I got a good view of this guy, also perched on a rock about forty feet from where I was. I was so intent on trying to see him better looking around people as they walked in front of this guy that it wasn't long before I felt myself start to slip on the rock I was sitting on; my fingertips grasped at the edges of the jagged rock, barely holding me as I felt my last breath slipping slowly away! I didn't know how much longer I could hold on, but...

God, he was so gorgeous!

He was wearing a little blue speedo and had a nice package that had me sporting a hard on instantly. All the closeted feelings of the first 20 years of my life were spilling out on the rock in a hurry as my thoughts turned to love, thoughts that started to force me over the edge...literally speaking. Suddenly my fingertips let go and I felt myself falling into space...I hit the dry, cactus filled ground with a thud! SHIT! That two foot fall had practically raised some dust, but it got the attention of someone in a blue speedo.

I lay on the ground, not really hurt that much, but in somewhat of a pickle? Holler because of the few cactus sticking in my leg, lay there and wait for help, crawl away, stand up with a full hardon in my little speedo swimsuit? Get this guy to come up and help me? Where was Jeff when I needed him? No matter what I did I was going to draw attention to me and my big dilemma.

I tried to speak, but all that came out was a little, childish, "Help!"

Well, seems like we're finally right back at the beginning. Boy, a lot has happened to Doug, but now maybe things will finally change for the good, or will they? Seems as though you'll have to join me for Chapter V and see what happens.

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