***. Standard disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to people or events is purely coincidental. Locations within Florida have been used by the author to create the setting.
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I appreciate all the positive comments and constructive feedback I've been receiving. This is a prequel to the story Nailed It published on Nifty. Watch for the sequel in the coming months. Please continue to email me at mastersounder2015@gmail.com. Enjoy the story!
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Hard As Nails: Ch 7 -- Unexpected Turn of Events
Around midnight Sean woke from a fitful sleep. He knew where Clay was sleeping and why. Yet his body and mind wanted Farm Boy beside him. He rolled over and reached his left hand down to touch his sleeping lover's body. He found Clay had placed his back against the bed frame to mirror the spoon position in which they always slept.
As Chief touched his shoulder, Farm Boy, his body reacting to his husband's touch, tried to scoot back further toward the bed. Encountering resistance from the bed frame, he stirred from his sleep. "Sir, is there something you require?"
"Yes, I require you to get up here and lay next to me."
"Sir, yes Sir!" Clayton got up and jumped over his Sir. He landed on the bed, lay down, and spooned back into his husband's embrace. "Thank you, Sir."
"No, thank you. Now let us both get some rest. We have a busy day ahead." Sean kissed the back of his husband's neck and Clay purred softly as his husband's lips brushed the nape of his neck. The couple settled into their slumber.
The couple roused from their sleep an hour later as someone was banging on their bedroom door. Clay reached the door first, unlocked it, and opened it. Fifth was standing there.
"Dad, Pops come quick, AJ is sick." The couple followed their eldest son down the hall to the corner bedroom and its bathroom. AJ was sitting on the commode having a diarrheal stool while simultaneously vomiting into the wastebasket.
"How long has this been going on Fifth?" Sean asked.
"I'm not sure Pops. We came to bed around midnight, and everything was fine. I woke up hearing him retching into the commode. When I came in to check he was jumping up and he started with the squirts."
Sean became aware that all four boys were camped out in the bedroom. Turning to the other two he inquired, "Did either of you notice when AJ started getting sick?"
"I heard him moaning about 15 minutes ago," Erik admitted.
Gunnar added, "I was asleep and didn't know anything was wrong until Fifth headed to get you."
"Pops, Dad, it started with a bellyache," AJ groaned. Then I felt sick to my stomach and just made it to the john," he threw up again into the wastebasket. As the spasm eased his bowels released again.
"Clay call 9-1-1. I'm not sure if it's food poisoning or something else. Is anyone else sick?"
The boys shook their heads no. Gunnar, go check on your sisters." The teen jumped to his feet and headed downstairs and out the door.
"Ambulance is on its way. Fifth please go downstairs, open the gate using the remote, and wait at the front door for them," Clay directed.
Gunnar returned with his sisters.
"Dad!" Vic gasped. "How did you get all marked up?"
"Modified platza treatment," was her father's response.
"A what?"
Clay turned and gave her the eye. "A modified platza treatment. The skin is beaten to help release toxins. Usually with oak leaves or thistles. We had to make do with something else." They heard the sirens of the ambulance approach. "Sarongs." The family dashed off to cover their bodies. Clay brought back Sean's bathrobe.
The paramedics entered the house to find 5 teenagers staring at them with worried looks. Fifth said, "This way please," as he led them upstairs and to the corner bedroom.
"Good evening," the lead paramedic, Leo Wynn, greeted the anxious parents and the teen who was simultaneously evacuating his bowels and retching into the wastebasket. "How long has that been going on?
Fifth answered them, "About 40 minutes."
The second paramedic, Thom Ahern, inquired, "Has he eaten anything different than the rest of the family?"
"Not that we know of," Clayton answered. Turning to the first paramedic, "You're Leo, right? You were a year ahead of me, weren't you?"
"You got that right Junior. Went into the Army and trained as a medic. After I got my twenty in, I came back here and got hired as a paramedic. What's your name young man?
"Andrew Joseph Reed," AJ managed before he started dry heaving. The rest of his brothers and sisters arrived back in the bedroom.
Thom was startled by the crowd. "Y'all please wait downstairs and let us work." He scanned AJ's forehead with a thermometer, "99.9," he reported to Leo. Then he slapped a blood pressure cuff on the teen's arm, pumped it up and placed the head of his stethoscope, and released the pressure. "120 over 80," he reported. "A little high."
"Junior, it appears your boy's body is fighting something. I suggest we take him down to the ER and let the doc order some blood work and other tests." "I still have the squirts," AJ feebly protested.
"We'll put you in an adult diaper and we have plenty of barf bags if you need them," Leo stated.
"Let me throw on some clothes and ride with you," Clay said.
"Not a problem Junior. Thom, would you go down and bring up a medium adult diaper please?" the lead paramedic requested as Clay hurried to his bedroom to dress.
"Sure Leo. You're going to be OK young man. We'll get you rehydrated and find out what caused your problem." He patted AJ's shoulder.
"I'll follow in a few after we get organized here," Sean informed Leo.
"That's not a problem. It shouldn't take too long at this hour given it's not a Friday or Saturday night."
Thom and Clay returned at that moment. Sean told Clay, "I'll get dressed and come down to the ER to wait with you." Clay nodded and turned his attention to his son.
"AJ, let me help clean you up a bit." Clayton wet a washcloth with warm water. "Scoot forward on the commode a bit."
"Dad this is embarrassing."
"I wiped your ass plenty of times young man."
"Ouch, it's real tender Dad."
Leo answered, "To be expected, Andrew. Having diarrhea is never a pleasant experience. When it burns or hurts to go, that makes matters even worse. Did you eat anything different from the rest of the family?"
"I put pizza spice on my wings at dinner time. My brothers and I had root beer floats and popcorn. Oh and I ate a sleeve of Oreo cookies with a glass of milk."
"Well, you have several things there that might be the culprit causing your issues. Let Thom get that diaper on you then you can throw on shorts and a shirt and we can get you down to the ER."
AJ stood up from the commode and both Leo and Thom noticed the 7-inch flaccid penis hanging in front of a set of very large balls. Thom started to secure the diaper into place.
"Like father Like son," Leo whispered to Clay.
"Oh yeah, all four boys are hung like Sean and me."
"Him too?" Leo was surprised.
"Him too."
AJ threw on the clothes Erik had brought over for him, and they walked downstairs and out to the ambulance. The rest of the teens had scattered to their rooms to dress. The ambulance departed for DeSoto Memorial.
Sean stood in the foyer awaiting the rest of his family to join him. As he waited his cell phone rang. It was Martha.
"Sean, what's happening over there. Leon said he heard an ambulance and I just saw the flashing lights. It looked like they were coming from the house."
"It's under control Mom, AJ got sick and since he was vomiting and having diarrhea at the same time we called for help. I'm heading out to join Clay at the hospital."
"Do you want me to come over and babysit?"
"That would have been perfect, but after the events of the last 24 hours, the pack doesn't want to be apart. They all want to go and sit in the waiting room."
"Oh, ok. I just wanted to help," Martha stated disappointedly.
"Mom, I appreciate that immensely. Right now they are being tight. How about you fix us breakfast. Hopefully, we'll be home in a few hours."
"Breakfast it is. I'll do a country breakfast and have it ready by 7:30."
"Thanks, Mom, you're the best. Love you."
"Love you too. Call me when you know something."
"Either Clay or I will call Mom. I promise. Night."
By the end of the call, all five of the teens were standing at the front door tapping their feet at their father. "About time you got here," Sean said as he opened the door and ushered the teens toward the garage. "Mormor is fixing breakfast for 7:30," he shared as his five children climbed into the Escalade. They then headed to DeSoto Memorial to join Clay and AJ.
At the hospital, AJ had been wheeled into a curtained bay and transferred from the ambulance gurney onto the ER bed. A nurse and nursing technician hooked him up to a blood pressure monitor and began taking his vitals. Leo hung around and chatted with Junior as they waited on the ER doctor to make his appearance.
Fifteen minutes passed and AJ was getting squirmy. "Dad, what's taking so long? I think I'm going to explode again!"
"I'll find out," he replied as he pushed the button summoning a nurse.
AJ groaned and Leo sprang into action. He opened a cabinet against the wall and grabbed a bedpan. He expertly pulled back the sheet covering the teenager, ripped open the tabs on the diaper, and pulled it away. "Left your butt," he instructed. AJ arched his body and Leo slipped the pan into place just as AJ released his bowels again. The stench was overwhelming as a male nurse pulled back the curtain to answer the summons Clay had issued.
"Oh man, let me get that pan out of here," the nurse stated. "Terry, I need you in here stat." A very tall, bearded Hispanic orderly entered the bay. He had huge biceps and thighs and was a weightlifter.
"I know what you want me for,' Terry said as he went to the cabinet and pulled out a plastic bag and a bed liner. Turning to the bed he inquired, "Can you lift your body off the pan and keep it elevated as I remove it and put a liner under you? I'll get this out of here and then get you cleaned up." "Yeah, I can do that," AJ replied as he once more lifted his body and arched his back. Terry slipped the bedpan into the plastic bag, sealed it, and moved it to the foot of the bed. Then he opened the bed liner and put it under the teen's buttocks. He too noticed the 7" flaccid penis nestled in the red pubic hair. "You can relax now young man," Terry instructed.
The male nurse had gathered a washcloth and towel and toilet tissue to start the clean-up process. Do you want me to wipe you or do you wish to do it yourself?
"I'll do it," AJ replied accepting the toilet paper from the nurse. He began cleaning up his tender anus wincing in pain as the paper wiped away the remains of the bowel movement. He deposited the soiled papers into a trash bag the nurse held out to him.
"I'm Mark. Terry and I are assigned to you. Given the nature of your complaint, we thought it better to have us care for you versus the ladies."
"Thank you," AJ replied.
Terry returned carrying a basin towel and washcloth. He stated, "OK young man time to clean you up a bit more. Would you mind rolling over on your belly please?" Aj complied and rolled over. Terry spread the teen's buttocks apart revealing an angry look anal opening. Mark had filled the basin with warm water. He dipped the washcloth into it and then squeezed it out over the anus letting the soapy water wash across the area. He did those three times before taking the towel and gently patting the area dry.
"AJ, this is hydrocortisone. It is a single- dose that I'm going to insert into your body. You may feel slight pressure," he inserted the applicator about ¾ inch into the teen's anal opening, "but it should help protect the interior area of your anus. All done. Now I'm going to apply more around the anal opening as well." Mark squeezed out another single dose onto the teen's anus and with his gloved finger gently tapped around the anus spreading the medicine over the angry scarlet opening. "All done." Terry released AJ's buttocks. "Now if you could first sit up then stand up we'll change these sheets and get you into a fresh gown."
As the naked teen stood, Terry quickly removed the soiled liens and began making the bed as Mark helped AJ into a fresh gown. The ER Doctor arrived at that moment too. They were all started by the sounds of voices coming from the waiting room. Leo went to see what was going on as the doctor began his examination.
In the ER Sean had arrived with his five teenagers in tow. The teens took seats and pulled out their phones ready to keep themselves entertained while Sean went to the desk to check-in and gain access to his son and husband.
"Yes," the woman behind the desk said without ever looking up.
"My son and husband are in the ER. They were just transported by ambulance."
"The woman raised her head and looked at him. "So?'
"I want to go back to get an update."
"No."
"What do you mean no? I have a right to have access to my son."
"His father is with him."
"I'm his father also."
"Can't have two fathers. It's unnatural."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. It's unnatural to have two fathers. You can't go back."
Sean controlled his rising anger. He pulled out his phone, thumbed to video, and hit record. Victoria had also heard the exchange and she began filming the exchange at the check-in desk.
"You're telling me it is the policy of this hospital that both parents of a minor cannot be with the child in the ER?"
"No, I'm telling you two fathers can't exist. It's not natural."
"I suggest you get your supervisor down here."
"No, but I will get someone else down here." She picked up the phone and dialed an extension. "Burt, I need you in ER." She hung up. All 5 of Sean's children were now filming the exchange as a male security guard entered the ER.
"What's the problem here Lola?"
"My son is in the ER and she won't let me in," Sean noted as his phone recorded the exchange.
"I wasn't talking to you mister," the security guard snapped. "If she says you can't go in. You CAN'T GO IN! What part of NO don't YOU UNDERSTAND!"
"You're telling me it is the policy of this hospital that both parents of a minor cannot be with the child in the ER?"
"I'm telling you to get your brats and yourself off hospital property NOW! And don't come back."
"Come on kids. We're leaving but this isn't over."
Leo entered the lobby as Burt stated, "Damn faggots having children. Guess we showed him, Lola. I'll stick around in case he comes back."
"You jackasses. Do you know you just sent away one of the owners of Reed Enterprises?"
"So what, no unnatural person is coming in here telling me what to do," Lola stated belligerently.
"Junior Reed is going to be pissed." Leo went back in to tell Junior what he had witnessed.
Sean was texting Clay from the parking lot.
"Clay, they wouldn't let me in. Then I was told to take our brats and get off hospital property. I'm going to Mom and Dad's. Call me when you know something, and I'll come to get you guys."
"Leo, what the fuck is going on out there?" Clay asked when the paramedic returned to the ER bay.
"Two homophobes throwing their weight around." I witnessed the slurs.
The doctor returned then to ask a few more questions. "Mr. Reed do you know the best by date on the cookies your son ate?"
"No, I don't. I can ask my husband to go and check."
"Please ask him to bring them up here please."
"He can't Doc," Leo interjected, "Burt threw him off grounds."
"Is Burt drunk again?"
"Just being an asshole."
"Please call your husband. Tell him to bring the cookies and the pizza spice to the ER Ambulance Bay. Leo, you meet him there and bring the items directly to me."
"Yes, Sir Doc."
I'll call Tracey at home. She's going to just love hearing about Burt at 3 a.m."
"Lola is involved too. Her nut job church is always screaming about the Gay Agenda."
The doctor nodded and pulled out his phone and dialed the hospital administrator's home number.
Clay called Sean, "Babe, the doctor wants you to bring the Oreo cookies and the pizza spice to the hospital."
"I was told not to come back."
"Doc says bring it to the ambulance bay at the ER. Leo will meet you there."
"I'll drop the kids off at Mom's first. Brief her and then go get the stuff." Tell them I'll be back in an hour. Oh and we've uploaded the videos of the incident to the cloud. I'm sending them to Henry Bixley. I'm going to sue their righteous asses." "Sean, you need to take some deep breaths. Calm down. You're carrying precious cargo mister. Get the gang settled at Mom's house. I love you. I'll keep you posted on tests."
Sean followed his husband's order. Clay rarely told him what to do but when Clay did, he made a habit of trying to follow through. When he pulled into his in-law's driveway, he saw that RJ's jeep was parked there. All the lights were on in the house. The kids piled out and entered through the kitchen door all talking at once about how horrible they had been treated at the hospital.
"Shush now. Let your father speak," Mormor ordered. The gang of five stopped talking at once. Sean repeated what had happened. "Oh that Lola Rogers and Burt Henley think they're God almighty. They go to some little church out in Nocatee that's always complaining about gays and blacks and democrats!"
Leon shook his head. "Damn mess they created. I'll call the mayor in the morning. He needs to know the law is being flouted."
"Now Daddy, don't be getting yourself riled up," Martha looked at her husband with concern.
RJ added, "That's right Dad. Junior and Sean can handle it. Sean I'll ride with you to the house to get the stuff the doctor wants and then to the hospital in case Burt tries any more crap. He's scared shitless of me."
"Thanks, RJ. Mom, you want to get the kids settled for me?"
"Girls, you sleep in the spare bedroom. Boys you know where the sleeping bags are located. You've got the floor in the family room. Daddy, you head to bed too."
"But Martha,..." his wife's glare told him to stop talking and start heading to the bedroom.
Sean and RJ headed to the house in RJ's jeep. They retrieved the box of cookies from the refrigerator in Testosterone 2.0 and the shaker of pizza spice from the kitchen. On the way back into town Sean composed an email to Henry Bixley.
"Morning Henry, please review the attached videos. I believe our rights were violated and certainly hate speech was directed at us as well. The offending employees are Lola Rogers and Burt Henley. Just throwing numbers off the top of my head I think $8 million for emotional trauma... that's a million each... and $10 million for the discrimination against us. Let me know how soon you can file the suit. S. A. Walls."
Sean attached the 6 video files and hit send. A few minutes later they pulled into the parking lot and up to the ambulance bay. Leo was leaning against the ambulance puffing on a stogie. "RJ I haven't seen you in a coon's age."
"Hey, Leo. Yeah, it's been about 15 years since we crossed paths at the Honor America celebration for Armed Forces Day here."
"Yeah, that was a good time. Hello Mr. Walls, I'm sorry about the idiots in the ER. Doc called the administrator right after you left. "
"Thanks, Leo. I contacted my attorney already. There are going to be some changes here one way or another. Here are the items the doctor requested. If he needs more just have Clay call me. Do they know anything yet?"
"They drew lab work three times. The first results showed something, but they wanted more blood in case there was a mistake. I've been out here so I don't know if they've shared more yet with Clay."
Sean texted Clay, "Babe, RJ, and I are out in the parking lot by the ambulance bay. Tell AJ I love him."
"Can't you come in a back way?"
"I probably could but I was ordered out so until Henry tells me otherwise, I'm out."
"Oophta, you can always tell a Weegin you just can't tell them much. LOL"
"We'll be at Moms. I love you."
Clay came through the ambulance bay doors. He humped down and hugged his husband. "I love you too. `m so sorry you got to see the dark side of Arcadia tonight."
"Well, this place is going to see us in court. I also recall that we donated $100,000 grand after they took such good care of Dad last year. They won't be seeing anything like that from Reed Enterprises anytime soon."
"It was from the Reed Foundation set up after my grandfather died. We typically dole out money for civic projects once a year and just started giving a scholarship out a few years back. I forgot about we gave them that much. Junior, I agree. No more Reed Foundation money to Desoto Memorial."
"I want to get back to the kids. Dad's still up. Martha is trying to watch them and him," Sean noted. The couple hugged again and then pulled RJ gay into a three-way hug."
"Junior call me and I'll come and get you and AJ when they release him," RJ told his brother.
"Will do bro. Thanks."
As they rode back to Reed's retirement house Sean blurted, "Wait, what are you doing here? I thought you were on base."
"Long story short. Harri is in DC at a conference. The PCs are being updated and they closed our division for the rest of the week. My CO told me to take a few days. I didn't want to sit around the apartment alone, so I came home. And a damn good thing I did."
Sean threw his arm around his brother-in-law's shoulders, "I'm damn glad you did too!" The two rode in silence the rest of the way.
At the house, only the kitchen light was on. RJ parked then reached down and untied his shoelaces. He removed his shoes and got out of the car walking up the driveway in his socks. He held the door for Sean.
Sean asked, "What's with the socks only?"
"Don't want to wake the folks. Can't tell you how many times they have found me in bed when they get up. I just tiptoe around. I think it's a skill I learned as a teenager." He shot a shit-ass grin at Sean.
Inside the house was still. Martha had gotten everyone to settle down and all were asleep.
"You want to bunk in with me?" RJ asked.
"Thanks, I think I'll sleep with the boys. They put a sleeping bag on the couch for me. I'm going to look in on the girls first." He hugged his brother-in-law and walked down the hall to the guest room. Both girls were sound asleep. Vic had her arm thrown protectively over her younger sister. Sean closed the door and headed to the living room. He laid down on the couch and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Sean awoke with a start. Someone was tickling his feet, "What the fuck Clay!" He sat up to see a shit-eating grin on RJ's face.
"You're damn hard to wake up bro. Clay's been texting you."
What time is it?"
"O six hundred."
"Damn phone is still in sleep mode Are they ready to come home?
"Yes, appears AJ was poisoned."
"Poisoned!"
"Yeppers. He was poisoned, Let's get down there. The doc has already told Lola and Burt that you're coming in."
The trip to the hospital was nerve-wracking for Sean. "Who would poison our son? It makes no sense RJ."
"Let's hear what the doc has to say. Then we can figure it out."
Leo was waiting for them at DeSoto Memorial when they pulled in. He walked with them into the ER waiting room past Lola, Burt, and another woman with dark hair."
"That's Tracy Teague, the Administrator," Leo whispered. The paramedic took them to the bay occupied by AJ and Clay. The doctor saw them enter and followed close behind.
Good morning gentlemen. It appears AJ was poisoned yesterday. When we took his blood work initially there were some odd values in it. We ran the test two more times to confirm the results. We ran tests on the pizza spice and the cookies. The poison was laced in the icing of the cookies."
"What poisons?" Sean demanded.
The doctor explained, "There were high concentrations of methylcephaeline and cephaeline. They both act locally by irritating the gastric mucosa and centrally by stimulating the medullary chemoreceptor trigger zone to induce vomiting. In addition, mixed into the icing was senna glycoside a drug that is used to ease constipation. They are not found together naturally. Someone prepared those cookies to poison someone. The Sheriff is coming by to see and take possession of the evidence and get a statement. Where did you purchase the cookies?"
"We didn't," Clay interjected. "RJ did you or Mom do the shopping?"
"Mom did Junior. You think she would trust me with stocking a pantry?" The brothers shared a brief chuckle. "I'll call and ask her." He stepped out to get a signal to call his mother.
The doctor continued. "We've countered the effects of the poisons and rehydrated you AJ. You can go home in a bit after the Sheriff speaks with you. I've already ordered your discharge. You should take it easy today. Eat lightly so your system can get used to real food again. I've also ordered six single-dose packs of hydrocortisone to apply inside your anus. You can use a tube of regular hydrocortisone for the outer rim."
RJ came in shaking his head with an annoying grin on his face, "Robert Joseph Reed, when have you known ME to buy store-bought cookies?" he mimicked his mother's voice almost perfectly. So I would say they weren't bought by us. They were planted."
"Clay looked bewildered, "Who?"
Sheriff Johnson entered the bay at that moment. "That's the same question I'm asking Junior. Who would want to poison your family? Who had access to the house?"
RJ stepped forward, "I can answer that Sheriff, besides my Mom, Dad, and myself there would be the construction crew. As I think back on it, they used the quad for their lunch space with my blessing. They stored their stuff in the fridge there and utilized the bathrooms."
"How many are we talking about RJ?"
"At the height of construction 15. Towards the end 4 to 6."
"Do you have their names?"
"No Sheriff. I have the building supervisor's card in my wallet." He opened his wallet and fished through it until he found the card. "John Roberts, Sterling Construction." He handed the card to the Sheriff.
"Thank you, RJ. We'll follow up and report any findings of fact to Junior and Sean. I would suggest you go through the pantry and gather anything that you or your family did not purchase yourselves. Turn it over to us for processing." She turned to leave but stopped. Turning back she said, "Bring the whole family down to be fingerprinted tomorrow. It will help us rule out who touched that box of tainted cookies." She turned and left without another word.
The nurse came in and went over the discharge papers with Clay and AJ. "Do you have any questions?" Mark inquired.
"Nope pretty straightforward," Clay pronounced. "Thank you and Terry for being so kind." He signed the papers and Mark gave him the single doses of hydrocortisone. They gathered their things as AJ dressed once more.
Sean pulled the curtain back to find Tracy Teague standing there waiting for them. Mr. Walls and Mr. Reed, may I have a moment of your time to discuss the misunderstanding from earlier?"
Sean stopped long enough to say, "The matter has been referred to our attorney, Henry Bixley. You may take the matter up with him." The family left.
The family didn't see Ms. Teague clench her hands into fists as they walked away. Nor did they see her walk out of the Emergency Room into the lobby. She walked over to the desk where Lola and Burt were seated. "You're both fired. Clean out your lockers and get out of here." She dialed a number on her phone. When her call was answered she barked, "I need temps assigned to security and ER reception immediately. I fired the two incompetents who landed us in legal jeopardy." She then took a seat at the ER check-in waiting for patients to enter or the temp help to arrive.
When RJ, Junior, Sean, and AJ arrived at Martha and Leon's home they were greeted by 7 very excited and happy people. AJ was smothered with hugs and kisses. "I've got breakfast almost ready for the table. My grandchildren have been very helpful'" Mormor announced. She led the way into the kitchen followed by all 6 teenagers, Leon, Sean, Junior, and RJ brought up the rear. Within minutes the teens were bringing food to the dining room table which had been set. When Martha took her seat, she announced, "I'm saying grace," as she reached for Leon's and Victoria's hands. "O God, the source of all health: So fill our hearts with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy we may make room for your power to possess us, and gracefully accept your healing. Bless this food to the use of our bodies and we thank you for those who successfully treated and cared for Andrew Joseph: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Vic started, "What happened AJ?" she passed the toast to her left.
"I was poisoned when I ate the Oreo cookies from the fridge in Testosterone 2.0."
Seven shocked faces all said together, "Poisoned?"
"Yes, Mom, Dad, and offspring - AJ was poisoned," Junior opined. We don't know who or why, but the Sheriff is personally heading the investigation into it. We must go through the pantries and remove anything you didn't buy Mom. So it would be helpful if you have the receipts so we can match stuff up later today. We are to turn anything not on the list over to the Sheriff. Oh and all of us will need to go down and be fingerprinted tomorrow."
"What kind of poison son? Was it rat poison?" Leon inquired.
"Let me see if it's written on the discharge papers." He pulled the yellow copy from his pants pocket. "It says here high concentrations of methylcephaeline and cephaeline and senna glycoside."
"What do they do?" Erik inquired.
"Oh that's easy," Fifth threw in. "They make you hurl and squirt at the same time." He chuckled. "Sorry AJ, I guess it's not as funny as I made it sound."
"Not a problem Fifth. You were there for me last night. You all were. Thank you. I love you all." Tears ran down the teen's face.
"Eat up," Mormor said.
"He must go easy, Mom. Doc said small meals for a day or two until his stomach can get used to real food again."
"Well, then y'all can eat his portions. AJ, I'll back you a batch of thumbprint cookies in a day or two. What would you like them filled with, Hersey's kisses as usual or something else?"
"Mormor the chocolate would remind me of the Oreos, I think. How about strawberry or apricot jam in the centers?"
"Consider it a done deal Andrew."
The family broke into discussions about the day ahead. Sean called the high school at 8:30 and told them that they needed to reschedule for Thursday afternoon as one of his sons had been poisoned and was just out of the hospital.
"AJ there will be no driving lesson today. We'll pick that up tomorrow. I just want to get home and sleep."
"We've got the managers meeting today, Clay," Sean reminded him.
"Let me take that for you," RJ said.
"Thanks, bro, I appreciate it. I'm exhausted."
"I'll text them to come here for the meeting so you guys can relax. You'd like to hear the updates too don't you Dad?"
"Yes, I'd enjoy hearing what's going on."
"I'll find my receipts and come over and start going through the cupboards around 10. The young folks can help me." "Guess we should wear latex gloves, Mormor," Erik added, "in case we find clues."
"Smart thinking Erik," Sean complimented his son.
"Thanks, Pops."
Sean's phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Henry Bixley. "Good morning, Henry! Yes, AJ is ok. He was poisoned by drugs put into the icing of Oreo cookies. Let me put you on speaker phone."
"Can you hear me?" Henry asked.
"Loud and clear," Junior replied.
"Do we need to prepare a suit against the manufacturer?"
"Let's wait on that," Sean added, "until the Sheriff is done investigating. What about action against the hospital?"
"I reviewed the videos. No doubt you were discriminated against. I'm calling as I've prepared two suits. One against the hospital for state law violations and one federal for the HIPA violations. In the local, we are asking for 1 million dollars in damages for mental abuse for each of you and a penalty of $25 million for not adequately training the staff. I doubt you'll see that kind of money nut we must start somewhere."
"That's fine Henry. I want to include in there that they are also required to retrain the two individuals in dealing with diverse populations. That means developing an HR program that specifically addresses LGBTQAI individuals," Sean added.
"Understood. Give me a second to type that into the relief sought." They could hear a keyboard being typed on. "Done and done. DeSoto County has an online portal to file motions and suits. I'm now recording this call. Is everyone aware the call is now being recorded?"
Everyone in the room answered, "Yes."
"Do I have your permission Mr. Walls and Mr. Reed to file these lawsuits against Desoto Memorial Hospital, Lola Rogers, and Burt Henley as I've outlined?"
"This is Sean Andreas Walls. You have my permission."
"This is Leon Clayton Reed IV. You have my permission."
"Thank you. The recording is now off. I am also going to rally the press against the hospital. I'll file the suit at 11 AM. At Noon I'll notify the media outlets serving your area of the lawsuits. I'll also tip them off that a courier will deliver copies to the hospital at 4 PM. We'll include a thumb drive of the videos as well. Afterward, I'll have my courier distribute copies of the suit to the press present."
"Henry you're starting to think like me."
"Sean, I take that as a compliment." They heard him chuckling. "AJ I'm glad you're doing well. Take care of yourself. Remember to refer all questions to me. Bye for now."
The call ended.
Vic was the first to ask, "We each get a million bucks?"
"No, we're asking for $1 million each. The guard did throw you out and call you brats," Sean reminded her. "A jury will determine how much if anything we get. We have a long way to go in this process."
"And we have a short drive to make to the house. OK, gang clean-up detail. Mormor cooked it we clean it," Clay ordered. The six teens jumped up and started carrying dishes to the kitchen. Vic started washing and Erik and Fifth dried. Gitte put things away and AJ and Gunnar wiped down the table and carried out the trash.
Saying goodbye was always a lengthy process, but eventually after 20 minutes of hugs and we will see you later the Reed Walls family was in the Escalade and ready to start the short drive home. Martha, Leon, and RJ waved from the stoop as Sean maneuvered the vehicle out of the driveway. It only took a few minutes to drive up to their entrance. Once through Sean hit the gate closure button on the visor and proceeded up to the house.
"Remember guys and gals. Don't eat anything we didn't purchase. Mormor will be here in 45 minutes to start going through things. Do you all remember the gate code?"
Gitte and Gunnar answered, "eight - five -- two -- two." "Correct, Repeat it, everyone."
"Eight -- Five -- Two -- Two," the six teens recited together.
"Great job guys but someone didn't participate, did he Leon Clayton Reed IV!"
"Good one Pops!" Fifth laughed while hitting his dad in the shoulder.
"Now all together, Eight -- Five -- Two -- Two!"
"That's teamwork!" Sean shouted and everyone filed out of the car and headed to the various wings of their home.
Clay and he walked wearily into the main house and headed for the elevator. When they arrived on the second floor, they entered their bedroom and closed the door. They went to their bed and collapsed onto it. Within minutes Farm Boy had spooned back into his Chief and both men fell asleep fully clothed with their shoes on.
Sean woke up first around 1 PM. He realized he was hungry. He sniffed the air. Someone was cooking downstairs. He carefully disengaged from Clay. He left their room and could smell fresh coffee and something spicy being prepared. In the kitchen, he found Martha supervising Fifth who was browning ground meat and preparing tacos for lunch. Sheriff Johnson sat at the table talking with AJ who saw his father enter the room.
"Pops, the Sheriff came to pick up the stuff we found. It was all from the kitchen in Testosterone 2.0."
"Hello, Sheriff. Very kind of you to come by. That's interesting AJ that it was all in your wing. We would have brought it to you Sheriff."
"It's a chain of custody thing Sean. Thankfully the kids wore gloves."
"That was Erik's suggestion."
"You've raised a smart bunch here. I best be getting back to the office to get these processed."
"Ah Sheriff, can't you stay for tacos. I made extra so you could eat with us," Fifth whined.
"Well, you twisted my arm young man. I'll be happy to stay."
Fifth finished getting everything laid out on the counter. Martha pushed the intercom, "Come and get it."
Within minutes 4 additional teenagers were lining up to make their tacos and Clay stumbled into the kitchen rubbing his eyes. His caged cock pushed at his pants as it tried to expand.
"Look what the cat dragged in," Martha greeted her oldest boy.
Clay swooped her up in his arms and swung her in a circle before sitting her down.
"Bet you little boy couldn't do that 30 years ago."
"No, he couldn't." Martha laughed. "But I recall doing that to him."
Fifth interjected, "Foods getting cold, and no one's said grace so here goes, "Bless this food O Lord we pray. Make it go safe through our passageways. Amen!"
"Hey, you stole that," Junior complained.
"Consider it a compliment," Fifth shot back at his dad.
Everyone fixed their plate with the Sheriff going first as their guest of honor.
"Fifth, you're going to make some girl, or guy, a great husband. Handy in the kitchen. My husband grills outside ok but in the kitchen, he burns water!" The Sheriff laughed.
The conversation was light and good-natured. The kids talked about what the new school year would be like. The adults chatted about adjusting to the move and changing life goals. The sheriff left as did Martha. Vic and Gitte cleaned up the kitchen. Clay repaired to the office to go over reports that had been emailed in. Sean stripped off his clothes and head out to the pool. Fifth, Erik, and AJ headed to their wing, but Gunnar stripped down and laid out beside his father by the pool.
"I'm ready to continue our discussion Pops," Gun suggested.
"You're wondering if I am though."
"I was kind of hoping you would be."
"Well you know your dad and I know pretty much what each of our boys is up to sexually speaking. I could smell semen in the TV room last night. I assume you all jerked off together. We're not as clear on the girls. Fifth tells me y'all know not to disturb us behind a locked door. But I'm curious what you or your siblings think goes on between your dad and me."
"You're right. We had our first circle jerk last night. It was amazing. We each have our technique for getting off. Do you want details?"
"No."
"Good cause I wouldn't have told you anyway. But to answer your question, we know the room in the stables was your playroom. Fifth was on the weight bench in the gym when you two came out of there one night. He saw a bunch of leather stuff before you turned off the light and locked the door. He started looking up gay and leather on the Internet and soon was clueing us in that our parents were into some serious kink. We don't know the specifics and we don't want to know."
"Wow guess that cat is out of the bag."
"Yeah, you could say that. But it doesn't explain how you got into it. At our last talk, you explained how you got into redheads and being a top. How old were you when you got into kink?"
"Eighteen."
"That just two years before you met Dad."
"Correct. Rick and I played around with handcuffs and blindfolds. Hell, we even pissed on each other. But it was when I was eighteen and able to go into the Parliament House that I started learning about kink. Way back then you could walk what was called the great gray way. Men in search of sex would leave their doors open so you could see what they were seeking. Others left their drapes open so you could watch them having sex."
"Exhibitionists?"
"Yes. Anyway, I haunted the place almost nightly. It was a few weeks after I turned 18 that I stopped by there on a Friday night. I didn't know it was leather night. Since I didn't have any leather on, I had to take off my shirt. I hit the great gray way and soon found myself on the back side of the building on the second floor. A room I hadn't seen open before had its curtains pulled back. There was a guy dressed all in leather tormenting a guy in a sling. I was mesmerized, standing there watching a guy beating another guy's balls, slapping his dick, and pinching the guy's nipples. Then the guy turned suddenly and looked right at me through the window. His blue eyes burned into me. I took off like a scared rabbit."
"Did you ever see him again?"
"Oh yes. I saw him later that very night. After I left the balcony, I went to the dance club and worked up a sweat. After a couple of hours of dancing, I decided to go outside and cool off. I walked toward the pool and that's where I saw the guy from the room. His eyes burned into mine and I got nervous again. I picked up my pace and headed for the great gray way. Walking the second floor until I was opposite the pool. The guy's back was toward me, but another guy was standing in front of him that I hadn't seen before. The second guy nodded to the guy in leather and headed toward the office. I turned my attention to the speedo glad men horsing around in the pool.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was the guy who had been talking with the guy in leather. "Excuse me, young man. My Master asks that you join us on the bench in the courtyard. Now." He took my hand and drew me along with him, down the stairs to the first level and to the bench where the leather glad man sat smoking a pipe.
I stood there gazing at an older man in his late 50s or early 60s. To this day, I'm still not sure how old he is. His beard was red tinged with silver. His eyes were a brilliant deep blue. He looked me over.
"Bit of a twink, aren't you?" he asked in a deep resonate voice.
"I guess so."
"I guess so what?"
I was confused then I got it.
"I guess so Sir," I replied.
"Very smart boy, aren't you?"
"I guess so Sir."
"And a quick learner. Did you enjoy watching what I was doing to that slave upstairs?"
I thought a moment, "Yes Sir. I was hard."
"Think you could take it?"
"I don't know Sir."
"Willing to try?"
Gunnar, "I was at the moment of decision. I could see what it was all about, or I could walk away. I'm willing to try Sir."
"How old are you twink?"
"Eighteen, Sir. I had a birthday two weeks ago."
"Arn check his license," he ordered the other guy. I handed him my wallet and Arn pulled out the license.
"He's 18 Sir as he said. Birthday was two weeks ago." He handed the license to his Master.
"Alright Sean Andreas Walls, we're willing to take you back to our house in winter Park and introduce you to our kinks. Arnold will ride with you to show you the way and I'll drive ahead. Still willing?"
"Gunnar, I realized this guy had now given me four chances to walk away. The first was when he sent Arnold for me. I didn't have to go. The second was when he asked if I was willing to try. The third was when he asked for my license. The fourth was after he told me Arnold would be riding with me. I went willingly with them.
"You're talking about Uncle William and Uncle Arnold, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am."
"I wouldn't have figured them for a kinky couple Pops."
"That's because you didn't know them in their younger days. You see them as old men. But I can tell you, I think they're both still training new guys on how to be submissive."
"Are you a submissive Pops?"
"Nope. William found that out quickly enough. He started training me as a Dominant top after just a few weeks."
"So Dad is the submissive?"
"That's a question only he can answer Gunnar. You need to learn that when it comes to sex. You don't talk about what you do with your partners."
"Why Pops?"
"If you had sex with someone your age and they went out and blabbed, how would you feel?
"I wouldn't be happy."
"Exactly. Sexual pleasure is a gift God gave to humanity. It's meant to be enjoyed and treasured. It is between two people and what those two people do is no one else's business."
"Are you going to tell me how you were trained?"
"No. You told me earlier you and your brothers looked up gay and leather. You have a general idea. You don't get the intimate details of my sex life beyond what I have already shared. I don't kiss and tell. I suggest you develop the same standard." Sean rose from his chair and jumped into the pool.
Gunnar wandered over to Testosterone 2.0 and headed up to his room.
Shortly after 5 PM, Clay came out of his office to see Sean making a meatloaf for dinner. "Chief did you get the mail?"
"No, I didn't. Did you get caught up?"
"Yeah, I'm almost there. Should have it all organized by this time next week for sure."
"Gunnar and I continued our talk this afternoon."
"Oh, anything you care to share?"
"Yeah, the boys know we are into leather kink. Fifth saw into the dungeon one night when he was in the gym when we walked out."
Clay let out a low whistle. "So much for trying to be discreet."
He wanted details which I wouldn't give him. He and his brothers have already looked things up on the web. Let their little minds run wild. He also asked me who the submissive was in our relationship."
"Fuck. Did you tell him?
"I told him Will trained me as a Dom top. He asked if you were the sub and I told him to ask you."
"Thanks. Another discussion you don't want to have with your teenager."
"Tell or don't tell. I told him what people do with each other is no one else's business. Now please go get the mail." Dinner will be ready in one hour."
Clay meandered down the driveway. As he came around the bend in the drive, he saw the TV studio trucks parked outside their gate with their antennae pointed to the heavens. Questions were being shouted at him as he approached the gate, opened it, and walked to the mailbox. He retrieved his mail and returned to the gate.
"Y'all need to leave now," he called while waving and smiling.
"Mr. Reed, Sonja Struthers, WINK News. Did you know that the two employees named in your lawsuits were fired this morning?"
Clay turned around. After a few moments, he walked back to the gate." I'll give you a statement." The reporters grew quiet. "The incident at DeSoto Memorial which led to our lawsuit was very regrettable. Our lawsuit does not request that anyone be fired. We asked for retraining of the staff. I'm sure our attorney furnished you with copies of the complaint. Please direct any further questions to Henry Bixley." He turned and walked back to the house.
The mail was all business-related, so he dropped it on his desk before returning to the kitchen. He found Sean in the family room playing cards with Erik and AJ. "They fired those two idgets from last night," Clay reported."
"We didn't ask for that," Sean reminded him.
"That's what I told the reporters gathered at the gate."
"So we're prisoners in our own home?"
"Hardly, we always have the west gate."
"Oh yeah. I keep forgetting there are all sorts of ways in and out of this property. Come over here and let me tickle you back."
Clay pulled off his shirt revealing the bruise marks from the carbon fiber filament. He sat on the floor in front of Sean. His Chief used a very light touch to tickle and caress his lover's back and sides.
"You know Chief if I wasn't locked in this chastity cage, I'd be hard as nails right now. My cock burns as you touch my skin so lightly and gently. You know how to read what I need when I need it."
"Happens when you're an old married couple."
"Get a room," Fifth jeered as he walked in from the patio toweling off from the pool. "When's dinner?"
"Check the timer on the over," Sean directed.
"Forty minutes." So we plan on eating at 6?"
"You're so bright your parents call you sonny." Sean quipped.
"You fixed it. I'll serve it," Fifth offered.
"That would be wonderful son, thank you. Dad and I are going upstairs to shower. We haven't done that today."
"Who you think you're fooling Pops! You two are heading for a little afternoon delight."
Clay rounded on their oldest boy, "Leon Clayton Reed V. I suggest you keep a civil tongue in your head. You could find yourself riding the bench ALL season."
"Point taken, Dad. I'm sorry if I got ahead of myself.
Buzz us when the oven timer goes off," Sean instructed. He then led Farm Boy upstairs for a little afternoon delight for himself and a frustrating teasing session rotating between tapping and prostate massage.