I Woke Up 159 by M.P. Arsent
Copyright to this story remain strictly that of the author. No other publication or use of this story is allowed without the consent of the author. This story contains male on male sexual content both implied and explicit. If this offends you please do not continue. All characters and implied situations are strictly those of the author and are not based on any real life events or characters. If you are under 18 years of age please exit this story now. I welcome all responses to my stories. Please make sure that you list the name of the story in the email line. If your email is to alert me of misspelled words or improper punctuation or grammar save your time because it will be deleted. I hope you enjoy my vivid imagination. Please let me know what you think at mparsent@gmail.com and don't forget to donate to Nifty as they do an amazing job.
"This has got to stop before somebody gets seriously hurt."
"Easy Mr Sawyer. We're doing everything we can to get him."
"Yeah, everything that can legally be done."
"Don't even think about it Mr Sawyer."
"Oh I can think it but the chances are slim to none that I'd do it. Still if there was a way to set him up I'd be game for it."
"It's been tried before without success."
"Well something sure as hell has to be done. It's not like the team hasn't been told what's going on."
"You told them?"
"After that dart incident I had to tell them something, and I'll be damned if I'm going to lie to them."
"Huddle up!"
Coach had returned from his office at this point.
"Ok guys this is crunch time. You're all aware of what Dennis has told us. Now it looks like things are really getting serious. This has to be a decision each and every one of you makes. Do we go on with our season and take our chances,or do we play it safe and forfeit? Dennis?"
"I'll vote last. I don't want to influence anybody."
"Fair enough, and just to be sure this is not an all or nothing. If there are enough of you that stay in that we can field a team so be it and if not just as good as well."
Dana moved in where he could be seen.
"At this point I don't know whether or not I'll be in any shape to compete or not, but I'm still in."
So it went right down the line even including Dwayne and Jack,until it got to me.
"I'm seeing this through to the end."
"Alright then. Go grab some lunch and then we'll get back to it."
Everybody went and got their sweats on and went to see about getting themselves some lunch, everybody but Dwayne. He went right back to working out.
"Dwayne take the break for crying out loud."
"No way Dennis. I'm still part of this team and come hell or high water I'm going to be ready in case I have to step up."
"Be realistic Dwayne. You've been out of it for several months now. You can't build that back in a week."
"You're wrong Den. I've been working out every other day since I got out of the hospital. My upper body strength hasn't suffered at all. It's just my leg that I need to get in shape. The muscle is all healed and I've had the physical therapy all along. I not only can do it but I will."
He went right back to work and I stayed there to spot him. If he was bound and determined to do this, at least I was going to see he was safe about it.
The leg was what was giving Dwayne the most problems,which meant that the most amount of work had to be done on the vault and the floor excercise, aside from his landings on just about everything.
We went through the afternoon session pretty much as we did the morning, except for Dana. Coach let us all go about 5. Dwayne was going to stay and work more, but coach plain and simply threw him out of the room.
I went and did my few laps and then hit the whirlpool and Dwayne was there.
"You want, I'll work all week with you."
"You've got your own life to take care of Den."
"True, but it is pretty solid at this point, and Karl is kinda of used to my getting tunnel vision when we get close to a meet."
"I'd appreciate it Den, but coach will be there too."
"Yeah watching everybody at once except maybe on Tuesday."
"True enough. Fine he opens the room tomorrow I'll be pulling another all day."
"I'll be over here first thing in the morning. We can always use the weight room if nothing else."
"Done and done."
Now all I had to do was tell Karl.
I was back to the frat and Karl was there talking to the guys. He took one look at me and knew something was up. We headed to my room in silence.
"What now Den?"
"Has the word spread yet about what happened at practice?"
"I haven't heard anything."
"One of the rings snapped and Dana pulled his shoulder. The shadow thinks the rope was tampered with."
"That's it Den. Your season just ended."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me! This is going to god damned far!"
"Karl listen to me. We put it to a vote and the team is determined to see the season through to the end."
"Fine for the fucking team. They aren't my worry. YOU are."
"Karl.....please.... don't fight me on this. I'm completeing the season and going to the all states with the team. They all, everyone of them, voted to stay the distance,even Dwayne,who I'm going to be helping the rest of the week. He's bound and determined to be ready to step up if he is needed."
"WEll hoo fucking ray for Dwayne. He's not my concern. Is taking home a chunck of metal more important to you than us?"
I went and took Karl in my arms.
"At this point it's not the damn medal that matters. If I back down from this, I'll be backing down from things for the rest of my life. You know damn happy well that's not me. Nothing is more important than us Karl, but no matter what I do, one of us is going to be miserable unless we can come to an agreement."
Karl was fairly trembling in my arms.
"I can't loose you Den."
"And you won't. Nothing that has allegedly been done by Andros, or whoever is behind all of this, has been lethal. There's no reason to believe that anything that might be done will be either. We still haven't figured out what the end game is. Does it look like somebody is trying to force a win for Dresmire? Yeah it does. Will that make them the odds on favorite to take the all states? Again yes it does. Is that what whoever wants to happen? At this point I sure as hell don't know and probably the only one who does it whoever is trying to manipulate things. Is that Andros? Sure as hell looks like it to me."
"You can't be sure lover. Somebody gets desperate enough things could very well turn lethal."
"There's always that chance Karl, but hell just crossing the street is a chance."
"You're not making me feel any better about things Den."
"Karl short of becoming a recluse hermit, or turning the campus into an armed fortress,every precaution has been taken that we can. I doubt the President is any better taken care of except for sheer numbers."
"I don't care about the President, I care about you."
"And I care about you too lover. Karl.....I'll back out if that's really what you want me to do."
"As much as I want to say yes to that, I know you would be miserable for it Den, and if you're miserable then there's no way in hell we can be happy. You do this, but so help me god, if anything happens to you,I'm going after Andros and I don't mean maybe."
"It only looks like he is behind things lover. Hell even the government hasn't got enough to move against him and they've been known to do it on the flimsiest of evidence."
"Yeah I suppose."
"I missed lunch. Let's go get something to eat."
We went over to the cafeteria for our meal tonight and then for our walk. It was back to the frat for the evening.
Sunday morning and we were out jogging and then into the cafeteria for breakfast. Everybody else got about their day and I headed over to the Rec Center to keep my promise to Dwayne. It was early yet and the apparatus room wasn't open. Dwayne and I hit the weight room and started work to build up his leg muscles again.
A couple of hours later I checked and the room was open. Dwayne and I were over there and a few of the guys were around. Dwayne let me get in a bit of a workout first before we went to work on his floor excercise. Coach seemed to be keeping a particlar eye on us. When we took a bit of a break coach came over to us.
"Don't push so hard Dwayne. We're in good shape for this meet and I don't need you hurting yourself by pushing too hard."
"Ain't no way I'll be ready just in case if I don't push coach. Everybody has worked to damn hard this season for it all to fall apart. Is Dana going to ber able to compete next weekend?"
"It looks as though he should be able to."
"Then I'll slow down a little but I'm going to be ready just in case."
"From what I just saw you're not that far away Dwayne. I'd put you in as alternate if I had to."
"Thanks coach but I'm not quitting for the day yet."
"Fine, your floor seems to be in pretty good shape. Let's see you work the rest of the stations for a bit the rest of the day."
"Ok coach."
I spotted Dwayne all around the floor. His landings were getting better and along about 3 in the afternoon he had enough for the day.
I didn't do the pool today and we hit the whirlpool together.
"Will you be here tomorrow Den?"
"If you're going to be here I'll be here."
"Then I'll see you at 4 if not before."
"You got it."
It was only a little bit later that I was showered and on my way back to the frat. As I expected Karl was there waiting on me.
"How's Dwayne looking?"
"Coach is ready to put him in as alternate if needs be."
"Well that sounds promising. So you could drop out?"
"Ain't happening short of injury and you know it Karl."
"I can always try and talk some sense into you."
"Yeah and that has worked how many times?"
"Point taken. Did you get any lunch?"
"No I didn't. Shall we hit the buffet tonight?"
"Works for me."
We got my shadow and headed out to the mall and the asian buffet. The place wasn't that busy so we were right in and I made more than my usual number of trips through the line tonight.
We got back to campus without any problems and Karl and I had our kiss and the shadow and I made it back to the frat.
The week went pretty much as expected with classes. Every afternoon right up thru Thursday was spent working with Dwayne.
Karl wasn't all that happy a camper for the week, but came Friday afternoon after class and he was right there along with a load of other people to see us off to Dresmire.
Now all we had to do was get there and settle in for the night.