Journey of the Worlds Part 13.
The saga continues...comments as always stonewolf@angelfire.com www.stormloader.com/articwolf
Dawn rose slowly over the snow covered campus. Despite the chill, Nick was still sitting by the lake. Dressed in jeans with a heavy sweater and down jacket he had sat on the rocky outcropping all night. Jeff and three others had stood guard, despite his objections. Nick had just let his mind wander where it wanted to. The moon had risen over the mountains, full and bright. Nick had watched the frost form on the grass. The moon continued it's journey across the night skies and still he had not moved. So many things came and went through his mind. Only vaguely had he heard the bodyguards get into a discussion with the campus security. About as he expected, they had won out and the campus cops went away. Throughout the night, he had replayed in his mind, his life before and after Jonathan. How his life had changed. Jonathan's immortality. With that change he now too had a chance to continue his life forever with Jonathan. Could he? Would he. As he continued thinking his mind slowly cleared. In the distance, the clock tower struck seven as sun came to rest on him.
"Nick" said Jeff. "How about some breakfast man?"
"Yeah" said Nick getting up off the rock stiffly. "I guess it would be a good idea. I'm sorry about keeping you guys out here all night. I hadn't planned on doing it"
"No problem" said Jeff, "That's what we are paid for"
They walked as a small group back to the van that was waiting by the side of the road. At Nick's insistence, they drove downtown to a college hangout for breakfast instead of the jet. Nick spent some time chatting with people he knew but had not seen for over a year. The story of Nick had traveled all over campus after his last visit. Finally after two hours, he broke away; again with the mindless thoughtful look on his face.
"Where to boss?" asked Jeff as they got back in the van.
"Renaissance" he replied. "I need sleep"
Entering the grounds of Stapleton Airport they drove to the American Airlines hanger. This time Captain Hendrickson had made arrangements with American to rent maintenance space as he wanted one of the engines checked. The van pulled into the service hanger and came to a stop under the left wing. As they got out, Nick noticed the captain talking to the maintenance crew who was working on engine number one. A couple of the security crew were keeping an eye on things.
"Any problems?" Nick asked walking over.
"Nothing serious" said Captain Hendrickson turning around. "The engine was running a little hot on the way out and I wanted it checked just to be sure"
"OK" said Nick. "We can take off whenever you are satisfied we won't drop out of the sky"
"We can fly on one engine if we had to" said the captain. "However, we will be on all four engines for the trip back"
"That's good to know" said Nick, smiling.
"I'll get the engineer to file plans." Said the captain. "We will probably be airborne in about 3 hours"
"Great. Thanks" said Nick, turning to go up the stairs. Entering the jet, he walked half asleep through the front lounge and into the bedroom. The bed had been turned down by the staff. He barely managed to get his coat off before falling on the bed, sound asleep. Jeff came in quietly to look in on him. He covered him in a blanket and turned out the lights.
Chapter Two: Back in Boston, just as Nick was falling asleep in Denver, Jonathan was pacing the Presidential Suite of the hotel he was in. Brandon came in and for a moment watched him pace.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"I swear I'm going to buy this hotel for the sheer pleasure of firing the damn room service staff" he said. "I ordered breakfast and sent it back twice."
"Oh" said Brandon. "Well, in between buying and firing, you might want to read this. Danny dropped it off. It is the preliminary report on the hotel fire."
"Thanks" said Jonathan. He picked up the report and read through it while drinking coffee. He looked up at Brandon. "Can you find Danny for me?"
"Sure thing boss" he said. "By the way, I made an appointment for this afternoon for the archechticts to come in and show you some ideas for the remodeling"
"OK" he replied absently.
Jonathan was absorbed in the report and didn't hear Danny come in.
"You wanted me?" Danny asked.
Jonathan looked up startled. "Didn't hear you come in. Let's go out for breakfast. I want food, this hotel sucks and I want to talk about this report."
"OK" said Danny, reaching for his ever present radio. "Deli Haus?"
"Yup" said Joanthan, looking for his jacket. One of the stewards came over and gave it too him. Jonathan nodded his thanks.
"I don't suppose we can just take the T can we" asked Joanthan as they were going down in the elevator.
"Of course not" said Danny. "I am not about to take any chances just yet. Once I am certain about the fire then maybe."
"Kill joy" said Jonathan. He was just kidding Danny and they both knew it. Jonathan had nothing but the utmost respect for Danny.
As they were driving across Back Bay to Kenmore Square, Jonathan continued to read the report. As the driver found a parking spot, Danny escorted Jonathan into the little restaurant. Finding a table, Jonathan didn't even bother with the menu and ordered. The waitress smiled and delivered their coffee and juice and departed.
"So," said Jonathan, "How comfortable are you with this preliminary report?"
"There are a lot of unanswered questions" started Danny. "I mean by all looks of the fire patterns, and reports, it looks like the fire was started by a fire bug and nothing more. What bothers me is if you are going to start a fire, why bother to do all the work in the computer system that he did"
"The water being turned off by the computers ties into the burning" said Jonathan.
"Yeah, but seems to me that is pretty high tech for a fire bug" said Danny.
"What about the other hotels?" asked Jonathan, as the waitress returned with their food.
"In one of the three others, the water system was tampered with just prior to the fire." Said Danny between forkfuls of the roast beef hash. "The others were untouched. Of course, none of them were as technologically advanced as we are"
"So, does that mean we weren't targeted?" asked Jonathan.
"Probably not" said Danny. "I want to be a little cautious for a while longer with you and Nick, just to be safe. When he is due back?"
"I'm not sure" said Jonathan, finishing his eggs. "He had to go to Denver to work some stuff out"
The two continued to eat their food, chatting about the fire, and some new general procedures that Danny wanted to put in place.
"Everything OK with you two?" Danny asked as he finished his coffee.
"Yeah just fine" said Jonathan. "There is an outside chance to make him immortal"
"Whoa" said Danny.
"Yeah, but it's risky as Hell." Said Jonathan. 'I can't just say let's do it. It has to be his choice."
"So he went back to Denver to think about it?'
"Yup" said Jonathan. "You about finished?"
"Yeah I am" said Danny. "I suppose now you want to go running."
"No, I want to head back to the hotel and see how long before the fire department releases the structure so we can start putting it back together."
It was a short drive back to the hotel that Jonathan was staying at. Going up to his suite he asked Brandon to contact the fire department and get the latest information. After a workout in the health club he showered and met with the architect group. After two hours of going round and round on designs, they finally reached an agreement on the ballroom. The guest rooms and executive offices would be put back the way the originally were. As they left the meeting room that Jonathan had rented in the hotel he was staying at, Brandon came over to him with a list of messages.
"Anything I really need to deal with?" he asked. "I've got a mother of a headache"
"Nothing that I can't handle" said Brandon. "You should probably look over the top two items though. Accounting requested approval on some checks I don't know about"
"OK" said Jonathan. They were walking back towards the elevators. "Anything else before I take two aspirin and a nap?"
"Nick is on his way back" said Brandon. "They are about 2 hours out. Are you going to want to stay here or bug out?"
"Probably stay here one more night" said Jonathan, "I think we can get the hotel stuff wrapped up by tomorrow noon and we can go find someplace warm"
"Works for me" said Brandon. "I'll take care of the paperwork."
"Thanks" said Jonathan.
He entered the suite and kicked off his shoes. He hadn't realized how much he had missed Nick until he heard he was coming back. Jonathan could only wonder what Nick's answer would be.
A few hours later, Jonathan awoke with a start. Nick had snuck into the bedroom part of the suite upon his return. Seeing Jonathan lying on the bed and let loose a yell at the top of his lungs and cannon balled into the bed.
"Son of a bitch!" muttered Jonathan. "I may be immortal, but you just damn near gave me a heart attack"
"Does that mean you're not happy to see me?" asked Nick playfully
"I'm always happy to see you, but one more stunt like that and I will cut off your allowance" said Jonathan.
"Long as you don't cut something else off" said Nick.
"I'd never do that" said Jonathan. "Then I'd have to go back to jerking off"
"Can't have that" said Nick.
With that Nick started working his hands into Jonathan's boxers. Stroking him while kissing him he trailed his mouth down Jonathan's body until he reached the cock that he had pulled out of the fly. Covering it with his mouth he began to work his tongue up and down the hard shaft. In a matter of moments the two of them were completely naked.
Later on after both had cum twice and showered, they were sitting in the living room of the suite. Nick was curled up against Jonathan on the couch. Jonathan had decided not to trust room service again and called and ordered dinner out of the hotel to be delivered.
"I didn't know Legal did catering" said Nick, in between bites of shrimp.
"That they do" said Jonathan. "I don't think they plan on service for two, so everyone is eating Legal for dinner."
"I'm sure they don't mind" said Nick.
"Probably not" said Jonathan smiling. "So, how was Denver?"
"Cold" said Nick. "How about we head to the resort?"
"You are spoiled" said Jonathan.
"Yeah, I know. You did a good job" said Nick. "Besides, I really like the place and it seems kinda appropriate"
Jonathan reached over for the phone and punched in the room number for Brandon.
"Eight inches, no waiting" came the voice.
"I'm not your date for tonight, sorry" said Jonathan.
"Oops" said Brandon, "Sorry about that, what's up?"
"How soon can we be ready to fly to St. Thomas?"
It is 6:30pm now" said Brandon. "I can get the crew up and running, Danny can do his shit from the plane. We can probably be airborne by 9 pm get there by 1AM"
"Make it so" said Jonathan.
"Yes Captain" said Brandon, a trace of humor in his voice.
"Smartass" said Jonathan hanging up.
"So, why would it be appropriate?"
"Well" said Nick, snuggling closer to Jonathan. "It was the first place we made love. If this business of trying to turn me into an immortal will kill me it seems appropriate that it is the last place we make love too"
Jonathan stared at Nick for a long moment. "Are you sure babe?"
"No I'm not" said Nick. "But I want to anyway. I am about as close as I can be about deciding. Who knows. I could be killed off by a car for real sometime. Or get sick or something. Or maybe nothing will happen. All I know is you gave me a life, and a life time. I'm willing to take a chance on it being an eternity. If it doesn't work out, I've had more life in the past two years then most people do in 50."
"I asked myself what or how I would feel if you said yes" said Jonathan reaching for his wine. "I didn't know then and I still don't know"
"Hey" said Nick softly, looking at Jonathan. "You said it was my choice to make and I've made it. Let's go to St. Thomas, spend the night and all day tomorrow on the beach making love then go wherever this place is that we have to go and do it"
Jonathan kissed Nick. "OK"