Chapter 7
Entering the halls of the Hospital, the stench of disinfectant over powers their senses, like some gaseous fumes seeping out of the bowels of the earth. In the maze of corridors they travel. Passing a room with a poor old man moaning, maybe from pain, maybe from being out of his mind, or maybe from sheer loneliness. Tom's heart goes out to these people, wondering if there isn't something he could do to help these poor souls that Society has forgotten. Maybe he could do something important that these people would benefit from. But not just the poor of financially, but the poor of spirit. A tear wells up in his eye as they pass the room that his Mother died in after the accident. As Tom and Paul walk down the corridor, hand in hand, Tom's head keeps turning to look into the empty room, seeing the events that took place 14 years ago as he held the hand of his Mother as she passed away. Remembering the conversation with Isaiah earlier in the evening, feeling a great and overpowering remorse and sense of loss that his Mother wasn't there to explain it all. Tom turns his head back to Paul, nuzzling his face into Paul's neck trying to subdue the overwhelming tears that are welling up from deep inside, and ending up wiping them onto Paul's shirt collar.
They stop as Paul looks at Tom with a quizzical expression on his face that asks what's wrong? All Tom can do is look at Paul and point to the room where his mother died, and burst's into tears. Paul takes his friend in his arms and standing there in the hall, Tom is comforted by Paul's loving embrace, in the hall as Tom cries in the comfort of Paul's arms. Breaking the trance of the embrace, they continue down the maze of corridors. By now the Emergency Room Admittance Desk is quiet, the tired nurse behind the counter looks as if she has aged about ten years in the last few hours. Locating Doreen's room, Paul gets ready too knock.
"Maybe I should wait out hear till you know she isn't going to blow up that I am hear." Tom say's with a voice still quaking from the memories the Hospital has resurrected in his mind.
Paul reaches out and tenderly strokes his lovers face with the palm of his hand wiping a tear away, "Are we or are we not going to fight for custody of the child?" Paul asks, no not asks, but more as a statement of fact with a slight questioning in his tone of voice.
"We are," Tom replies, "no matter who the father is." Both men were surprised by what Tom had said, Paul had been confronted by the aspect from Doreen's recall of the events as she was unconscious, but never accepted the possibility of the child not being his. Paul reaches out and takes Tom's hand, With a deep breath from down deep inside of the wrenched guts, Paul knocks on Doreen's room. Waiting for an answer from with in the room. The Door opens slightly and peeking through the door is the guard that was on post outside the door.
"She is being questioned by the Police, she will be able to see you shortly." The Police woman said and closed the door.
"That bitch can wait on me for a change, I'm not here for her commands!" Paul bitterly stated, "hey, let's go to the car for a little bit, I need to relax." They quickly head to the car, passing the duty nurse at the Emergency Desk, hearing here call out in a blatant state of intoxication, "have a good night boys, {hick-up*}." They look at each other and smile, heading to Tom's car they climb in and turn on the music. Tom has an excellent collection of R&B and even some very good new age. Tom puts in a good quiet CD and reaches into his glove box and pulls out the joint that he had placed there for emergency purposes only. Handing the joint to Paul, and looking him straight in his eyes, "just shut up and light it, nobody is going to pay attention to us smoking in the car!"
With the passing of the joint back and fourth between the two of them, the car starts filling with a green gray hazy smoke as they finish the happy stick. The two just set there staring off into space, in the early morning hours as they hold each others hands, the CD starts playing Enya's "Sail Away, Onrico Flow", and the two start giggling and laughing at the timing of the song. After a few minutes, they notice that shift change has started as they see the haggard duty nurse from the Emergency Room Desk stagger out and sit on the bus stop, clinging to her bag and pulling out her bottle of liquor and taking a drink.
Breaking the recurring giggles from the weed's effect, Paul looks at Tom, "well, you ready to face the bitch now?" Tom looks over to Paul, eyes noticeably effected and speech slurred, head nodding back and forth says, "what bitch is that?"
They both giggle some more as Tom turns off Enya and they start opening there car doors, wrenching there stoned minded bodies out of the car. Walking back to the Emergency Entrance, the two stop as they see the bus role up to where the nurse is sitting, the bus stops and the driver gets out and wakens the nurse and helps her onto the bus, then drives away. The two men look at each other, smile, give each other a tight grip of their hands and proceed on into the Hospital.
Doreen's Door opens as the Dr. leaves, closes the door and greets the two men.
"How is she Doc?" Paul asks, feeling the effects of the Marijuana, and wondering if the Dr. will be slighted for them being stoned or slighted because he wasn't invited.
"She is resting comfortably now," the Dr. says, "you can see her, she should be able to talk." The Dr. puts his hand on Paul's shoulder, she knows that she was pregnant with twins, and lost one."
"Say Doc," Tom tries to control the effect's of the weed, "is there a way you can tell the Paternity of the infant that she lost?"
The Dr. looks quizzically at the two.
Paul looks at the Dr. and says, "I don't think that the child was mine, I think Carlos may have been the father, and further, I think from what she said earlier, she knew Carlos and had a previous sexual encounter, only that time it was of mutual consent." Paul feeling very self conscious about what he said.
The Dr. pulls them away from Doreen's Door and whispers, "I will see what I can do, I think you may be right, the whole scenario of what she said happened just doesn't seem right to me, she told the Police that it was technically a break in, that she was going out to the car when this man forced his way into the apt. I'll let you know what I find out." The Dr. gives Paul a handshake and heads down the hall.
Heading back to her room, knocking and slowly opening the door Paul peeks threw and sees Doreen sleeping in her bed. That sight of her almost made him feel sorry for her, for all that had happened, but not quite. They quietly enter and approach her bedside. Tom stands slightly behind Paul as he takes her wrist and gives her a gentle shake.
"Doreen," Paul says, "It's Paul, I'm here, and Tom's here too, we're here for you." Paul had a gut wrenched feeling as he heard himself say those words, like someone had just filled his stomach with some vile liquid that at any moment was going to cause him to heave.
Doreen stirs and moans, "Is that you Paul?" She asks with a voice that was totally lacking of energy and filled with pain.
"Yes Dor, It's Paul, and Tom is here for you too."
"I'm here for you Doreen." Tom speaks up only because he wanted to make a good appearance.
"What the hell is he doing here!" She angrily screams. Gone is the weakness of voice and the portrayal of pain and the false sense of pity.
"Well," Paul says disgustedly, "I'm glad to see that this "little" incident hasn't caused you to loose your acting abilities!"
"Fuck the both of you! You... you... Assholes!" Doreen roles over in bed, facing away from the two men.
Tom grabs her wrist and pulls her back to face him. "Listen hear Bitch, I have taken all I am going to take from your lying, conniving, vindictive self centeredness, Tom is a part of my life and you can't do anything to stop our friendship."
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!!" Doreen screams at the top of her lungs.
"O.K., we're leaving," Paul says as they turn and stop at the door, "but just one question before I go, did you shoot Carlos because he wanted to do it different then the way you always demand on having sex, or were you just P.M.S.ing as usual?"
Doreen grabs the plastic pitcher of water and throws it threw the air at the two men. She sits their on the bed raging with anger like a spoiled brat that didn't get her way.
Tom and Paul duck from the flying water pitcher. Look at each other, grin, and say in harmony, "as usual" as they leave the room.
Leaving the hospital with traffic at it's heaviest with people rushing to work and people rushing home, and people just rushing to get know where, the two start on the ride home. Not much was said as they drove, no music played, no conversation was attempted, just a dull ache of frustration and pain engulfed the two men from what they both experienced at the hand of Doreen. After and hour and a half of driving in heavy traffic, they finally get home. Paul gets out of the car and notices an envelope in the back seat, reaching for it, reading the words "Adoption Records" in Tom's Fathers hand, realizing that Tom had this when he came to the hospital, but didn't say anything about it. Paul just stands there with this look of complete disbelief of what he held in his hand.
Tom getting out of the car see's Paul and what he has in his hand. "Oop's, forgot all about that." As Tom chuckles to himself about how he forgot one of the two most important reasons for following Tom to the hospital. "Come on, lets get some breakfast."
Heading into the house he drops his keys on the marble entry table that he saved from his parents household furniture, heading to the phone, picks it up and dials.
One ring... Two rings... third ring..."Good Morning, Cooper and Associates," Nancy greets the call with her usual exuberance.
"Nancy, it's Tom, I'm not gonna make it in today, been at the Hospital with a friend all night and I just got home, and am going to bed."
"Is everything O.K. Tom? Are you all right?" Nancy's urgent tone of voice made Tom realize just how much she really cared for him.
"I'm fine, just very tired, any messages?" Tom asks.
"Oh yes, almost forgot, Mr. Johansen called this morning wanting to meet you for lunch." Nancy say's, "he called just a few minutes ago."
Tom takes a deep breath and pauses for a moment, "Tell Mr. Johansen that I will call him later this evening, to get his home phone number from him."
"O.K. boss, anything else?" Nancy inquires.
"No Nan, just hold down the fort today, I'll make it up to you." Tom always says that but it never seems to happen.
"Oh sure, boss, how many times have I heard that before?" Nancy retorts back with a sense of toying in her voice too her boss.
"You're write, Nancy, I've said that all to often. Just to make it up to you," Tom says, "turn the answering machine on, leave a good message on it, and take the rest of the day off with pay and give yourself a $1.00 and hour raise for all my promises of making it up too you."
"Oh!" Nancy gasps, "I didn't mean for you to do that, but thank you!"
"Sure thing Nancy, just call Mr. Johansen before you leave, O.K.?"
"Yes Sir, and thank you Tom, you really are a sweet man to work for. I'll leave Mr. Johansen's phone number on with your messeging service. Have a good sleep boss." Nancy hangs up as she giggles from her surprise raise and the generosity of her boss.
Tom hangs up the phone and looks over to Paul. Paul has this shit eating grin on his face, as he walks over to Tom and gives him a hug and kiss. "You really are an old softy, aren't you." Paul say's.
"Who you calling old." Tom replies with a jab to Paul's ribs, as the two men embrace. "Let's get a little sleep." As Tom yawns, the two men walk down the narrow hallway, arms wrapped around each others waist, and head for bed.
Tom stirs at the sound of his phone, looking at the clock, he realizes it is his answering service with his daily 6:00pm call of messages. Shit! We've slept all day! Tom exclaims as he bolts out of bed to answer the phone. Grabbing a pen and paper to take down the messages that were left for him. Getting to Isaiah's phone #, he jot's it down and listens to the other messages, then hangs up. Turning around he notices Paul is still asleep. He crawls back into bed, using his mouth, to tenderly waken his love and bring him to consciousness. Using his mouth to nibble on Paul's neck and flicking his tongue on Paul's ear lobes.
Paul stirs, roles over and smiles at Tom, "Good morning, my love." Paul drowsily wakes.
"Try evening hun. it's 6:00 p.m.." Tom says. "I got a message from Nancy this morning from Isaiah, he wants to get together tonight, I also have his home phone number, Nancy gave it to me through voice mail, you wanna get together with them tonight?"
"I'd rather spend some time with you first, then we can call Isaiah." Paul says as he tenderly strokes Tom's manhood through his silk boxers. They look deep into each others eye's, they spiritually measure the amount of Love that each other is showing from the depths of the others souls. Tom tenderly strokes Paul's chest, playing with his nipple as if it were a little toggle switch.
"I think that can be arranged." As Tom leans over and kisses Paul, a kiss full of passion, tenderness, and deep love. Paul starts to caress the small of Tom's back, tracing his finger along the elastic waist band of his silk shorts, discovering a slightly ticklish spot on Tom's right side. Tom jumps from the sensation, and starts a free for all wrestling match. They fall off the bed and are rolling around on the floor. Paul manages to pin Tom to the carpet, with Tom face down on the carpet and Paul's massive chest laying on top of Tom with his face staring into Tom's silk covered ass and his legs hooked under Tom's armpits, and holding down his head with the calfs of his legs. Paul, with every bit of strength applied, looks back at Tom, "Ready to say Uncle?"
Tom struggles under the weight and brut strength of his lover, "Never!"
Paul gets this wicked idea to make Paul concede his defeat, he lift's Tom's silk shorts high in the air and puts his head inside of the shorts, tonguing his way down Tom's crevice causing him to squeal with glee. "UNCLE! UNCLE! UNCLE!" Tom screams with glee.
Paul turns his head and mockingly says, "I didn't hear you!" and continues down the treasure trail he pampered with lotion just a year ago, his fantasies coming true again. Tom is humping the carpet now, uncontrollably humping, gasping for air, he can't stop, he doesn't want to stop, he just wants Paul to continue. He can feel Paul's massive erection pressing into his back. With one mighty burst of energy, he forces Paul off of his back, his shorts stuck onto Paul's head slip off as the shorts reach his knee's. Tom grabs the silk shorts and rips them off his body in shreds. Jumps on top of Paul, laying on his back, and impales his ass with Paul's raging meat. Tom gasps for air as the mixture of feelings flood his head, from ultimate pleasure to excruciating pain. He rides Paul as Paul starts bucking like a wild stallion being broke by a cowboy. With one final thrust of exctacy, Paul thrust's into Tom as Tom puts all his energy to force Paul deeper inside than he has ever been, the two erupt in orgasmic gushers of pleasure. Tom falls on top of Paul as they try to catch their breath. Tom, still trying to control his breathing, looks into Paul's eyes and a raspy whisper, "uncle!"
Sitting on the love seat Isaiah and Bill watching the evening news. Holding hands and each drinking Scotch on the rocks. Isaiah isn't paying attention though, his mind is preoccupied with other matters of importance. Bill looks over to his Love and grips his hand harder. A tear roles down Ike's face.
"What are we going to do Ike, when are we going to tell Tom?" Bill looks on to his friend, trying to comfort the tormented soul of his Lover.
"I don't want to burden him," Isaiah says, trying to hold back the tears, " just want to know him before..." Ike burst's into tears as Bill cradles his lover's head on his chest, trying in vain to soothe his pain.
"Ring!" Ring!"
Bill leans over and grabs the phone from the claw foot marble end table, "Hello, Oh Hi Tom," Ike immediately sits up wiping the tears from his face, "sure Tom, he's hear, just a minute." Bill hands the phone to Ike.
"Hi Tom," Ike say's trying to hide the pain in his heart. "Tonight, where?" Bill looks on in anticipation, "Your place, that would be fine, be there in an hour, see you then." Ike hands the phone back to Bill, as Bill hangs up the phone Ike stands and turns off the T.V. "Well, we've been invited over to his house for a late evening dinner, guess I'd better get freshened up, don't want him to see me with teary eye's." The two men go into the bedroom and start changing for their dinner date. Ike pick's up his med. kit, looks at Bill, grins and say's, "Don't leave home with out it." Bill looks over to Ike and grins in agreance.
"Are you sure you want to tell them now?" Bill asks.
"If I don't, I think it may be too late to tell him later." Ike stands there holding his Med. Bag. Ike turns away so Bill doesn't see him start to cry again.
Bill comes up behind him and raps his arms around his waist and rests his head on his love's back. "What ever happens, you know I'll be here for you, always have, and always will."
Ike turns to Bill, "Thanks sweet's," Ike kisses Bill, "you always seem to know what to say to make me feel better."
"You forget," Bill say's, "I've had 30 some years to get to know exactly what you need when you need it."
"Let's get ready for dinner," Ike grins, "don't want to be late."
"Yes, let's." Bill lovingly swats his lovers butt as he turns and continues getting ready for the dinner date at with his lovers son.