Disclaimer: All characters depicted are above 18 years of age. The following contains scenes of explicit scenes involving male sex and in a variety of consensual activities. But, if you're looking for non-stop sex then this isn't the story for you. If any of this content is offensive to you or illegal to access in your geography, please do not proceed any further. The characters are entirely fictitious and are not based on anyone who has or is still living.
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As always, a big thank you to Scott for editing and helping to keep me on track and not off chasing too many squirrels.
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Jared the Paramedic: Volume II Chapter 2 - Zane
The driver of the truck traveling along the highway is a 26 year old man named Zane. He is 5'8", 140 lbs, brown hair with brown eyes. Zane had seen the man hitchhiking and he looked safe enough. Actually, he thought the hitchhiker looked pretty hot (in more ways than one) so he pulled over to talk with him.
"Where you going buddy?" asked Zane out the window.
"I don't mean to sound flippant, but that way," Jesse said as he pointed down the highway. "I'm going to keep going until I hit the ocean."
"I like it," replied Zane. "I'm heading home part of that that way if you want a ride, but it will be short of the ocean," he laughed as finished the sentence.
Jesse smiled at the driver. "Thanks, that would be great." After throwing his backpack in the box of the truck, he got in.
The driver reached out with his hand, "I'm Zane."
"Jesse McAdam is what I'm going by," he said as he grasped the hand.
He put his seatbelt on as Zane pulled back onto the highway, speeding up until he hit the posted limit.
Zane liked what he could see out of the corner of his eye. "So what are you doing way the hell out here in the middle of nowhere?"
"I had finished with a ride a little while ago as they turned up highway 14. They were grandparents heading to pick up their grandchildren; a couple of the warmest, most honest and sincere people I have met in a long time," replied Jesse.
Zane smiled. "That's cool Jesse. But, what are you doing out here hitchhiking in the middle of the flat prairies?"
"This is going to sound corny, but I'm searching for something I lost or I'm missing from my life," replied Jesse. "Through a couple of random tragic events, I lost some important people. Something deep inside of me urged me to head across the country hitchhiking and see what life is about, and to search for what I was lacking. That's what I'm doing Zane, and I know it sounds sort of like the search for the Holy Grail. Keep in mind, I don't have coconuts to bang together nor have I seen the Knights who say 'Ni'."
Jesse was surprised when Zane replied, "So you didn't bring me a shrubbery?"
The two started to laugh and recite other lines from the movie.
Zane had been expecting the usual hitchhiker answer of going home, off to school or finding a job.
"And now for something completely different," started Zane. "I heard what you said before we went all Monty Python. I'm very sorry to hear about you losing your loved ones. Have you been meeting anyone or even groups of interesting people on your trip?"
"I've met all kinds of interesting people, especially when I stay in the hostels. I've really enjoyed sitting and listening to stories of their travels as well as their views of life in general."
"May I ask what you did for a living before you started your journey?"
"Sure you can," replied Jesse. "I was a lawyer working for a law firm. What do you do for a living, Zane?"
"I'm the Director for an Outreach Center which includes a food bank and temporary shelter," he replied.
"Wow, now that sounds like interesting work Zane. What's the focus of the center?"
"It's a diverse centre focusing on LGBT but also works with anyone in need like natives, victims of domestic violence or just people who have to make the choice between rent and utilities or food. We also have some drug and alcohol programs and I am just returning from a meeting with the government to try and start a life skills program for adults which includes helping them get their grade 12 through us if necessary."
"That's a big responsibility Zane. I've seen so many places along my travel where people are out of work or working, but still need some food now and then to survive. But the rest of what you are doing is immense."
"It's getting worse all the time. One of the biggest problems we are facing is the amount of young people who are LGBT and no longer have a home. There are youth who are under 18 and when they come to us we take them to Social Services. Anyone 18 or over is welcome to stay somewhere in our building. The ones who are falling through the cracks are actually the 18-24 year olds who don't get the skills to survive, finish their education or better themselves. You can't get a job without at least a high school diploma."
"How did the meeting go with the government about the life skills?" asked Jesse.
Jesse and Zane talked about the meeting, about the centre and the services they offered for about an hour. Neither had noticed how fast the time had been going by while they discussing various topics. Zane was impressed with Jesse's critical thinking processes while they discussed options for various programs. He was really impressed because he was the first lawyer he had ever spoken with that treated him as an equal part of the conversation.
Jesse was impressed with Zane's attitude and genuine desire to help people or make a difference in some way. There was something about Zane which was calling to Jesse, and it shook him up a bit. He couldn't understand what his inner voice or his gut was telling him. It wasn't a 'be careful' or 'you're in danger' type of feeling, it was something good.
They stopped for a coffee and filling up the old truck's gas tank. Jesse bought the coffee and fuel before Zane had come out of the washroom and was surprised at what Jesse had done. He was concerned Jesse should be keeping his money for his trip. Jesse explained he had some savings and although he could have bought a car, he had chosen to hitchhike for the social contact and meeting people. Zane had looked at him while Jesse was speaking; sizing up what he was saying and comparing it with the body language, visual cues and audial signs. Zane thought to himself, "He's telling the truth, but not all of it."
Jesse was thinking Zane was a natural lawyer or police officer the way he examined people as they spoke. As he drank his coffee, he could feel his body reacting to the caffeine. Jessie had always enjoyed the rush from coffee and it was truly the one thing he didn't get enough on his trip.
"Zane, do you think you could use a lawyer around the LGBT center for a while?" asked Jesse.
Zane was shocked. "Are you serious Jesse, a lawyer to work with for a while? That would be incredible for the centre and the clients. We're having a few challenges in addition to their needs."
"What type of challenges?" asked Jesse with interest.
"We have clients who need legal advice and some who need help from the legal system. Also, our lease on the building is up soon and the landlord wants us out. We're looking at another building which would work better for us, but they want to sell and not be our landlords. Our usual lawyer who does some work for free had a heart attack two weeks ago and won't be back to work for a couple of months so we don't have one right now."
Jesse smiled and said "You do now, Zane."
"Jesse, forgive me for asking but you look too young to have been practicing law already."
"That's a curse of genetics Zane. I'm 32 years old and was practicing law for 10 years at McCoy and Associates."
"Holy shit, your 32? Man, I wish I had those genetics of yours. I'm 26 and looking like 40 some days."
"Not from where I'm sitting," said Jesse. He blushed immediately when he realized he hadn't used his inner voice for that last thought. He was feeling a connection with this man on a very primary level.
Zane smiled a broad grin and replied, "Thanks Jesse. I appreciate that."
Zane was not only cute, but he was getting Jesse's attention with the work he was doing and trying to do. Jesse could feel how committed and passionate Zane was to his programs. He hadn't seen or felt this type of dedication to something since........Marc and himself.
Something deep inside of Jesse suddenly burst up from deep within him. He knew he had not had any passion or commitment since Marc died. He had not done his job with the passion he was capable of. When he had been doing the work it was as a robot, not with any feelings of achieving something other than the conclusion of the case or a statistic. Then he isolated himself totally from people, staying at home. Jesse came to realize he had lost his passion and commitment to something that would make a difference. Marc had always been there to focus him on the important tasks. Together, they had always kept each other going, supporting each other when life was like a roller coaster on the downside of a hill. He hadn't been committed to anything at all since he Marc's death, not even his Tai Kwon Do classes. They had always found something to believe in, be it a client who had been wronged or the best construction project which could be built. Jesse came to the realization he had always been with Marc, and he drew strength and inspiration from him as Jesse gave the same to him. He felt a connection to Zane on a level which could not be measured or observed, it was a special connection. It was something he had not felt for a long time. But was it too good to be true?
"Jesse, are you alright?" asked Zane with concern.
"Huh, what? Sorry, I zoned out for a minute Zane," said Jesse nervously.
"Zoned out? I'm sorry Jesse, but that's bull shit. You were very, very deep in thought for a few minutes actually. Your facial expressions and eye movements tell me you were deep in memories you didn't expect to surface and I didn't want to disturb you."
Jesse looked at him like the lawyer he was when he sized up a witness on the stand. "You're good Zane, and I won't lie to you."
Jesse told him about the loss of his parents in a plane crash and the loss of his husband. There was no mention of money or business association, just the losses in his life with the resulting of his loss of direction for his own life.
"Zane, I have to tell you the passion and dedication you have for your work is something I haven't seen or felt since Marc had died. You're so contagious when you are talking about your job, and it hit deep inside me. I've realized what I had lost was not just my husband, but it was also what my focus in life was" said Jesse. Jesse was really feeling a connection with Zane, something he hadn't felt in a long time.
"That will be $25 for the session Jesse," Zane said laughing. Jesse started to laugh as well.
They continued along the highway and talked the entire time, getting to know each other. Jesse gave up generic information about growing up and his family being careful to keep anything about financial status out of it. He hoped he would be able to tell the truth to Zane someday. Zane had sensed the way things were being worded and knew Jesse was skipping over details. He also knew Jesse was telling the truth about the information he did reveal. He had been working at the centre long enough and had enough clients to deal with, he had become very good at reading people. Zane was very well aware only about 7% of the message being delivered was verbal; the other 93% was through such things as body language.
They pulled into the city early afternoon and Zane drove directly to the outreach centre. He took Jesse on a tour of the facility and Jesse thought it was very neat, but needed a lot of work done to bring it back up to the National Building Code. He was impressed with the staff and the work they were doing.
One of the staff members, a larger lady came forward to speak with Zane.
"Zane, you better see this," Doreen said as she hand a letter to him.
He read it and mumbled "shit" under his breath. He handed the letter to Jesse to read. It was basically an eviction notice, although in legal terms it was notice of intention not to renew the lease in 60 days. It was also the legal way of saying in 61 days, absolutely nothing should be left behind and don't let the door hit you in the ass as you leave.
Jesse insisted they speak in the office about the letter. Zane filled him on the problems with the landlord refusing or ignoring repair and maintenance requests for the past year. The problems they had complained about included drain problems, rotten walls, and floor damages from wear and tear, all ignored by the landlord.
Jesse asked for and received copies of the faxes and emails requesting the repairs from the landlord. Many of them had been answered with a standard acknowledgement of the problem and they will be in contact. Jesse asked for a copy of the lease for his review. Zane gave it to him.
Finally after reading it, Jesse simply said, "No problem Zane. I'll deal with this."
"The guy who represents the landlord is an asshole. It's not that simple," cautioned Zane.
Jesse smiled and replied, "He hasn't dealt with a bigger asshole like me." Zane laughed and shook his head.
"Leave me here in the office for a while, and I'll deal with it," said Jesse.
Zane looked at him and after some thought said, "Ok, your first test as the new lawyer. I have things to do in the Centre." He left the room.