Rob

This is a fictional story. It is based on the few experiences and many fantasies of the author. If you are really into graphic sex, it may not satisfy your purpose for coming here. If you like to hear of real love and real teen angst, with a little sex thrown in, you are in the right place. There may be some amount of graphic sex between males. If this is objectionable to you, or you are legally too young to be here, you are cordially invited to press your back button.

Characters:

Robert E. Lee Balser

Denny (Dennis Andrew Miggs), 20

Robert F. Balser, Rob's dad

Donna Balser, Rob's mom.

Nana, The balser's housekeeper

Garth Roth, 22

Randy Small, 24

Bob, Denny's Brother 3 years older

Gail, Bob's wife

Jack, Denny's oldest brother, 9 years older

Jack's son's, Jacky, Bobby and DennyToo

James Miggs, Denny's dad

Carol Miggs, Denny's mom,

Ray, Denny's dad's Deputy D.A. friend

Tad Newliegh, the new roomie

Jacob Smith, Rob's former "Landlord"

Linda Smith, Jacob's wife

Chris & Craig, partners, Rob's roomies.

Seth, Chris's Brother

Luke, Seth's partner.

Etta, The Smith's housekeeper

From Chapter 6:

It was still pretty dark in the room, with my room darkening shades, but I could vaguely see the ceiling. My own breathing was getting slower and slower. I was very aware as his heart beat slower and slower. I suddenly was in the air. I was flying. Denny was right beside me, as we soared through the air like super-heroes. He looked over at me and grinned. I took hold of his hand. He pulled me into a flying embrace. We were flying naked! As we embraced, we tumbled over and over, the wind whipping up our hair and the feeling of falling was something indescribably wonderful -- as if we were so high that we could free fall forever and never hit bottom.

I woke up to the second alarm. I had a half hour to get to work. I looked over and Denny was again by my side. He was asleep and looked like he was somewhere the other side of heaven. I slipped out of bed and had a quick shower. I tasted the sour leftovers of our love, and loved it. I reluctantly brushed my teeth, so I would not give myself away at work. He was right -- it smelled strongly of sex.

I quietly left the room, looking back at my sleeping angel, feeling such a powerful surge of love, as I had never before felt.

Chapter 7

The next weekend was when we were supposed to go to Santa Barbara to see Jake, Colin and the kids. I wasn't too excited about leaving Denny behind for the weekend, even though he seemed to be doing a lot better in the last day or so. His memory seemed to be pretty stabilized. But I was worried that he would not want to travel with his face all bandaged up.

But the day before we were supposed to go, Thursday, he got most of the dressings off, with only a small (comparatively) bandage to hold his nose in place until it healed better.

"Rob, Doctor Valentine says it's up to me. He said, if it hurts too much, lighten up. I don't want you to miss this -- I know how much you wanted to go. And I want to go back too. I really like those guys -- especially those cute younger ones -- Luke and Seth, is it?"

"Yeah. Well, Seth is 19 -- so he's not too much younger than you are. But Luke just looks young. He's 25. But you're right, they are cute. Don't get any ideas!" I joked.

"I've never seen anyone with natural blue hair!" Denny said.

"It's not really. But it's just so black and shiny, that it reflects blue. Luke is pretty quiet. He always was, but with Seth's `accident', he looks a little worried all the time."

"Why did you say accident so oddly?"

"It wasn't an accident. He tried to commit suicide."

"No Shit! Why would anyone want to - "

"He was depressed. Don't think that I would ever condone doing that. And you KNOW how much I love that kid! But he had some pretty heavy stuff to live with."

"Did he struggle with being gay?"

"No -- well, at least I don't think that had anything to do with it. But he was kidnapped a couple years ago, then almost murdered. I was there the first time. I helped his brother and Craig restrain the guys who kidnapped him.

"The geniuses in the Vermont court system let the guys go loose and in a complete fluke, they met up with Seth again and tried to kill him."

"No SHIT!" Denny said incredulously. "but still, to try to kill your - "

"Oh that's not why. But I suppose all of it adds up. Seth fell head over heels for Luke, and Luke seemed to go for Seth too. Then for some reason something happened in their relationship. Luke left suddenly and went back to Hawaii."

"OO, that must have hurt!"

"Yeah, but it gets worse."

"No shit!"

"Hmmm. I didn't know you liked that phrase so much!"

"Sorry. Maybe college will improve my vocabulary. It just seems like Seth has had to deal with an awful lot -- for his age."

"Well, anyway, Seth fell for a doctor. He was way older than Seth, but they moved in together and everything. Then there was a sailing accident and Seth's doctor died from complications of the accident."

"No sh -- no kidding? Poor guy."

"Yeah. He tried to deal with it for awhile, but then one day he jumped off a cliff."

"Aw -- poor kid. But obviously it didn't work."

"No, but because of it, he has health problems now. He had a stroke a few months back, as a complication from his injuries."

"A stroke -- at HIS age?"

"Yeah. So now you can see why Luke is so worried. Now, I'm worried about YOU. Are you sure you want to go up there with me tomorrow?"

"Do you have to ask?"

"You're not just going because you don't want me to miss out?"

"I take the fifth on that. But I really do want to go. With the top DOWN!"

"Well, okay, but the windows will be up!

"Deal!" He said. "Hey, can we go over tonight and get the rest of my stuff?"

"I don't know if we should. Those idiot friends of the guys the attacked you - "

"They wouldn't be that stupid again!" Denny said. "We'll have to take my car to get it all in. I think they were a little jealous of your car too."

"On one condition. We call security and let them know we're coming."

"Security? Aren't they the ones who narcked on you in the first place?"

"Yeah, but they can't keep you from getting your stuff. And they have to protect you -- us! Oh, and call your roommates to let them know we're coming."

"I already did!" Denny said, smiling.

"Ass hole!"

"ROB!" Denny said in mock horror.

UCLA security met us at our car and escorted us up the Denny's old room.

"God, Denny! You look like shit!" Randy said grinning like he was seeing his favorite brother after a long absence.

"Thanks, Randy. Fuck you too!" Denny was grinning too. Poor Tad was looking sort of lost.

Randy started to give Denny a hug. "Can I -- touch you?" Randy asked.

"Depends," Denny replied, "on where you plan to touch me. My boyfriend is bigger than you, you know!"

"He's only got about a foot in me!" Randy said.

"Yeah," Denny said, "and about 150 buff pounds!"

I blushed.

"Aw, guys!" Tad said. "Now you went and made him blush!"

"Yeah," Denny said. "Ain't he cute!?"

Denny was in his element here. I scowled at Denny. "Okay," I said, "are you guys gonna help us get this stuff down to the car? With all of us, it will only take one trip. And Denny doesn't get to take anything!"

Then that damned Tad took some underwear out of a hamper and put them in his face. "I get to carry his dirty underwear!" He took a big sniff! "MMMMMmmmmm! Delicious!"

"Now YOU made DENNY blush!" Randy said. "You two are a matched set!" He said to Denny and me.

AS we walked down and out of the dorm, the guy that I punched out was there. "Hey look folks! The fag's moving out!" Then there was a cheer. But the ass hole was the only one cheering. I guess his friends weren't there. He looked around at a bunch of scowling faces. Then he snarled at me, "See you in court, FAG!" One of the security guards walked up to him, grabbed his arm and said something, and the creep went back into the dorm. Then the security guard turned, touched the bill on his cap, grinned and winked at us.

I thanked the security guards, and I took notice of the winker's name badge: Buzz.

As soon as we said our good-byes -- at the car -- we left. On the way home, we stopped at a seafood restaurant. Denny had fish and chips. I had a crab louis. Both were good. We had crème broulee for dessert. Well, for "first" dessert, anyway!"

When I got home, I called our attorney and told him about the exchange. I told him the name of Security guard Buzz. I didn't tell him that Buzz winked at us. I didn't tell him how cute Buzz was, either.

I was wide awake when we got home, but I could see that the day's experience was pretty hard on Denny. "You look like you might like be ready for bed." I said.

"I am! It's been a strange day. A good day in some ways -- but a strange day, Garth." I tried to ignore it.

"Well, lets get you into bed, huh?" I said as I lead him into the bedroom. "Just sit down, Sweetie." I said, and I pushed him gently down onto the bed. I removed his shoes, and as I took off his socks, I rubbed his feet. He groaned a little and laid back, so I gave him a proper foot massage., with him giving me the appropriate feedback -- moaning and groaning his approval.

Then I kissed him while I unzipped his shorts. I slipped his shorts and boxers down at the same time. His boner was not quite rock hard yet. I saw it soften as I started at his ankles to massage his legs. I lifted them up onto the bed, so he was laying out straight on his back, with nothing but his tee shirt on. I wanted to dive right into his crotch, but I restrained myself.

I rubbed his calves and as I worked my way up his thighs, I could see his dick was starting to swell again. I kissed it, and he flinched as it jumped, depositing a drip of precum on my nose. I giggled. So did he. I licked the precum off my nose. His eyes got really big. "What?" I said.

"You tongue!" He exclaimed. "You just licked off the tip of your nose like it was no big deal!"

"It's not," I said, and I licked the tip of his bandaged nose. "Turn over, Silly!" I added.

I then started anew, kneading his neck and shoulder muscles. He groaned some more. "Like that, Sweetie?" I said.

"MMMMmmmm." He replied.

I kissed his neck. He cooed. I kissed his shoulders. "God, your turning me on, Garth!"

Okay, that was enough. I felt like I needed to bring him back to reality. I whispered, "It's not Garth -- its Rob."

"I know." Was all he said.

I rubbed his back, all the while kissing my way down to his lower back. He had to readjust himself because his boner was getting caught up under him. I reached under and wrapped my hand around it, straightening it out. "Oohhhh." He purred.

I started to scrunch and knead his butt. This was getting me excited enough that I slapped his butt and said, "Time out!" I quickly removed my clothes. I lay down on top of him, my lips caressing the nape of his neck. That put my dick squarely between his legs. He spread his legs, and my dick was thrust up under his balls. He clamped down on it with his legs, which got a moan out of me.

"Turn over again, Sweetie." I whispered. I moved and let him obey, then lay down atop his front side. We kissed deeply. He swallowed hard when my tongue touched his uvula. I removed myself to his side, and started to massage his manhood. He looked into my eyes. He tensed as I saw confusion there for a moment, then recognition. He relaxed again, and grabbed my own throbbing dick. He brought his wetted hand up to his face and first tried to smell it, the licked it off.

"Oh, Rob, that tastes great!" I increased the speed that I was stroking him. He moaned and smiled up to me, kissing me with renewed energy. He started to take deep gasping breaths, so I moved quickly down, replacing my hand with my mouth. I stopped the stroking and just sucked on him like a straw for a moment. His breathing slowed a bit.

I could distinctly taste his boy juice in my mouth. I then pulled off of him long enough to spread his legs. I went to lick my finger and then wet his hole. I knew how much he liked it. When I got that close, I kind of held my breath, remembering that last time I didn't really like the smell much. But some of it came through. It wasn't so bad. I took a sniff, and then a deep breath of his scent. It didn't even smell of poo at all. It smelled like pure musk.

I chanced running my tongue across his hole. It tightened. I massaged it with my wet finger. It softened up and I could see it puckering. I dared to touch it again with my tongue. There was the poo taste, but it didn't matter. It was overcome by my love and my state of excitement. I pushed in with the tip of my tongue. He tightened a little, then relaxed and I was able to push it in a bit.

His legs were up over my shoulders by now, and he was stroking himself slowly and moaning loudly. I kept thrusting with my tongue, and noticed that I was involuntaritly thrusting with my hips as well, at the already wet spot on the sheet.

"Oh, God!" he groaned. Put it in me, Garth! Please, I want you in me."

I felt a twinge of hurt when he said that, but I was too far gone to give it too much energy. I put my finger in. It easily went in as far as it could. I moved up and kissed him while I put two and then three fingers in, all the time stretching and loosening his anus. By the time I pushed my dick in, it popped in with surprising ease. I felt like I was going to come immediately as I slowly pushed it in and felt every nerve ending in it as it pushed past his sphincter.

I stopped, afraid I would come too soon. He was continually flexing his sphincter, and kissed me even more deeply. "Don't stop, Garth, don't stop!" He begged. I looked at his face. His eyes were closed. I pulled away from his face and kissed his neck, as I started up my thrusting again, my tears drenching his neck.

He started to gasp for breath again and then panting very fast and I felt my stomach and chest covered in his cream. That made me forget my aching heart and I pumped faster and faster. It took me a good 10 minutes of exhausting work, but I finally finished off, ramming him as fast as I could, and coming in the most explosive orgasm I ever had. He came a second time as I was just finishing, both of us screaming out in our ecstasy.

I lay there on top of him, and as our hearts and breathing slowed down together, I started to remember. I started to silently cry. I slid off him, and grabbed a towel from the bathroom, mopping up most of the mess. He never woke up while I was doing this. I tiptoed out to the living room, turned on a rerun of "Friends." It was in the middle, coming into a studio audience laugh, as usual, and tears started to course down my face. I saw Ross make a goofy but sad face.

I totally broke down and started sniffling and sobbing. I pushed my head into a large couch pillow, so I would not wake up Denny. I forced it over my face and screamed out my pain and my frustration. MY heart ached for both him and myself.

I calmed down, and was able to at least smile at some of the antics of "Scrubs". When "Will and Grace" came on, I decided it was time to go back into the bedroom.

I lay down next to my sleeping sweetheart. I listened to his even breathing. Before I knew it, I was floating over the bed, looking down at Denny. There were no bandages. He was looking up, but seemed to be looking through me, not at me. He then looked over to his left and smiled. I glanced over to what he was looking at. Somehow I had not seen the other body there next to him. Smiling happily back at him was my cousin, Garth.

Suddenly I replaced Garth, and it was me lying beside him. My eyes were closed, and he was thrashing about, and moaning mournfully. I opened my eyes, and Denny was indeed thrashing and crying. I placed a hand on his chest. He took it in his own hand.

"Oh, I had the worst dream!" He said. "Something's not right. I dreamt that you had died, Garth." He said as he squeezed my hand. I didn't know what to do. I reached out with my other hand and turned on the bedside light. He looked over at me, and his eyes got wide -- terror stricken. ""You! You're not Garth. He started to scramble over me to get out of the bed.

He hit his head on the headboard -- hard. I grabbed him, afraid he was going to hurt himself. He struggled against me and finally I spread out his hands, and lay down heavily on top of him. He looked up at me through terrorized eyes. "Denny, DENNY!" I exclaimed. "It's me, Rob! Don't you remember me? I love you! Denny -- I love you!" I cried, my hot tears falling on his neck.

He stopped struggling and then he looked up at me, as if trying to remember. "Garth is -- is - "

"Garth died earlier this year, Swe -- Denny."

"Oh." He looked like he was struggling hard to remember. "He -- killed himself." Garth killed himself. And it was because of me!"

He then started to wail like a baby. I got off him. He sat up, wrapped his arms around his knees and started rocking back and forth, crying softly.

"It was not your fault, Denny." I said. He looked at me.

"Why are you in my bed. I know you, don't I?" he said. "Oh, that's right. You're taking us to the airport. Where are Randy and Roddy?" He looked around then blinked several times. "But -- you said -- he died -- earlier this year."

As he calmed down, I rehearsed everything that happened from that night in the motel where I had slept with him up to the present. He remembered it one piece at as time, as I recounted it to him. When I was finished, explaining that he had just had a bad dream -- after some stunning sex -- he grabbed me and said, "Don't ever leave me again, Rob. I love you so much!"

"I didn't leave you, Sweetie. And I never will. He smiled and I turned off the light. He clung to my hand for a few minutes, then as his hand loosened it's grip, his breathing slowed again, until his hand relaxed and fell away from mine. I looked over at the clock. 2:05 AM. I could not sleep. I lay there looking at the barely visible ceiling. I glanced over at the clock again. 3:10 AM. That's' the last I remembered.

The clock radio came on at 7:30. I groggily looked over at it, punched the snooze button, but couldn't go back to sleep. I knew I needed to wake him up before I left, but I was afraid. I quietly got ready and started to slip out the bedroom door.

"Rob? Are you leaving?" I felt a heavy weight leave me. I let out a long achy breath, and came back to the bed, kneeling beside my sweetheart.

"Yes, I have to go to work. Your mom will be here in a couple hours. Then I'll be coming home to pick you up to go up to Santa Monica. Remember?"

"Yes. We're going to see Seth, huh?"

"Yes. Seth and all the rest of them."

"You can remind me who they all are on the way up, then. I seem to have forgotten a lot of -- we WERE there before, right? Oh yeah. That's why I knew about Seth. And -- uh -- BLUE HAIR -- Luke!"

"Yes, Sweetie, I'll tell you all about them on the way up."

"Rob?"

"Yes?"

"That was some hot sex last night!"

"I know." I said. I guess I could not hide the hurt in my eyes.

"I'm sorry I thought it was -- Garth. I can't seem to control the flashbacks and memory lapses. Please be patient with me. All I know now is I love you so much, and it hurts to see you hurting like that."

"It's okay. Yes it hurts, but I understand. I'll try as hard as I can to be patient. I love you too."

I kissed him and left for work.

I called him at noon. I was a little worried. His mom answered. "How's Denny feeling?"

"Fine." She said. "He's looking forward to tonight."

"Oh yeah, he really likes my Santa Monica `family'. And it will be a great drive up there."

"Oh!" She sounded surprised.

"Er -- what did he think we were doing?"

"He said he could come over for dinner tonight. His father really wants to talk to him."

"Oh."

"Is that a problem? You're invited too."

"Actually, I -- my -- er -- friends will be here -- or I mean in Santa Barbara -- from Vermont this weekend."

"Oh." She said.

"How is he today?" I asked.

"He seems fine. He was up all morning. He's taking a nap right now."

"Last night, he kept calling me Garth."

"Oh? You know, this morning Denny asked me three times where he is -- and why he's here."

"I know."

"Maybe you should talk to him."

"I don't want to wake him."

"It's okay. He slept til ten -- when I got here this morning. He's just snoozing on the couch. He'll be up all night if he sleeps too much today." I was about to object. I know he's confused when he wakes up. But before I could say anything, she said, "Denny? Denny! Rob's on the phone for you." I could hear in the background, "Who?"

She handed the phone to Denny. "Um -- Hello?" He sounded disoriented again. My heart sank.

"Denny, this is Rob."

"Rob. Rob -- oh okay. My mom said I'm staying at your house."

I wanted to cry. I wondered if this was normal -- for his condition. I decided to start back with where we met -- again, like last night. I let him piece it all together. When he takes it sequentially he seems to remember. And he did.

"I -- I hope - " he started, "I hope you don't lose -- um faith -- in me. I really do love you. But -- um -- man! It's like -- I don't know. It's like I have to start new every time I wake up."

"I know. Do you remember that we were going to Santa Barbara today?"

"We were? Oh! Yeah, to see Seth! And Luke!" I guess they really impressed him.

"Yeah, and also Colin and Jake will be coming from Vermont. I wanted you to meet them."

"Yeah -- now I remember. Can we leave after dinner -- at my parents house. My mom - "

"Uh, let me talk to your mom, Sweetie." He handed the phone to her.

"Hi Rob. I -- I wonder if it is such a good idea to go see his dad tonight. He seems so confused."

"Can he hear you?" I asked.

"No. I walked into the kitchen. You know he has not mentioned his dad at all. I wonder if he even remembers -- what happened."

"I just reminded him. And he seems to understand when I recount everything to him. But if he sleeps first, he may forget again. He's getting better -- I think."

"Well, Jim doesn't expect anything. Just come home as normal this afternoon. I'll make sure Denny's ready to go."

"You're sure it's okay?"

"Yes. I think it would just add another thing to be confused about."

"Thanks Mrs. M. I'll be there at five. Bye" I hung up. I heard her saying "you can call me - " as I was putting down the receiver. I don't feel good calling them by their first names yet.

When I got home from work, Denny was all packed and his mom had made us sandwiches to eat on the way. Around the bandages I could see that some of the swelling was going down. But the area around his face and especially his nose was a greenish yellow color.

"How does your nose feel, Sweetie?"

"I love that."

"when I call you `Sweetie'?

"Yeah. It makes me feel loved."

"You are definitely loved."

"I had an idea." He said.

"What's that?" I asked.

He reached into his backpack, and pulled out my mini-recorder. "I found this in your top drawer. I hope it's okay that I took it."

"No problem."

"I also found an unopened new tape near it. It's in here." He said. "While we drive, I'm going to repeat everything I can remember from the time Garth died, up until the present."

"Okay. That sounds good. A good reminder - "

"Better than that. I seem to forget things when I sleep. I put this tape here." He pointed to some cellophane tape with the message, ""Push" and an arrow pointing to the play button. I will put it next to me when I go to sleep. And when I wake up, I'll listen to it. It will be in my own voice, so that will not confuse me. I seem to remember fine, if I take things sequentially."

"Wow!" I said. "Great idea!"

"Yeah. I got it from a movie."

"A movie?"

"Yup. With Dana Carvey. It's called `Clean Slate' He had what I have. He forgot everything each day when he slept. It was a murder mystery slash comedy. It was great. And Dana Carvey was so CUTE in it! I love to watch it."

"We'll have to rent it."

"Don't have to -- I own it."

HE grinned. I melted. I pulled over to the edge of the road and kissed him. There were people watching I didn't care.

Then I pulled back into traffic. He started the recorder and told in his own words what happened starting with Garth's death. I stopped him only a couple times to add some details. One detail he was completely ignoring -- and which I didn't remind him about -- was his dad's outburst.

It took him most of the time from Inglewood to Santa Barbara to make the recording, though it probably was not more than 15 or 20 minutes worth of tape time. By the time we pulled up into the Smith's driveway, He was happily talking about seeing Seth again. Which was weird, since he had almost no interaction, except seeing the two of them on the couch. Maybe Seth's youthfulness impressed him.

As soon as we got parked Etta was out the back door. She was all over me and then went for Denny and stopped. "Wut you bin doin' to dis boy, Robby? Hmm." She looked deep into his eyes. "You come to Etta jus' b'for bed! I help make you better."

"His nose seems to be healing pretty well, Etta."

"Etta not talkin' bout his nose, Bay-bee. Talkin' bout what I sees in his eyes."

Denny gave me a pleading look. I knew he didn't want to go see her.

She told us to come in to say hello to our hosts. The Smiths were as cordial and sweet as usual. They were both excited about their grandchildren coming early in the morning. Jake and Colin and the kids got a late afternoon plane out of Syracuse, then Chicago. By the time they arrived at LAX, they decided to take a hotel for the night. To my relief, Carrie was not there.

We climbed the stairs to the guys' flat, above the carport. Before we got to the door, it shot open and Seth leaped up into my arms! "I guess you're feeling better!" I exclaimed. "It's so nice to -- er -- FEEL you!" He kissed me right on the mouth -- just a peck.

"I am great!" he said, adding, "Etta worked some of her voodoo on me." Oh, Big brother! I have missed you so much!" He buried his head in my neck.

Both Luke and Denny looked on, bemused by the spectacle. I of course felt my ears and cheeks burning. "I love you too, Seth." I put him down. Luke gave me a perfunctory hug, and shook hands with Denny.

Denny turned to Seth. He looked down at him. Seth looked back up at Denny. Something seemed to pass between them. Finally they both smiled. "Hi Denny, you lucky bastard!" he said grinning.

"I know!" was all Denny said. Then they both looked up adoringly at me. I blushed again. Seth took my hand and dragged me into the apartment.

"Rob's here!" He announced to the other guys. Seth's brother Chris stepped out of the kitchen, and his partner, Craig, came out of one of the bedrooms.

After another round of hugs, Chris said, "Where are your bags?"

"Down in the car. We didn't bring much. Denny has a backpack, and I just brought a jacket. Someday, I'll get the rest of my stuff out of here, but for now, it's convenient that some of my clothes are here."

Chris headed for the door. "I'll go get your stuff."

"Here!" I said, throwing him my keys. "You'll need these. They're in the trunk."

He looked at the car key. "A Chevy, huh? Hmm. Never figured you for a Chevy man."

"Well, you know -- out on my own now. Gotta pinch a penny here and there." I winked at Denny. "You didn't see my car last time I was here? Well, it's the red one."

"Red, huh? Getting pretty daring there, aren't you Rob?" I almost laughed. He opened the door and looked down on the driveway. "Wha -- SHEE-YIT!" Now THAT'S a CHEVY!" He bounded down the stairs.

Craig looked after him, bemused. He started toward the door. I said, "Tell him to take you for a spin, Craig."

Craig looked over and down to the driveway. "Wo!" He said, and he was down the stairs in about 3 steps. I closed the door. Then we heard, "Vroom! Vroom!"

"You're gonna take me for a ride tomorrow?" Seth said.

"Hows about YOU take Luke for a ride?" I said.

"Can't." He said, looking down. "Maybe if you will let him take me. I haven't yet been released to drive." Then to answer my concerned look, "I still see the doc every two weeks. He's watching a small clot behind my eye. Can't operate, but -- (SIGH!) anyway, Luke does any driving we have to do."

I looked at Luke. I determined that was why he was so sedated. Worry over Seth. I knew the ramifications of a blood clot there. It could either clog a vein or artery in the brain, causing another stroke, or burst and Seth could bleed to death. I couldn't cry, so I didn't.

To deflect the focus from him, Seth said, "So Denny, What happened to you?"

Denny looked at me. "Broken nose." He said.

"So, what'd you do -- step on it going down the stairs?" Denny looked at me, lost as to what to say. Seth turned red and backpedaled. "Oh, I mean -- it's not that - "

"It was gay bashing." I said.

"No Shit!" Seth said. Denny smiled at me.

"It was my fault." Denny said to the floor. "I provoked them."

"Now Denny," I shot back with, "That's not true. No one forced those guys to do that to you."

Denny looked at Seth. "I hugged and kissed Rob, in broad daylight, in front of a bunch of guys."

"Wow." Said Luke. "And they did that to you? You're a big guy!" He looked at me. "Well, relatively big -- to some of us!"

"There were four of them." I said.

"Wow! Are they in jail?"

"I didn't press charges." Denny said. Luke looked like he was going to say more, then reconsidered. Denny pressed his fingers to his forehead.

"You not feeling good?" I asked, concerned.

"Headache." He answered.

I got out some of the pain killer that Doctor Valentine gave us. "Here, take these." Luke ran to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Seth had just sat down, but he sprang up again.

"You can lay down here." Denny collapsed on the couch, took the water, swallowed the pill and lay down.

"He has to go down to see Etta just before bed." I said. Denny looked up to pleadingly and mouthed, "Noooooo!"

Seth said, "Dude! She is so cool! She won't hurt you. I don't know what the hell she did to me, but I feel a thousand percent better!" Denny's eyes still pleaded with me.

"I'll go with you, Denny." I said. He looked like he's been whipped. Seth sat down next to him on the edge of the couch.

"Don't worry Bro. She won't touch you. It's some kind of religious stuff."

Denny looked up. "Witchcraft?"

"I don't know what it's called. I know that it works. And anything that makes me feel this much better, and is not a drug, can't be bad.

Chris walked in and seemed to get the gist of the conversation. He added, "I think God deals with people in whatever way they can understand." He threw me my keys. "Cool car! Thanks!"

"Where are we sleeping?" I asked. "With Jake and his family here, it's going to be crowded."

"We got it figured out." Seth said, animated. Chris looked at as if to say, "We" do?

Seth giggled. "WE have the smallest bed, so you can stay in our room! We'll sleep on the floor, and - "

"No way!" I said. "If you're going to have to sleep on the floor, We'll go to a motel." What was in that room was a standard double bed. The others both had California kings.

"I have an idea," said Luke, shyly. We looked at him. "I saw some camping cots in the garage. Pretty cool ones actually. I think that we can put one on either side of the bed. I know I want Seth to be in the bed!" He said that with a finality that even Seth would not argue with. "And I wonder if maybe Denny should also sleep there. You and I" he said looking at me, "can sleep on the cots next to them."

"That -- that works for me." I said. Seth looked at Denny almost hungrily, I thought. Denny had his back to me, so I couldn't see his return expression. Luke ran down to the garage and I followed. These were not boy scout cots. They were big -- take-them-in-your-SUV type, that were way to big to hike with. We each carried one up and then had to go back down for the mattresses. Yeah -- they almost could not be called cots.

They got some linens out of a cupboard and made the cots up. By this time, everyone was yawning. Denny tried to sneak in and take his clothes off. "I KNOW you didn't forget your session with Etta!" I reminded him.

Raw -- ub!" He whined.

"She's expecting you." I said.

"I'll come too!" Seth said.

So the three of us went down to the kitchen door. The light was out. There was no noise coming from inside the house. Seth put his hand out to knock. I grabbed it. "Maybe it's too late?" I offered.

"Yeah!" Denny said, looking relieved.

"And maybe you tink Etta gettin' too ol' for dis ting?" The door had opened quietly, and she was standing there, looking mysterious.

We followed her into her apartment which was a wing off the kitchen. I'd never been there before. The room we went in to was dark. A few candles and some incense were burning. There was a large chair in the middle of one wall, and a table on the other wall, with various artifacts and small books on it. She gently took Denny's hand and led him to the chair. He looked up apprehensive to me, but sat in the chair. Denny's not exactly small, but the chair dwarfed him.

Then she took my hand and Seth's and said, "Etta works alone. Thanks you very much." She pushed us out the door. The last thing I saw before she shut the door, was Denny's face. He was frozen with fear. I felt like crying. She shut the door. Seth and I went into the living room and sat on the couch, in the darkness. Then he just lay down and put his head on my lap.

"Gosh, I've missed you, Rob!" HE said, as he petted my arm. Which was across his chest.

"I miss you too, but - you've got Luke." I said. "And your own brother is here."

"I feel very blessed to have Luke. I love him so much. I love Chris too, but he's my real brother. I HAVE to love him. I love you because I want to." All the while, he was stroking my arm. The little pecker was -- well, he was getting a rise out of me. And what's worse is he knew it. He was lying on my lap! He giggled.

"What?" I said, supremely embarrassed.

"This!" he said. He pulled himself up and lay his face on my chest. Then he removed my shoes, picked up my legs and put them on the couch, and lay on top of me. It felt so natural. We used to sleep this way. I always told myself it was not sexual, but now I knew better. I was about to say as much, when his lips came down on top of mine.

I kissed him back! I then panicked.

"NO!" I whined.

I pushed him off me and he tumbled onto the floor. His head hit a table leg and he started to writhe like a cat that had been run over by a car, and cry out. Lights came on and Etta, Uncle Jake, Aunt Lindy and Carrie all came running into the living room. Etta crouched down and put her hands on his temples. He stopped flopping around. His eyes were open, but stared blankly ahead.

Notes: EEK! 13 pages. The day is over and I better get this posted. If you don't love Seth, you have not read the other stories as I suggested. I have already gotten some nasty mail regarding the boring stuff about the other characters. Sorry if that's your feeling. These boys are a family -- MY family -- while I'm writing. But if you feel you must complain, you may at s4d@hotmail.com. Please put Rob in the subject line or I won't see it. Thanks and love, Steve

Bottom line: Love will Rule in the end.