I would like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to Jeff for editing this for me... cause god knows I ain't good at that stuff!
This is a work of Fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
Perfect Stranger 3
Chris wondered how bad this emergency could be. He watched the dew on the windows as he rolled them up and the truck accelerated in the dark, cool, humid air. He passed his house and took a good look at it, taking in the image of the dark, lonely appearance. It was never like that before. Six years ago there would have been lights on, friends over, and most of all, that homey look. The house held no welcoming attributes to tonight. About a half-mile later he came upon a Condo like complex, located at 68 Rockwood Dr. He hit the accelerator as he pulled down the entrance, thrusting the truck towards the Condo at an even faster rate. Radioing back to the station, Chris had the go ahead and confirmation that this is where the cell phone was located. He had also gotten the permission to force entry if necessary.
The House was in a nice complex about a half-mile down from Chris's farm. He remembered the stories he had heard from his grandpa about how his family used to own this whole street and, ultimately, ran the town. Chris always loved hearing those kinds of stories. They brought back memories of his grandfather. As he walked to the door, there was no light coming from the windows and not a sound to be heard. He knocked once and got what he was expecting - nothing. He tried again and once more, nothing. He grabbed the knob thinking it may be locked. To his surprise, it turned with ease. As the door opened he stepped on something, he looked down to see a man on the floor.
"Oh, god!" Chris got on his radio.
"Stock to station."
"Go ahead officer Stock."
"I need an ambulance out here quick . . . 68 Rockwood Drive."
"10-4, we're dispatching one now."
As Chris put the radio down he knelt down with his flashlight to see the man's face. The black hair was ruffled and out of its accustomed "style."
"Max!" Chris felt a single tear run down his cheek, "Oh Max!" Chris grabbed the radio, "Where is the ambulance at?"
"It is tied up at the moment. It should be there in about 10 minutes."
"That's too long. I am going to bring him in."
"10-4, we'll notify the ER."
Chris picked Max up in one scoop. He carried him to the F-250 that was idling in the parking lot. Chris struggled to open the door. He strapped Max in the front seat. He would have never thought that this guy was so big.
As Chris got behind the wheel he took note of the blood staining his hands and clothes. He knew that Max's life rested in his hands now.
The diesel engine was put to its test, roaring now as he went down the street. With the lights flashing and the siren screaming, everything seemed distant to Chris as he looked over to Max. But Max still lay helpless in the seat next to him.
As the truck went down the main road in the city, Chris thought more and more of the past and how he had been living his life. He saw the hospital in the distance and saw nurses waiting under the carport for the trucks arrival. Chris turned into the entrance stopping just a few feet from the door. As soon as Chris put the truck in park, he was helping the nurses and the doctor put Max on the waiting stretcher.
He watched them disappear into the hospital. The sight struck a nerve and brought back memories that he thought he had buried. He wondered why god made his mother suffer like he had. Over and over, some nights he couldn't sleep, his mind filled with the images and memories. Chris had wished she died instantly with his father in the car. He would never forget the way she looked, he cried the whole night. As he entered the hospital, he struggled to hold back the tears.
He sat down in the lounge and looked at his hat. More memories of the past were brought back from the sterile "hospital smell." When he was in high school, he had a lot of friends. Naturally everyone had liked him. He played football and always pulled through for the team. He was never one to quit. He had girls on each arm. And, he always had the guys over to his house doing typical teenage guy things - hunting, fishing, paint balling. When his parents died, Chris went into a shell. He was afraid of the world that once showed him light. He repeatedly told himself he would call Sam or Tim or, even, Mike, his closet friends. Days turned into months and years. With agony, he realized where he was, the same place it all started. The day his parents left him, he stopped going to church. That was something that as a kid he always remembered doing. His mother always made them go, no matter what. He thought now was the perfect time to start over; he was going to live his life again.
Chris's thoughts were interrupted by one of his fellow cops. Brian was the closest thing to a friend that he had at this point in time. He sat next to Chris. He knew Chris's past just as the whole town did.
"We finished things up at the house. I assume you're waiting to talk to Mr. Malone. Have you heard anything?"
"Nothing," Brian could tell that Chris was not all there. The fact that Chris was covered in blood did not help things.
"Mr. Malone was a homosexual Chris. You've got his blood all over you. You need to go get decontaminated."
"What? Who cares if he is gay? That makes no difference. I would have your blood on me if you were him."
Brian was astounded by the way Chris went at him now. He must have a hit a major nerve in Chris. Maybe it was one that had been bothering him for a while. "Sorry, I was out of line."
Chris looked at the man beside him and smiled for the first time tonight, "I understand. I am sorry too. I am just a little edgy right now with all that's going on. I am glad you care for me."
As if in perfect timing, the nurse came out looking for Chris. Finding him she started, "Officer Stock? He is awake but I ask that you not put any extra stress on him right now. He lost a little blood but nothing serious. We stitched his forehead, neck, and back up just fine. As long as he keeps his hands away from the scabs there will not be any scars."
"Thanks Ma'am." Chris nodded to Brian, "so you'll do the paper work at the house for me?" He followed the nurse down the hall. The green linoleum floor tiles and white walls were just as he remembered them. He was lead to what was a new wing and followed the nurse into the room.
The TV was on but as usual it wasn't being watched. Max looked terrible. His face was bandaged and IV's were running in and out of him like he was a robot. Chris walked over, next to the bed. His heart fell as Max picked his eyes up to look at Chris.
As Max looked up to the man standing in front of him, he took his breath in. Chris was covered in blood. Max's blood had stained his uniform and some was on his arms. There was even a little on his chin. Chris looked so lost standing there in front of Max. Max studied his deep blue eyes and thanked the lord that Chris was able to get there so fast. Right now all he had wanted to do was hold the cop in his arms and whisper sweet songs in his ear.
Chris spoke and Max looked at his lips. "Mr. Malone, I am officer Stock. I am the one that came to your house tonight when you hit your emergency button on your phone. Sprint contacted us and we pinpointed that signal to your house. I am sorry that I did not get there faster."
Max still was trying to take all of this in as he looked at Chris.
"We had a couple of cops go to your house while I was bringing you here. They found out somebody was in your home and it might have possibly been a gay bashing." Chris looked at Max's eyes now. "Did you meet, or um... well go out with anyone recently, or perhaps have a fight with your boyfriend?"
Max formed a mental smile when Chris had trouble getting that out. He was so handsome and innocent standing there in front of the window, the sun coming up all around him.
"No, Mr. Stock, I did not. In fact, I haven't been with anyone for a while now, at least a week." He wished the last time was with Chris. He remembered when Chris walked in the first time. Chris came in with a confident walk and sat at the 3rd bar stool in. He took off his baseball cap and laid it on the bar beside him. He ordered his beer. Max was sitting at a table talking to this guy he had hooked up with a couple of weeks ago. He immediately lost all interest in the man in front of him and stared at Chris. His arms were so beautiful they had a nice dusting of light blonde hair and his muscles jumped under the tan skin as he tapped his fingers on the bar. Chris made a sound with his throat as he noticed Max staring at his chest. "Umm...and my attacker told me I was messing with other people's business, so I imagine It would not be someone I was with."
Chris studied the look on Max's face while he spoke. He was a truly beautiful man. "Well, can you think of anyone that might want to hurt you? I mean they did come with the intent to kill you and he would have succeeded if I had not scared him off."
Pausing a moment to look at Max again, he fixed his eyes on the TV not wanting to have direct eye contact. "As I said officer Stock, I can not think of any one at all," Max said finally, bringing his eyes back to meet Chris' but he soon turned away again.
"Mr. Malone, I will come back tomorrow. Well later I guess. You're weak and you need all the rest you can get right now. Is there any family that I should call - to let them know you're okay?"
"Thanks officer but my sister's getting married in a couple of weeks and my parents are staying there to help her out. I don't want to mess with their plans. So, you don't need to contact anyone for me."
Chris looked at Max again and waited till their eyes met, "Your choice Mr. Malone but I want you to know this, if I was them I'd be on my way here right now to be with you and . . ." Chris grabbed Max's hand from scratching at the bandage that covered the stitches. "Don't do that, it'll scar your face." Chris held his hand for a little while longer than needed. This was something that made Max feel different. It was as if all his pain was drained from him in that moment they touched each other. Chris blushed again as Max pulled his hand back and looked up at him. "I best be going now." Chris left the room, quietly, not turning back to look at Max.
When he got home, he went straight into the shower. Chris thought about everything that had happened. He forgot about the scratch on his cheek until he walked into the shower and the bandage fell off. He washed the dried blood away and put on a white t-shirt and boxers. He thought about tomorrow for the first time in years. He was at least making progress thinking about the future for once.
As Max watched Chris leave, he wanted to call out to him. But, he knew that it wouldn't be right. He let the tired cop walk away. Max wondered about the words that Chris spoke to him - "I'd be on my way here right now to be with you." He fell asleep thinking about the officer that saved his life.
Chris took a well-needed nap. He had gotten home around 4:30 and it was already 10. This was his day off and he literally had a long list of things to do. The house needed to be cleaned, the horses needed to be fed, the dog needed a bath, he needed to check the fences . . . And, the list continued on another page. For the first time in years, he thought about getting help and possibly getting some more horses, and maybe even a couple cows. Just for fun, he told himself.
He managed to use all the grain and oats he had left on the horses. Since they were put out in the pasture, he didn't throw them any hay. He figured he would need all the hay he could get once it started getting cold. He took a long look at the ranch. He wasn't happy with the fact that he couldn't tend to it anymore like he wanted to. He was going to have to look into hiring some hands to help him out. There was a lot to be done and he did not know where to start. He got the keys out of the house, turned on the alarm and patted the dog on the head. He told her, "Daddy's gunna be back soon." He took the patrol truck, figuring that it didn't matter if he got it dirty and plus he didn't have to pay for the diesel. All the files on the break-in were in there, he was going to have to thank Brian for that.
The nurses behind the counter looked at Chris as if he was candy. "Welcome back officer. Do you need help?"
Chris smiled showing his perfect white teeth, "No thanks Ma'am, I remember."
"Well if you need anything, one of us will be up here. Anything at all," she said, winking at Chris.
"Oh god," he said to himself as he walked down to Max's wing. Max looked up as this god walked into his room. He had on a white cowboy hat, a yellow Columbia shirt and dark blue wranglers that hugged his legs.
"Afternoon buddy," Chris said as he sat beside Max's bed.
"Hi Officer Stock," Max managed to say.
"Hey I am off today so it's Chris. I just came from feeding the animals and I am going to pick up more feed after I finish here. If not I would have dressed, um, casual as the city folk call it."
"I think you look great!" Max mentally beat himself up for letting that out.
"Well thanks, I'd say that about you too, but I think you might be offended if I told you that you look hot in a hospital gown," Chris said curling his lips in a genuine smile.
Max returned the smile, "Only if any other person said it."
Chris seemed uneasy for a second. "Well, I just need you to give me a statement and sign off on it. But, you're not going home alone tonight. Do you have anyone that can stay with you or can you stay over at someone's?"
Max thought for a second, "Well there's Brad and Mark but they have to work tonight but I am sure they will let me stay at their house."
Chris smiled, "I think you missed my point buddy. There is definitely someone trying to kill you. Just for safe measures, I will watch your house tonight. This way if someone does come I will be waiting. No arguments!"
Max, looking around the room, was shocked at all that was happening. He just managed to nod his head. "Well let's get you checked out of this place, I hate hospitals."
As Max was being released to Chris, the nurses in the front greeted them. Giving them both an obvious wink, Chris made Max smile. "I think they like ya," Max said as he gave Chris a hit on the arm.
"Shut up!" Chris managed to say.
As they walked out to the truck, Max tripped and was immediately caught in Chris' arms. Chris held Max so close to his chest Max could smell the cologne on Chris neck. He closed his eyes and then opened them to look into Chris' beautiful blue ones.
"You okay?" Chris said with a face full of concern.
Max gave him a smile. "Sorry, I don't know what got into me."
Chris released him with a smile, "Get in the truck."
Max took a step up into the big Ford. He could not imagine driving this thing every day - plus he liked his Corvette so much better.
"I have to get some feed, and I want to do a couple things at home so you're going to have to wait a couple hours till we can go to your house."
Max just nodded and said a muffled, "Okay."
Let me know what you think of this chapter; e-mail me at CowboyG4@netscape.net.
Post Script- I owe this one to you Jeff.