Ring in Mine #3: Nephi and Jerome Chapter 37
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Chapter 37
After two nights sitting at Nephi's bedside Jerome woke Sunday morning to use the restroom and once again fell asleep - waiting for his love to wake.
Jerome fought his way through a wall of thorns with a small pair of pruning shears to gain access into the compound. Once inside everyone, even Max, was asleep. As he climbed the stairs his dad, green faced wearing black robes appeared barring his way. A small Jared dressed as a fairy with a pink tutu and wings, fluttered in carrying a tiny pink plastic cocktail sword you might find stuck in a sandwich.
"Take this brave knight. Defeat this evil and claim your prize."
The tiny pink plastic sword became a large pink plastic sword. His father morphed into a green fire-breathing alpaca, still with his father's face. The first flaming burst changed the sword into a pink dripping mess which Jerome dropped onto the stairs.
Sariah appeared as a blue fairy. "Who will clean up this mess?" She waved her wand. A bright beam of light hit the nearest glob of plastic on the carpet. The beam changed color and bounced back striking the fairy turning her into a blue plastic action figure falling to the ground.
Jerome realized no one could help him defeat this vorpal alpaca. He dug through his pocket and found a handful of the treats the alpaca's loved.
"Who's been a good boy? Good boys get treats." The vicious alpaca's ears twisted forward; its eyes on the tasty morsels. Its nostrils twitched. Jerome threw them toward the bottom of the stairs. The alpaca went bounding past claiming his reward.
At the top of the stairs the real evil waited. The pale painted hallway stretched into the distance. Behind the door at the end lay the sleeping prince. Between him and the door stood a formidable nurse with her glowing clipboard.
"You shall not pass." She insisted. Every time he tried to get around her the clipboard was in the way. "You must wait until visiting hours."
"When are visiting hours?"
"Visiting hours are one o'clock to two o'clock every other day." She announced with the authority given to her by the glowing clipboard.
"Are visiting hours today?" Jerome asked.
"No! They are every other day. Visiting hours were yesterday and visiting hours will be tomorrow. They are never today. They are every other day." She insisted.
Jerome was trying to wrap his mind around this conundrum when a beep followed by a voice echoed through the hall. "Molly your coffee is ready."
Molly handed Jerome the clipboard. "Let no one past."
Jerome tried to move down the hallway, but the clipboard restricted his travel to only two steps. He tried to drop the clipboard and his hands wouldn't release it. He took two steps toward the doorway and turned around. Molly returned with her coffee mug in hand and claimed her clipboard.
"May I go in now?" Jerome pleaded.
Molly's face turned stern. "You shall not pass."
Jerome turned around and continued down the hallway. He turned the knob and pushed the door open. His prince lay in a hospital bed. Hoses, tubes, and wires ran everywhere. How do you give true-love's kiss with a tube sticking out of the patient's mouth?
Jerome woke to a hand shaking his shoulder. "That must have been quite a dream. Did you know you talk in your sleep?"
Jerome looked into Nephi's now bright eyes. Jerome wound his way through the wires and slipped his tongue between Nephi's lips. The monitors picked up speed.
The nurse stepped in to investigate the change in Nephi's vitals. He waited for the kiss to end. "I guess it's true you can wake a sleeping prince with a kiss. It's good you're not a pair of queens. He would still be asleep."
Jerome called Paula first so she could visit before the mob descended on the hospital. Paula must have called Benny. Benny, Luke and Leonard arrived not long after Paula. Everyone fussed over Nephi's hero status.
Leonard shared his chilling news. "The blue Chevy nearly hit a semi. The driver wrapped it around a fire hydrant. He didn't survive. His passengers left him for the police to find."
Leonard confessed that someone in his office had dropped the ball. "Based on Kenton's testimony the DA's office is prosecuting the gang leader for the murder of Kenton's family. They are trying him as an adult and are pushing for the death penalty. Someone told the defense attorney weeks ago before we could talk to Kenton. There is a bounty on Kenton's head."
"That is why we've installed cameras at the main gate into the compound. We don't want to give just anyone access." Benny explained. "Chief Thompson has an idea. He has a young officer looking for a place to live. How would you feel about renting him a room?"
The doctor ushered everyone out while he examined Nephi. The doctor pulled back the covers. Nephi looked down to see a tube coming out of his penis. "We had to take the ring out to put the catheter in.
The doctor ran his pen along the bottoms of Nephi's feet. His right foot twitched. The left foot showed no reaction. "Wiggle your toes." The right toes moved the left didn't. The doctor didn't look pleased.
"What's happening doctor?" Nephi asked.
"It's too early to tell. We will have to run some tests."
The pain was getting to Nephi. The nurse injected pain killer into the IV. Nephi fell asleep before Jerome could say "I love you."
"How's he doing?" Jerome asked.
"He isn't out of the woods. All of his systems aren't working 100 percent yet. Every day without a setback improves his chances."
"Jerome, you've talked to Nephi. Go home with Benny and Luke. Your family also needs you. I'll sit with Nephi." Paula offered.
Benny made a quick call to Chief Thompson. Officer Adam would meet them at the compound.
A police car waited just up the street from the front gate. As Benny's car neared the entrance, the black iron gates swung open. Officer Adam followed them in. Officer Adam wasn't what Jerome had envisioned. Adam didn't climb out of his police cruiser as much as he unfolded his six-foot six-inch frame into a standing position. Curly blond locks framed a pair of brilliant blue eyes. Broad shoulders tapered to a slender waist.
Jerome felt guilty imagining the officer out of his uniform (not in street clothes), but completely out of his uniform. Jerome's vision still had the heavy black boots and cap on.
Luke leaned into Jerome. "You're staring." Jerome looked away. Not only had he been staring, he had been stirring. Jerome hoped his hardness didn't show.
Adam's handshake was strong and firm but not painful. "Chief Thompson has told me a lot about this place. He said I should check it out." Adam smiled showing rows of straight white teeth.
When Paula moved out, Rebecca and Sean had seen no reason the big apartment should stand empty. It worked well for their growing family with a room for Eve and a room for Kenton. As for the adults they had given up any pretense of sleeping in separate beds. That left Sean's original apartment empty after its renovation.
"I'm not sure I can afford anything this nice. It even has a pool."
Jerome spoke up. "Stay for a week and see if you can survive in the madhouse. We can discuss rent when Nephi gets home."
Adam looked at Benny. Because of his age, Adam assumed he would deal with Benny.
"Jerome and my nephew Nephi own `Samaria.' I'd take him up on the offer. I'm sure you would be welcome at family meals."
Jerome hadn't realized how early it was until Sariah rang the bell for breakfast. Jerome invited their guests for breakfast. They had taken two steps into the main house when a child shot toward his daddy. Jerome caught Jerry and mimicked Nephi by throwing him up in the air.
"Where's daddy Nephi? Kenton got shot by a bad guy. His arm is in a..." Jerry thought for a moment. "See, there he is."
Jerome explained that Nephi was still at the hospital and Nephi was missing his boy. Jerome stood in Nephi's place at the table.
The Lord watches over us, but he lets us make our own choices. The sad part is when an innocent pays the price because of the choices others make. That doesn't mean the Lord doesn't love us.
Jerome asked, "Clark, is chapel at ten o'clock?" Clark nodded. "Luke would you say grace?"
They passed the platters of food. Adam appreciated a home cooked breakfast. For the last month he had been living in a rundown cheap motel and eating out while trying to find an apartment he could afford. It was hard going from two incomes to one. Beginning police officers didn't make a lot of money. After student loans, credit card debt and burying Troy, there wasn't anything left.
Adam had made it all morning without thinking about Troy. Tears ran across his face. Jerry crawled into Adam's lap and hugged the tear streaked giant laying his head on Adam's chest. Adam returned the unsolicited hug, pulling Jerry close to him.
Adam worried Jerome, but he knew their new family member was in good hands. "Uncle Adam, come see the bunnies." Jerome wondered where bunnies had come from. He looked at Benny, who shook his head in denial.
Four littles dragged the police officer out to see the farms newest additions. They had taken up residence under the chicken coop safe from Max. Jerry reminded Adam of his little brother. Blaine was in high school now. Adam wondered how his little brother was doing. Watching the rabbits hopping around the chicken yard drove other thoughts to the back burner. This was the most relaxed he had been in weeks. If the room was even passable, he would stay at the compound.
The bell rang calling the littles to chapel. Adam hadn't been to church since Troy. Still in his uniform, he found himself sandwiched between Donny and Micah. Jerry sat on the end. "Who had their own chapel?" Adam wondered.
It seemed like the services he was used to, but somehow different. There was a hymn and a prayer. Zeke read a section from the bible and told why it was important to him. Clark pushed a step stool up to the podium. Jerry stood before his family and told the story of Jonah and the whale. Clark gave a message focusing on looking for opportunities to do the Lord's work even if it wasn't the easiest of paths. Another hymn and a prayer and it was over.
Jerome rescued Adam long enough to show him his suite. The apartment was nice, far better than the place he had shared with Troy. Looking back, it had been a dump, but as long as Troy was there it was home.
Jerome excused himself after church to return to the hospital only to find his car missing. He found Benny, for he realized that his car was still at the hospital.
"Have lunch, spend time with your kids, then after a shower and a shave I will take you back to the hospital." Benny escorted Jerome into the pool area.
Burgers and hot dogs were just coming off the grill. Clark and Adam were the same waist size even though Adam dwarfed Clark in height and through the chest. Clark loaned Adam a set of shorts. Sariah had found t-shirts in stores that fit, sort of. They were snug on the chest and hung free around the waist.
After dinner Jerry wanted his daddy to swim with him in the pool. Jerome returned to the pool wearing loose shorts. If he got hard again, he didn't want to announce it. Jerry jumped from the edge into Jerome's arms. Jerome helped Jerry swim to the edge.
"Uncle policeman catch me!" Micah flew from the edge. Jerome admired Adam's quick reflexes. He turned and dove for Micah, catching him before he went under. Adam's muscles flexed drawing Jerome's attention. He caught himself staring again. Jared pulled Jerome's legs out from under him. He came up sputtering.
An unrepentant Jared whispered into his brother's ear. "Keep it in your pants. You have your man." Jerome pushed Jared under the water. Jared came up sputtering.
"A married man can still look." Jerome whispered.
"But a single man can handle the merchandise." Jared whispered.
"Here I come daddy." Jerry ran from the iron fence to the pool and jumped to his dad.
Jared and Jerome were not as quiet as they thought they had been. Adam wasn't sure he wanted anyone to handle his merchandise, but then again it had been quite a long time since anyone else had handled his stuff.
His thoughts drifted back to that night.
They had been working different shifts. Troy was coming on as Adam was heading home. Troy pulled his man into the handicapped restroom and locked the door. Sitting on the toilet Troy pulled Adam's tool through his fly. They didn't have much time. Looking down at this police officer working his meat was all it took for Adam to give up his seed. Some dripped onto Troy's uniform.
It took time for the investigators to determine all the circumstances around the accident. Troy had called in a drunk driver. Four fifteen-year-olds had found a car running at the Seven-Eleven parking lot. They hopped in for a joyride. As Troy got out of his car the fifteen-year-old driver lost control and smashed Troy between the two cars. Both of the cars left the scene leaving Troy's broken body on the pavement next to his cruiser.
Chief Thompson called Adam. Adam and Troy had been very discreet about their relationship. The force wasn't ready to accept gay officers. They both had `girlfriend' photos hanging in their lockers. Chief Thompson had learned of their love the one time they hadn't locked the door of the handicapped restroom. Chief Thompson read them the riot act, not about being gay, but for being stupid enough to not lock the door.
Troy had no close family. All the arrangements had fallen on Adam. Because they were not a married heterosexual couple, Adam did not qualify for paid bereavement leave. Chief Thompson gave Adam as much time off as Adam wanted, but Adam couldn't afford too many unpaid days.
Adam had always hidden his attraction for men. It was just a little unnerving to see Zeke kiss his boyfriend in front of everyone else or Benny applying suntan lotion to Luke's back. Troy would have loved living in a place like this. Now two men not that much younger than his twenty-three years were discussing their open admiration of his body. He missed Troy but enjoyed the admiration.
A flying Donny interrupted his thoughts. He helped Donny back to the edge. He and Troy had talked about wanting kids. Adam knew he had to stop linking everything to his dead partner, or he would never find happiness.
Jerome excused himself and returned dressed and readied to return to the hospital. Benny was snuggling up to Luke on the wide chaise lounge.
Adam dried off and pulled the t-shirt over his shorts. "I need to get my stuff from the motel. It will take multiple loads. I'll drop you off at the hospital." Jared's sandals were sitting by his towel. Jerome thought no one had feet as big as his brother's. They fit Adam perfectly.
"Can you drive a stick?" Jerome tossed the keys to the pickup to Adam. "Take the truck. You might do it in one trip."
It felt different driving something besides his patrol car. The department encouraged officers to drive their patrol cars even off duty. It made it look like there were more officers on the street. The truck was a comfortable drive. Jerome showed Adam the remote for opening the front gate when he returned.
There was little discussion on the way to the hospital. They were lost in self-contemplation.
Jerome found Nephi's room empty. He found a distraught Paula in the waiting room. "They took Nephi for tests two hours ago and no one seems to know why it is taking so long."
The nurse at the desk checked her clipboard and informed Jerome they could only talk with family. Jerome insisted she check Nephi's records. The family lawyer had filed Jerome's medical power of attorney the first night of this ordeal.
Just like Jerome's dream she wasn't willing to look farther than her clipboard. It wasn't long before Nephi's assigned nurse returned to the nurse's station.
"Nephi is in recovery. They ran tests and realized he was bleeding. They fixed the bleeder. I'll let the doctor know you are here. He needs to talk to you." The nurse continued. "Don't let Molly get you down. She would let gay guys die on the street before she would help. I don't make things any better. The only time I act like a stereotypical gay man is to irritate her."
Molly returned to the nurses' station. "Honey," Nephi's nurse batted his eyelashes. "If I've told you once I've told you a hundred times. Guys love the natural look. You can borrow my shadow any time, dear." Molly stormed off. Jerome and Paula succeeded in not laughing.
The doctor arrived. "We were running tests on Nephi's leg when we noticed he was filling up with blood. We opened Nephi and took care of the problem. He should be upstairs soon."
The doctor's face turned serious. "The good news is the lower bullet missed his spine. It severed most of the sciatic nerve on the left side. He will have minimal if any motor control of his left leg. Nephi's records have notes about a therapist. I would have Nephi see him sooner than later."
Paula spoke up. "I'll give your Aunt Margaret a call and see if she can stop by."
The doctor looked puzzled. "We believe in keeping things in the family." Jerome explained.
Jerome paced the waiting room for half an hour waiting for Nephi. When they rolled his groggy lover back into his room, Jerome took his place by Nephi's side. Jerome told Nephi the kids were missing him and wanted him home.
"Chief Thompson asked us to take in one of his officers. The Chief worries about Kenton's safety. Adam borrowed the pickup to move his stuff. I am sure he is gay. He's in Sean's old apartment." Jerome avoided mentioning Adam's appearance or age. He was still trying to wrap his head around his reaction with Adam. Jerome kept trying to tell himself he wasn't attracted to guys, just Nephi. Adam was messing up Jerome's world.
"Jerome would you press the call button." Nephi's nurse arrived. "I need help to get to the bathroom."
The nurse supported Nephi's left side as they limped to the toilet. As Nephi relaxed and emptied his bladder, you would think Nephi was a three-year-old going by himself for the first time.
"Why is taking a leak a big deal?" Jerome asked.
"This is a big deal. It means he still has control of his bladder. Can you imagine having to use a tube to pee?" The nurse explained. "Everything he can do on his own will help."
"If you are done talking about me, would you help me back into bed." Jerome provided Nephi's needed support.
As the sunset faded into twilight Nephi had two requests for his partner. "Jerome, the doctor said I might not get it up."
Jerome shut the door and pulled the privacy curtain. With the bedclothes mid-thigh, Jerome tested Nephi's tool.
Jerome pressed his lips to Nephi's. When Jerome's tongue knocked on Nephi's lips, Nephi welcomed the intruder. Jerome licked and then nibbled his way down his lover's neck toward Nephi's nipples. Little Nephi was hard and ready to play.
Jerome moved Nephi's balls sucking first one and then the other into the warm darkness of his mouth. Jerome licked the length of Nephi's growing manhood. His tongue tickled the hole in the underside behind the head. As Jerome buried his nose in Nephi's trimmed curls. Nephi moaned and released his load.
Jerome shared the last volley of semen with a kiss. "I think we can say your penis and balls work."
During their love making twilight had become night. "Jerome, you will not like my last request. Please go home and sleep. I need you to be my legs and eyes tomorrow. Keep the business on track and after work I think we might need to check that my dick is still working again."
Lying in bed, Jerome found his mind running in circles. Everything would be so different. Why did Nephi have to be the hero? Could he love someone stuck in a wheelchair? The visual of an old Nephi sitting in his chair drooling with breakfast displayed on his shirt morphed into Adam, his muscular chest giving way to rippled abs, ending in a speedo racing suit.
Jerome couldn't let his mind go there. He got out of bed and walked around the compound. Adam was taking a swim with the lights off. Jerome thought a swim might relax him. Jerome dove in wearing only his loose boxers. The two swimmers passed each other as they swam laps.
Jerome ran out of steam before Adam. Jerome stood in the shallow end of the pool watching Adam swim back and forth. The moon peeked out from behind the cloud cover. For the first time Jerome noticed it was Adam's bare bum flashing past.
Adam stopped to catch his breath and stretch. As he reached high over his head, the top of his sizeable cock broke the surface. Not only was it the longest cock Jerome had ever seen it was the fattest even after being exposed to the cool pool water.
Adam mentioned,"I was walking trying to get my head wrapped around things. Two boys climbed out of the pool. They were both hard. I'd never seen other guys suck each other off before." Adam's cock was growing to its full size.
"That would be Zeke and Rafe. Nephi told them it wasn't a good idea to skinny dip at night. So, they stripped at a family party. We relented and let them skinny dip after dark." Jerome had slipped through the fly of his underwear. It throbbed as it grew.
"That's a big one you've got there." Two inches of Jerome stood above the water. Adam wasn't sure what possessed him but he reached out and ran his fingers the length of Jerome. It wasn't Troy's endowment that had endeared him to Adam, but his soul. Except in the mirror Adam had never seen a dick bigger than Jerome's
Fascinated by the size, Jerome reached out for Adam finding he couldn't wrap his hand around Adam's dick. The moon slid behind the cloud cover. With hands wrapped around the other's dick, they began the instinctual motion.
"Daddy, why are you swimming in the dark?" Jerry stood outside the fence. He lacked the height to reach the latch on his own. Jerome released Adam like a hot poker. What was he doing? His man was in the hospital. Why was he so attracted to Adam?
Jerry took hold of Jerome's hand. They stopped for just a moment to knock on Jared's door. Jerome had disturbed Jared's beauty sleep.
"Jared, I think tonight would be perfect for skinny dipping." Jerome suggested.
"Is it not the house rule - we shouldn't swim alone?" Jared answered.
"If you hurry Adam is swimming laps in the nude." Jerome hoped Jared rose to the occasion. Jerome would feel safer if Adam focused on his younger brother.
Jared wasn't over Drake, but he would be stupid to not take advantage of an opportunity to see the hunky policeman naked.
Jerome dried off. Jerry was already asleep in his daddy's bed. Jerome hugged his boy as he fell asleep. Having his son in his arms reminded him of what was important compared to what was nice.