DISCLAIMER: This is a story out the fantasy that is my mind. It is a story that deals with homosexual material. If you live in a jurisdiction that by some law or reason prohibits you from reading this material then please do not read any further. If homosexual material like this offends you then you should stop reading as well...Though frankly if homosexual material offends you I can't understand why you would be here in the first place.
The copyright of this material is mine, subject to the agreement under this website. I trust that you will enjoy reading the stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
To see other stories I have written check the Author's List for Mike Yonge (about seven or eight up from the bottom).
If you have any comments to pass on, I would very much like to have them. You can write me at: myonge@hotmail.com
Mike
Jason Chapter 2
Austin was heading home after a long couple days of meetings in Sudbury. It was dark and beginning to snow and he was tired. He was still about an hour and a half from home but he knew he wasn't going to make it if he didn't find some place soon to have a leak. All that coffee that he had drunk that afternoon in the meeting had finally caught up to him. At first he thought he would be able to make it home but now he clearly knew that was a wrong assumption.
Austin is a business man from The Sault (The Sault is the Sault Ste Marie in Ontario Canada, the American sister city Sault Ste Marie Michigan is called The Soo). He was in Sudbury for one of those trade type conferences that are called about once a year. Austin liked to go to them not so much for the conference but for the chance to "mingle and meet" as it were with other gay men. It wasn't that he didn't have a circle of friends in the Sault; it is just that sometimes he wanted to see something different. Yeah, Austin was gay, 34 yrs old and gay much to his parents disappointment at never having grandchildren. They came around ok with the fact that he was gay, they (especially his mother) had so hoped to have grandchildren and as he was their only child this was likely to be a non starter.
"Now where the hell are the roadside parks when you need them." He thought. The pressure was definitely building. He should have taken a piss break at the last "Timmies" (Tim Horton's chain of coffee shops in Canada) he stopped in, but no, He was in a hurry to get home and so he had gone through the drive through instead of going inside.
He was just coming around a bend in the road when he saw what looked like a transport pulling out of somewhere about a couple kilometres or so up ahead. "Hmmm maybe that is a rest stop" he said to himself.
He started to ease up on his speed a bit. It was a rest stop. There was the sign telling him that it was 2 kilometres ahead. Bonus!
Austin glanced at the transport as he passed it ... Light from his headlights flashed across the name emblazoned on the side of the trailer. "Kreeger" that's an odd name Austin thought to himself. And just as quickly as he thought it, it passed. Because a more urgent thought was controlling his mind right now. "I GOTTA PISS!"
The transport disappeared around the bend in the highway and a moment later Austin was scrambling out of his car and running to the washroom. The cubicle door slammed behind him as he let loose a highly pressurized yellow stream. "Oh Man" he said softly to himself "Relief beyond belief"
About a minute later as he was tucking himself in, he heard a shuffling sound in the next stall. Actually he thought it was himself at first until he realized he hadn't moved his feet. There it was again.
"Hello?"
There was a slight groan so very soft he almost didn't hear it.
"Is someone there?" Austin asked
Again he heard a slight movement and a soft muttering... so very soft "No please no"
Austin's heart was pounding. Should he check this out or should he run? He definitely wanted to run, but something told him that he should look. So rather than opening the door, he stood on the toilet seat in his cubicle and peered over the top into the next stall. It was pretty dark but what he saw was someone, it looked like the person was naked, huddled in the corner of the cubicle behind the toilet. The sight sent a chill down his spine
Austin got down from his position. His mind was racing. What should he do? Should he call the police? Should he just leave...? That was a stupid idea ! No! He had to do something. He left his stall and opened the door to the next one. Then he crouched down at the door facing toward the person. "Can I help you?" He asked
What he heard next tore into him to his very core The person, it sounded like a young man or boy, just let out a wailing scream "Leave me alooooooonnnne Just leave me alooooonnnnne pleeeeeeaaaase!" This was followed by a ragged uncontrolled sobbing "I just wanted a ride, just leave me alone"
Austin moved a little closer "I don't know what happened but I want to help, I won't hurt you" he reached out his hand open to the person.
Jason looked up and tried to back away but he was already as far as he could go. He just felt so helpless and cold and terrified.. He looked in terror at this shadowy figure crouching before him.
"I'm not going to hurt you son. I just want to help. C'mon lets get out of this cold. My car is warm."
Jason looked through the gloom and dark.. The voice was neither Gerry's nor Mike's and it was not his father's. This was a new voice, but it sounded kind like Mr Johnson's, but could he trust this person whoever is was?
Austin tried a new approach "My name is Austin Miller. I live in the Sault. I won't hurt you, really. I just want to help, you can't stay here it is too cold"
Jason's sobs were abating some but now he was shaking with cold and nerves. The cold made him realize that he was naked. Mike and Gerry ... They must have left him here and took his clothes
"I...I " he started to talk in between his sobs and the shivering "I don't have any clothes"
"I have a blanket in the car we can wrap you in, but let's get you there first:"
It was too much for Jason to sort out
Austin took his coat off and before Jason could respond he put it over the boy's shoulders. "This should warm you up till we get to the car. "Come on son come to me" he said gently as he pulled the boy to him, to get him out of the corner and bring him to the car.
He heard a quiet shaky "ok" to that
Jason tried to get up as the stranger urged him forward. But he was to cold and hurt to be able to do even that. As he tried to stand he kind of lurched forward losing the strength in his legs and fell into the man's arms.
As Austin caught the boy he heard him say "p...p...ppllease don't hurt me."
"I'm not going to hurt you son, I' going to get you some help but lets go to the car right now."
Jason had actually just given up by this point, he knew that he had to trust this man and come what may he had no choice... it was that or die. How he knew that he didn`t know, he just knew. He allowed this Austin to actually pick him up and carried him out of the washroom to his car. When he was safely put in the front seat the man told him that he was just going to get a blanket for him out of the trunk of the car. Jason just nodded, he wasn't going anywhere. He had only just enough will left to stay alive at this point.
When Austin came back a moment later with a small blanket and one of those aluminum survival blankets Jason let himself be tucked in. The car felt nice and warm.
Austin was trying to figure out what to do next. He had seen that this boy had clearly been beaten up and probably sexually abused. He thought that he had noticed some darkened stain on the boy's legs.. He wasn't sure if it was shit or blood or both. What he did know was that the boy needed some kind of help.
As he got back in the car he asked. "So what is your name son?"
Jason just looked blankly at Austin...
"Ok son that's ok , I'm Austin I'm going to get you some help"
Austin put the car in gear and turned on the heat full blast and took off down the road.
A few kilometres along he came to the Town of Blind River. There as an OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) detachment there as well as a small hospital, he looked over at the boy who seemed to have fallen asleep, Austin decided that he would take the boy to the hospital and call the police from there. "Looks like I'm not going to get home too early tonight " he said to himself.
He parked close to the emergency entrance and waking the boy told him. "Son I'm going to take you into the hospital and have you checked."
Jason panicked when Austin told him where they were. "No... no I can't"
"Why not son?"
"I can't, you can't do this to me, they'll send me back to my dad!"
The boy was clearly scared
"Did he do this to you?" Austin asked
Jason shook his head, "No but he hits me, he hates me"
"Well then we'll see that they don't send you back to him, but you have to be checked son to make sure you haven't been seriously hurt"
Jason just nodded, again resigning himself to what was about to happen. He let Austin carry him in to the emergency room.
As Austin lowered the boy into the a wheel chair sitting there, he described to the nurse on duty what had happened where he had found the boy and that he wanted to have him checked over and that they should probably call the police.
The nurse had Jason quickly put in one of the beds in the ER they covered him with warm blanket and started to take his vitals.
"What is you name son" the nurse asked
"Jason"
"Jason who son?"
"Farsmith" Jason mumbled
"Where you from?"
"The Sault"
"Is that where your Dad lives?"
"I can't go back to him, he'll kill me"
"Sh sh we're not going to send you back to him we just want to know who you are."
"I'm Jason"
"Ok how old are you Jason?
"I'm seventeen"
The doctor on call came in and checked Jason over. The boy just lay there and allowed him to do what he had to do. There were clear traces of blood and feces on the boys' legs as well as another material that the Doctor pretty quickly determined to be semen. He looked at Austin and fairly snarled at him, "This boy has been raped , I hope for your sake it wasn't you."
Before Austin could respond Jason said in a slow deliberate but pained voice "It wasn't him. He helped me; it was a couple guys... Gerry and Mike" then he started to cry and it all came out "I asked them to stop and let me out but Mike said I had to pay for the ride" He wailed. "I begged them to stop it hurt so much but they wouldn't"
"Who are Gerry and Mike? The doctor asked
They gave me a ride in their truck, I was trying to hitch a ride to Ottawa, they said they could take me to Sudbury. When we got on the road that was when Mike said I had to pay for the ride and they wouldn't let me out ... Gerry took me first..." The rest was too much for Jason and he just lay there sobbing "It was awful it was so awful"
"It's ok son we're going to take care of you" the Doctor decided that he would take a sample and keep it for DNA testing.
It suddenly hit Austin ..."the transport, it was the transport that left the rest stop just before I got there was it them?... there was a strange name on the side of the trailer,, something like Kree..."
"Kreeger" Jason said...then he started to sob again.
"I'm going to give you something to help you relax and maybe sleep Jason. When you wake up in the morning I want to take some X-rays and we'll have the results of the blood work back.
Jason just nodded and closed his eyes. Moments later when the nurse came to give him an injection he was already asleep. Austin was sitting beside him.
"Sir, are you his guardian?"
"No, I found him"
I'm going to tell you, the Doctor doesn't think there has been a lot of physical damage... some tearing that's for sure but with the antibiotics he has given him that will heal. Lets hope these animals didn't have any diseases. We are doing some testing for that. As to psychological damage I can only imagine what has happened to this boy. He seems to have taken to you, probably because you rescued him. I hope you can stay around long enough for him to settle, I really think he needs you. I know I can't ask you to do this but after what this kid has been through I think he needs some comfort in his life..."
Just then a police officer came in "I'm looking for an Austin Miller?"
"That's me officer" Austin said getting up and walking over the him
"Your name was mentioned in a call about a minor that was brought here?"
"Yes I found this boy in the washroom at the rest stop just a few kilometres East of here, He`s been abused and I think raped."
The doctor came over, "Hi I'm Doctor Naysmith, yeah he was raped alright. I've taken some fluid samples , if we can find the guys who did this we've got DNA to back it up. The boy said very clearly that it wasn't Mr Miller here."
But I am willing to give a blood sample to prove it." Added Austin
"Listen officer" The doctor added "There is more to this than just the rape tonight I think. He has a number of older bruises and scars , this kid has been abused and for some time. This kid has had a number done on him and not just tonight. He is also malnourished."
Austin interjected "You want to look for a transport that is heading East, I doubt that they have made Sudbury yet. The name on the side of the trailer is something like Kreeger, I just got a quick glimpse at it and Jason confirmed it just before he fell asleep. I think he said the two guys in the truck are Gerry and Mike"
Ok don't go anywhere, I'll call this in" the officer went out to his car .
Austin took the time to call his secretary to tell her that he might or might not be in , in the morning and to hold his calls and appointments
He just got off the phone when he heard a cry from Jason's corner in the room He ran over...
"It's ok Jason I'm here, it's ok"
Jason smiled as he heard Austin's voice. "Ok" he sighed... he drifted off again but this time took hold of Austin's hand
The nurse that had come in at the same time smiled, " I think he needs you near"
Austin nodded
The officer was back in and had witnessed what had happened as well. "I guess we can take you off the suspect list " he grinned
"We have some patrols looking out for your transport. If not we will call Kreeger head office and find out if they have a Mike and Gerry trucking for them in Ontario today. Listen thank you for finding this kid and taking care of him, looks like he could use a friend about now. As soon as we can we'll try to track down his family."
The officer turned to leave "I'll be back in the morning when he wakes up to ask him some more questions. Are you going to stick around, you don't have to as long as I have your phone number and address, but looks like the kid could use you."
"I think I'll probably stay the night with him or at least until he is ok for me to go. Listen when you look for his folks he said he is from the Sault... that's what he told me but he made it very clear that he is afraid of his father. I wouldn't be surprised if the other bruises and scars are from his dad. He told me that his dad hit him in the face for sure.
"That's good to know , I guess we need to get Children's Aid involved then. We have a call out to the Sault for missing children but nothing has been called in yet. Anyway I'll see you in the morning then?"
"OK g'night"
Moments later the nurse and an orderly came in with a more comfortable chair for Austin "Looks like you are going to be here for a while so I brought you a better chair"
"Great thanks" said Austin getting up from the stacking chair he was on. In doing that he let go Jason's hand.
Jason felt his hand suddenly free. He woke up with a start and sat up grasping out Austin... "Noooo!!! Don't go"
Austin grabbed the reaching hand "I'm here Jason I'm here."
"Don't leave me"
I won't , if I go anywhere I will be back I won't leave you here alone. I was actually just thinking about going for a coffee can I get you anything from Timmies?"
Jason shook his head sadly "Don't have any money"
"That's ok I'm buying, when did you eat last?"
"Couple days ago"
What??? The nurse, the orderly and Austin said this together
"Couple days ago I think... Sunday I think"
"Ok I'll get you something, how about a soup and sandwich"
"That would be nice but I don't..."
It's ok I said I'm buying and you don't have to pay me back Jason, I won't be looking for a payback"
Jason lay back into the bed. "OK" and he seemed to drift off again
Austin gently took his hand away and patted the covers around this poor boy. He looked a the nurse and shook his head sadly
She smiled
"Can I get him a soup and sandwich you think?"
"Yeah it would not do him any harm sir"
"If he wakes up again tell him I'll be right back"
"I will and thank you sir. A lot of people would have left him to die"
"Can I get you anything"
I could use a coffee , black here if you're going anyway " she reached into her pocket for money
"It's ok I got it"
Austin found Tim Horton's and was soon on his way back to the hospital.
Jason was sitting up waiting for him when he got back.. Austin saw the relief wave over the boy's face as he came into the room. "I told you I'd be back"
"Yeah"
Jason felt very relieved when he saw Austin walk back in to the room. He didn't know why he felt that way but it was like this strange man was his life line in someway. When Austin opened the bag and brought out the soup and sandwich for him he almost couldn't believe it.
"You bought this for me?"
"Yeah" replied Austin softy "I hope it is what you like... the soup is Beef Barley and the sandwich is a roast beef. If you don't like it. Don't worry about it. I'll be right back, I just have to give the nurse her coffee"
"OK..."
Jason could not believe all the food , he hadn't eaten this good since he didn't know when. Why was this man doing this for him, people weren't normally kind to him. Would he be expecting him to... He shuddered to think about what Gerry and Mike had done to him.
No Austin was different he treated him gently and with kindness... but why?
He ate deep in thought. He didn't even notice Austin standing at the door.
Austin gave the nurse her coffee and went back to when Jason was . He held back and just watched as the boy tucked into the food. It was only the heat of the soup that prevented him from drinking it down. The boy was clearly enjoying everything. But Austin could see the boy was deep in thought. "No doubt worrying about his future, and what is going to happen to him now" Austin thought.
He shuffled his feet alerting Jason and walked in . "Is everything ok? I hope I got something you like"
"It's really good sir, it's really good" as all that Jason could manage.
"You can call me Austin Jason, actually I prefer it, just call me Austin."
"Ok" The boy went back to eating ... and soon it was all gone.
Austin sat down in the chair they had provided for him and watched the boy eat, sipping his coffee thoughtfully
Jason looked over at this strange man that was sitting beside him. "Austin?" He said quietly
"Yes?" Austin was shaken out of his reverie
"Shouldn't you be going home you family will be worried about you"
Austin smiled "I live alone Jason so no one is waiting for me. I thought that if you like I will stay with you to make sure everything is ok for now.
Jason felt a wave of relief come over him. He didn't know why but he felt safe with this Austin there. "I would like that ... but only if you want to. I don't want to keep you from ..." as he spoke the tears came again "You ...you... don't have to care about me ... no one cares about me" he didn't know why he said that but now he was sobbing again this time out of misery. He was all alone, no one to care for him, no one who loved him. Shit why would any one love a kid whose own parents hated him?
It all came pouring out of him as he cried, bitter hot tears streaming from his eyes, as he poured out his soul to this total stranger. The wretchedness of his life, deserted by his mother when he was seven, abused and beaten by his father, who could love him?
When the nurse heard the crying coming from the room he saw Austin leaning over the bed holding the boy. Her own eyes filed with tears as she listened to what Jason was sobbing out.
"You have someone who cares for you now Jason. I care what happens to you and I'm not leaving you tonight . I'll be here in the morning when you wake up and then we will see what happens ok? But regardless, I care for you"
Jason held tight to Austin "don't leave me pleeease don't leave me"
Austin noticed the nurse standing there ... they smiled sadly at each other with tear streaked faces. The nurse, an older woman shook her head.
"I'm not going to leave Jason, I'm going to stay right here with you, if I go anywhere it will be to get a coffee or something to eat or go to the bathroom OK? But I won't leave you, I'll be here when you wake up in the morning" Austin held Jason tightly for a while until he noticed that Jason's breathing became quite regular and the boy went a little limp. He had finally fallen asleep.
He gently lay Jason down and covered him with the blanket.
He looked up at the clock as he sat back into his chair, it was 1:45 in the morning . He suddenly felt quite exhausted.
It seemed like only minutes later he realized must have fallen asleep. Looking up at the clock it was almost 6:00. He found that he was covered with a blanket. He smiled the nurse must have done it.
Jason was still sleeping so he got up quietly and found a washroom. There was no one at the nurse's station as he walked by. On the way back he met with the nurse. "Good morning" he grinned "and thank you for the blanket"
Jason woke with a start, He looked around as the fog of sleep disappeared. Slowly the events of the last twenty four hours started to come back to him as and as they did he felt a dread and with it panic overwhelmed him. Where was Austin?
"AUSTIN!!... AUSTIN!! Where are you??? AUSTIN!!!" A scream of terror came from Jason's corner of the Emerg. Both Austin and the nurse ran to him.
"Jason! I'm here son, I'm here. I told you I wouldn't leave you, I just went to the bathroom, I back now."
Austin took Jason, who was sitting up in his bed, into his arms. He could feel the boy shaking like a leaf.
"What's going to happen to me Austin?"
"Well I don't know Jason but I am going to do everything I can to keep you safe. "
"Don't you have to go home, what will happen when you leave, I know I can't ask you to stay Austin I know I can't "
Austin could see the boy was working himself in to a state of panic
"Let's not worry about that right now ok, I'm not leaving right now. In a bit they are going to bring you breakfast or if not I will go and get you some. In the mean time I will stay with you. I'll take care of you Jason, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you again"
As Jason heard those magic words to him "I'll take care of you Jason, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you again" he felt the fear and panic slide away.
"That's good" he breathed
Austin felt the boy relax and let him go.
They sat quietly for a bit when Jason said "Austin could you help me I need to go to the bathroom, I really have to leak."
"I can get you a bedpan if that would be easier" offered Austin
"No I think I would prefer to use the toilet, just need a bit of help" Jason replied
Austin helped the boy and they manoeuvred the IV pole around and went down the hall. Jason was a little weak on his feet. At the washroom door Austin held back a bit. "You ok from here or do you need my help? "
Jason blushed a little embarrassed "I think I'm going to need your help so I don't fall, this once"
"Ok that's ok" said Austin as they went in to the bathroom together "I'll get you sitting it will probably be easier for you that way and then I'll wait outside. When you are done and ready just call me"
"OK"
Austin winced at the bruises and scars he saw on Jason's body as the gown parted. He shook his head. Jason sat down.
Moments later Austin heard his name being called. He went in and helped Jason up and flushed the toilet.
Austin helped the boy back to his bed. Jason lay back, smiled at Austin "Thank you" he whispered an immediately fell asleep.
Breakfast was served a little later. Austin woke Jason up so he could eat. To Austin's surprise and pleasure , a breakfast had been ordered for him as well. He assumed it was the nurse that had been on during the night. He would have to remember to thank her. It was hospital food but he was hungry and it was good. He and Jason ate silently together..
They were just finishing when a police officer walked in. "I'm looking for an Austin Millar and a Jason Farsmith"
"Over here" said Austin waving at the Officer.
The officer took Austin aside. We have Children's Aid coming in later this morning. We found the transport and have the men in custody. When we mentioned that we had DNA evidence against them they pretty much admitted to what they did. They have been charged among other things with rape and attempted murder."
"Ok " sighed Austin "Will Jason have to see these guys again. He really isn't in any shape to confront them again. At least not right now"
"I don't think that we need him right now but at some point in time he will probably have to be involved. But there is time before that happens. How is he doing this morning?"
"Well he seems to be picking up some, had a rather rough night, he has had a hell of a life from the sounds and looks of it ... we really have to keep him from going back to his father."
"Yeah from what I heard from the officers in the Sault he is a real piece of work. There will probably be charges against the man for child abuse at least, so Jason doesn't need to worry about going back there."
Austin and the officer walked into the area that Jason sat waiting. "Good Morning Jason, how are you feeling this morning?"
"Fine" was the almost unheard response. Jason was looking down not making eye contact. He was clearly afraid.
The officer a man of about 50 years old sat on the side of the bed. He touched Jason's hand. "Jason, no one should have to go through what you have gone through in your life, I have a son about your age and I love him very much, I would never hurt him the way you have been hurt. We are going to do everything we can to make sure you are not hurt again . You understand? There are people out there that do care about you"
Jason looked up at the officer. Tears were set in his eyes. "Did you find my dad?"
"Yeah but you are not going back to him ok?"
"Good , he'll kill me"
"Well we won't let that happen Jason"
"Ok now I just came in to give you some information, we caught the guys that left you at the rest stop. They have admitted to what they did to you and we have arrested them. So you don't have to worry about them either and they won't be doing this to anyone else."
"Will I have to identify them?"
"You might have to and you will probably have to testify in the case but that is a while off yet and we will get you ready for that when the time comes, you don't worry about that right now ok?"
The officer talked with Jason and Austin for a few more minutes asking some questions and then took his leave. He had barely gone when there was a noise out in the reception. "Where the fuck is my shitass boy? I want to kill the little bastard"
Austin looked at Jason. He blanched visibly. Austin put a finger to his mouth to tell him to be quiet and went out to the reception area. The duty nurse was trying to calm a large angry man with a flushed face. Austin placed himself without drawing attention to himself between the man and the curtain behind which Jason was hidden.
"I know the little faggot is here and I want him he is my son and he is coming with me."
"Well sir who is it that you are talking about what is your son's name?"
"Farsmith, Jason fuckin Farsmith ,a worthless piece of shit. Where the fuck is he?"
By now two orderlies were coming down the hall. The nurse trying to stay calm said "You have to calm down sir we cannot help you if you are going on like this!" At this Jason's father muttered, "Fuck this!" and started toward Austin, who stepped in front of him.
"Get the fuck out of my way !" he snarled at Austin and pushed him away. Before Austin could recover the curtain hiding Jason was torn down and the man with a growl charged at Jason who was standing on the bed trying to back away from his father. It was the bed that kept Jason's dad back long enough for Austin to pick himself up
"You fucking worthless son of a bitch. I'll fuckin teach you to run away from me. You called the fuckin cops on me too didn't you? You little bastard..."
Austin by know had recovered and with the two orderlies tackled that man as he was hauling on Jason's arm. The police officer came running in because before he had gotten the car in gear one of the nurses had called 911. After a struggle they soon had the man subdued and cuffed, cursing and threatening everyone in sight.
Austin went over to Jason and held the quivering boy comforting him. "I'm sorry Jason I tried to keep him from you, but you are safe now, he won't be bothering you anymore.
It took some time for Jason to start to relax. He hadn't been hurt buy the attack but he was badly shaken by it. "He wants to kill me " Jason kept repeating over and over as he sobbed into Austin's shoulder .
Austin just held him for a long time, not saying anything. Finally Jason seemed to relax some and Austin pulled back a bit and looked into Jason's face. Speaking softly he said "Jason, He is not going to hurt you ever again, you understand me? I won't let him, I don't know what we are going to do yet but I will never let him hurt you again, he doesn't deserve you as a son."
"He's right you know Austin, I'm just worthless piece of shit"
Austin took the boy by the shoulders and looked into his eyes "Don't you ever say that again you hear me? You are not a worthless piece of shit, you are not worthless at all and whoever thinks that doesn't know what they are talking about. Don't you ever let me hear you saying that again you understand me? You are a very special lad, don't you ever forget that"
Austin saw the lad redden, his face darken "What do you know anyway? What good is a kid that even his mother and father don't want?" Jason asked angrily, and then burst into a fresh round of tears. "If your own mother doesn't want you, you must be pretty bad"
Jason couldn't believe what he had just said to this Austin guy. He will probably leave for sure now.. He wanted to take the words back, but the problem was that he believed them. He just wished that he hadn't said them to Austin. His dad was right he was a Fuck up. How many times had his dad cursed him and told him that he was useless. How many times had he told him that he was so worthless his own mother had deserted him. He had learned to believe it... after all, all his friends still had their mother at home, they hadn't been deserted, so it must be true. No one had ever told him different.
Just then they had another visitor. "Excuse me is one of you Jason Farsmith?
Austin sat up, because Jason hadn't let go of him, after his outburst Austin had gathered him back into his arms.
"I... I am " Jason answered still crying.
"Hi, I'm Amanda Jones with Children's Services. I was asked to come and see you and see what we can do to find you a place to stay.
I understand that your father was here earlier. , Jason don't worry you won't be seeing him again OK?"
Austin spoke "How the hell did he know to come here. This kid has been through hell, how did that ... " he looked at Jason " ...that man... know to come here?"
She paused and then looked at Austin , "Uh I understand you brought him in last night."
Austin nodded
"Well sir, I need to talk to Jason alone" she said ignoring his outburst
Austin got up to leave
"I'd like him to stay" Jason said grabbing Austin's arm.
"Well Jason what I have to discuss with you is private and this gentleman is not a relative so ..."
"I'd really like him to stay... uh if he wants to, Miss Jones ... he found me naked alone and he brought me here, he stayed with me all night, and he fought off my father... I would really like him to stay."
"Ok if it is alight with you Mr. Miller is it?"
Yeah ok I'll stay" Austin said sitting down again.
"Ok then here is the thing Jason, right now we don't have any homes available in the Sault. What I need to know is if there is maybe a relati.."
"He can stay with me or with my folks" broke in Austin.
Amanda looked at Austin disapprovingly. "Uh may I speak with you Mr Miller?"
They left to the far side of the ER "I need to ask you Mr Miller not to interfere in this..."
"I'm going to interrupt you here again , and I apologise for that, but the kid already feels like as his father and he have put it. a worthless piece of shit that no one not even his own mother wants. To ask him to confirm that there is no one will just further prove that to him. I am willing to take him, I have the room and the resources to take care of him in the Sault and I have two parents that would be only too willing to make him their grandson. He is seventeen in another year he will be thrown out of the system and then what? In that time I think I can prove to him that there is a life and happy one beyond what he has experienced till now. You don't have to pay me I don't care I just don't want to see him hurt anymore. So what do you think... I know that we support kids out there that don't want to live at home anymore. Treat him like one of those."
Austin looked at Amanda. She was clearly thinking through what he had said. "I'll need to call my Supervisor but it might work, and if you are willing ... Let me call my supervisor, we don't usually have people offering to take kids in... we will have to do a security check on you , you know."
"I assumed as much" Austin replied and gave her his business card.
"I'm going back to Jason while you make your call" he said smiling "this is all about Jason here, he has had enough pain for several lifetimes, let's make this as easy and pleasant for him as possible ok?"
Amanda nodded as she took out her cell phone.
Austin went back and sat with a worried looking Jason. He took the boy's hand and patted it. "We're trying to work something out for you ok? I think it is going be ok."
"Would you really take me in Austin?"
"Yeah Jason I would"
"Why?"
"I don't know Jason I just know that I want to and I want to help you and make you happy"
"Ok" Jason said simply... "thank you"
They sat quietly then about five minute later Amanda came back in smiling. "Ok I talked to my supervisor. He is willing to let you take Jason here, if Jason is agreeable pending of course a security check, but for now because he has heard of your company Mr Miller he is willing to take the chance and release Jason into your custody right now. I also understand that the doctor is ready to let you go "home " today". Also since Jason is almost eighteen and will be out of the system that this time we are willing to make the exception
Jason looked at Austin... "I have no clothes!"
"Well we'll just have to go get you some" Austin replied
"I have been authorized to give you a voucher $200 to by some supplies and clothes for Jason . I'll be in touch later this week to make the final arrangements."
Amanda handed a cheque over to Austin and then shaking Jason's hand and wishing him well she left.
Jason grinned a real grin for the first time in a long time. He felt he was floating on air. He hugged Austin "Thanks man" he said in a far more mature voice than the terrified boy he had been for the last 18 hours.
"Ok ... I'm going to go and find a pair of Jeans, shirt socks and underwear for you and then later we can go shopping for real ok? So what size are you?... I'll be back in about half hour or so"
Jason gave him the sizes
"OK, don't be long ok?"
"Ok Jason"
"Austin?"
"Yeah?
"You can call me Jase"
Austin smiled and disappeared out the door.
The doctor was there when he returned with some clothes. "Ah Mr Miller I understand you are the legal guardian now. That is good. I think that we can release Jason but he has to be checked at St Joseph's in the Sault in two weeks, just to make sure everything is healed up ... I will notify them and send the charts down.
"OK, great!" He handed the bag of clothes to Jason and shook the Doctor's hand.. "thanks for everything Doctor, and could you thank the night nurse that was on last night for everything that she did. She was great."
"I'll tell her." In a lower voice he said to Austin directly "You take care of that boy you hear"
Austin smiled "You bet, I just have to go phone his new grandparents now... they will be so thrilled"
The doctor grinned and saying bye to Jason who was going through the clothes in the bag, left.
"OK Jase I just have to make a call and then we can get on our way"
"Ok Austin I'll just get dressed"
Austin went outside and punched in his parent's number.
"Mum? How are you"
"Austin. Hi love"
"Listen you know how you always wanted a grandchild? Would it be alright if I brought you home a 17 yr old one?"
He laughed as his mother tried to figure out what he was talking about .
He explained to her briefly what had happened and how had been made at least temporary guardian of the lad.
"Mum we're coming home, he just needs a lot of love, he thinks he's worthless because that's what his dad says he is. He needs family that will love him Mum, I think we can do that for him"
"Well Austin you bring my Grandson home, your dad and I can't wait to meet him. You think he'll like roast beef for supper?"
"That's my Maw" Austin laughed "I'm sure he'll love it, thanks Mum, this boy has really been hurt a lot and needs a lot of love and I know you have lots of that... I love you Mum. Bye for now"
Austin hung up and wiped a tear from his eye. "My parents were the best, why couldn't all parents be like them" he said softly to himself
He went back in and found Jason at the reception desk waiting anxiously. As he walked in he heard the nurse tell Jason "See I told you he was coming back"
Jason blushed and Austin smiled they signed out and Austin said "OK let's go... we have a lot to do... not the least of which, you have two new grandparents that can't wait to meet you"