Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!!
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox.
Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros.
X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox.
Star Trek and all related characters created by Gene Roddenberry. Copyright Paramount Studios.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!!
jmsotc@yahoo.com
Chapter 23 Immersed
I awoke the following morning feeling much better about what was to come. I had determined the night before to immerse myself in my work, which isn't an uncommon thing to do when one has been subjected to great pain. And it's not a problem so long as one is dealing with the pain and seeking to work through it. I must have dealt with it pretty well considering I cried and moped about it.
I went to work as usual and saw a few patients. No big deal, at first. Then instead of going to lunch, I stayed in the office and read a book that I would have to read for my Psychology classes. It was an interesting book. It talked about Psychotherapy Play Techniques. Good book. I was getting to a good part when someone opened the door.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
It was Dr. Allison. "Actually, Eric, can I help you? I need the office."
"Oh, sorry, Doctor. I was reading. I must have lost track of time."
"It's all right. It happens to the best of us. You can go ahead and take the book with you."
"Thanks."
I put my things away and left reading the book. Several people said "goodbye" to me, though I don't recall whom, as I passed through the building and out the door. I must have walked for a chapter or two because, when I looked up, I was in front of the hotel where NSYNC was staying.
"I must be out of it." I shook it off and went on walking until I finally arrived at...Garrett's? Since I was there and he already knew who I was, I knocked.
"Yes, Eric? Can I help you?"
"I'm here to do some training."
"Yes, of course. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that you normally arrive after dark in your suit."
"Is it a problem that I train like this? If it is, I can go back and get my suit."
"No...no, not at all. I was just surprised to see this early. Come in." Garrett closed the door behind me. "Go on downstairs and begin stretching. I will be down shortly. I have some things to attend to before we begin."
"Okay. No problem."
"Did you bring anything to train in?"
I looked down at what I was wearing. "No. I came straight from work."
"There may be some lose-fitting clothes in the back room. Feel free to change."
"Thanks."
I went down and found a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. Changing quickly, I sat on the floor and began stretching. It wasn't too long before Garrett showed up.
"Sorry. I had to..."
"I know, attend to a few things."
"Yes...well...how goes the stretching?"
"Fine. Just fine."
"Good. Let me change and stretch and we can work on some sparing moves." Garrett changed and after stretching for about ten or fifteen minutes, he faced me on the mat. "When you face an opponent, you must find their center."
"The center of their body?"
"Well, yes, in a word. You must find their center of balance. Remember we talked about your center of balance last week." I nodded and he continued. "Finding their center, you can begin strategizing how you may knock them off their center. Plus, finding their center will enable you to see their entire body...feet...hands...head...all potential instruments in attacking you."
"Isn't their center located...in their center?"
"Usually, but depending on who and what you are facing, it can change. There are some demons that have more than two legs. Remember the beings that were half man, half horse? Their names elude me at the moment."
"Yes, I remember them."
"Though they had an upper body and lower legs, they also had a body that extended well behind them. Their center was behind them. So you must study your opponent and find their center in order to knock them off of it. Try to find my center."
Garrett stood in several stances so I could check for center. In each of the positions, his center was slightly different. I pointed them out. "Good observations. Now, let's move on to some tactics of knocking someone off center."
Again, Garrett showed me some stances and moves that I could use to counter. We practiced for a while and I lost all track of time. It wasn't until Jessica entered wearing her Huntress costume that I realized how long we've been down here.
"Oh, hello, Jessica."
"Hi, Garrett." She turned to me. "I've been looking all over for you. I thought you were going to patrol with me."
"I was...I am. I was just practicing with Garrett for a little while. I thought I was ready to learn some new moves."
"And you did well," Garrett chimed in. "Now go shower."
"Do you have your suit with you?"
"No, Jessica. I'll have to pick it up."
"Give me your keys. I can get it for you."
I handed her my keys and went into the showers. Fifteen minutes later, I exited to find Huntress and Garrett talking. "Didn't you leave yet?"
"Yeah. I've been there and come back already."
"How did you manage that?"
"My motorcycle."
"Motorcycle? You have a motorcycle?"
"Sure do."
"Why haven't I ever seen your motorcycle?"
"Relax, Eric. It's not like it's a big secret. I just haven't had time to tell you. The subject of transportation never popped up in our conversations."
"Why haven't you used it around me?"
"When I'm with you, I'm on patrol. It's much harder to see a vampire attacking someone when you're cruising along at twenty-five miles per hour." She smiled at me. "Your suit is over there. Hurry up. Time's wasting."
I suited up and we were soon on our way through the dark city. It wasn't long before we came across some muggers trying to steal an older ladies purse. I swooped in rather swiftly and took out two of the muggers before the Huntress could join up. We took care of them quickly and the lady was rather shocked and dismayed to see us in our costumes. The idea of adults wearing costumes seems childish at first. But when you actually see in person the costume, it gives everything a whole new outlook.
"You could have waited for me," the Huntress said rather angrily.
"I was ready. I knew you were behind me. I had to act fast. One of the muggers had a gun."
"No, he didn't. I checked."
"Well, it looked like he had a gun so I made a split decision."
"Just be a bit more cautious next time. Your suit isn't bullet proof."
"I know."
We moved on patrolling and Huntress was strangely quiet. It didn't bother me so much, though. I've had days where I didn't want to talk. Maybe she was having one of them tonight. I didn't want to make an issue out of it so I didn't say anything.
Not too much later, we found some vampires out looking for a good time. I wanted to jump in there right away but decided against it. Since it was the Huntress's territory, I left the command decision up to her.
"Let's just wait and watch."
"Okay...Why?"
"Because we don't know what they are doing?"
"You're right. But since they are vampires, maybe they are looking for something to eat and drink?"
"Probably."
"Shouldn't we...I don't know, save the potential victims life and stake them now?"
"We could. But not all vampires are just out for a good time. Sometimes they have agendas."
"Like an itinerary? 'First, we will go to 'Joe's Crab Shack' for a drink. We can cruise the clientele until we find someone we like and then follow them out so we can eat them. But, we have to do it before midnight, because at midnight we have to go club hopping'."
"Sarcasm noted. Seriously, they could be working for a major league vampire who is planning something. We have to keep watch for stuff like that. We have to use our heads and not go in with both arms swinging."
"You're right."
We followed them for a little while longer, but I got too impatient. While the vampires were standing in front of a store looking around, I moved into position.
"What are you doing? We're supposed to be watching."
"We watched. Now, I'm slaying. Do you want to help me with that?"
I jumped to the awning above the group and was able to hear the Huntress mutter, "Men" before I grabbed the edge of the awning and jumped, turning myself as I swung. I swung around and kicked two vampires into the window. They landed with a nice loud crash. Swinging back from the kick, I released my hold on the awning and landed near the curb.
The vampires looked at me rather shocked at first. The attack must have taken them by surprise. However, it didn't take them too long to recover from the initial shock. One jumped at me. I stepped sideways and kicked him as he fell, getting him in the stomach. Then with a quick chop to the neck, I turned to the next one.
The Huntress came swinging down on the side of the awning kicking the two vampires remaining. They tumbled to the ground. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Stopping vampires. What does it look like?"
"It looks like you aren't thinking things through."
Just then, the two vampires emerged from the broken glass. The Huntress pulled out a stake and got the one nearest her. The other one, however, took off down the street. "I got him," I said as I pursued.
The vampire ran about a block before I got close enough to get him to stop. That was accomplished by me jumping at his legs and tackling him. His head hit the concrete with a crack. I stood and grabbed him by the back of his jacket and dragged him to his feet. Spinning him around, I noticed blood coming from his nose. "That's a nasty bleeder you've got there."
He snarled at me and punched me in the face. He must have been very angry because I felt the impact and hoped he hadn't broken anything. It was enough of an impact to spin me around and knock me to the ground. "Get angry much?"
"You broke my nose!" he said rubbing the blood away. "I can't believe you broke my nose!"
"I didn't break your nose. Your face falling on the concrete broke it." I made my way to my feet and prepared myself for another assault. Before I could do anything, though, an arrow landed in his heart and turned him to dust. I turned back to find the Huntress approaching carrying her mini-crossbow.
"Thanks," I said.
"You're welcome."
"I think I could have taken him, though."
"It's possible. But remember, we are here to slay them, not keep a fight going."
"That's what I said earlier!"
"No. You wanted to fight them earlier."
"And what was it you wanted to do earlier? Let them feast for a while?"
"Don't get cocky with me! You're the one who wants to..."
A car turning rather quickly around in the middle of the street cut off the Huntress's words. It was the police and they spotted us. We took off running down the street. The car came at us full throttle. We turned down an alley at the last minute, causing the police to overshoot and have to back up. That gave us a few seconds.
At the end of the alley we saw a fire escape and climbed it quickly as the cop car drove down the alley. The officers jumped out of their patrol car moving their flashlights to and fro searching for any sign of our whereabouts. "That was close," the Huntress said.
"You're telling me."
"Let's go."
We strode away quietly until we got to the other side of the roof. "I wonder why they have a problem with us," I said out loud.
"Think about it. Here we are two costumed adults going out and beating up bad guys, or staking them if they are vampires. You tossed someone onto one of their cars. They don't know anything about us. Do the math? What would you do if you were in their position?"
"Yeah, I suppose you're right."
We patrolled for a little while longer and found nothing of consequence. We went our separate ways and I returned home only to find someone had broken into my apartment. After careful observation from the outside I knew that someone was still inside.
To Be Continued...
It's a little shorter than the others, but not by much. What do you think? Is Eric really dealing with his break-up with Justin? Let's be honest, Eric was so into Justin. He was so in love with the singer. And how the break-up came had to tear him up badly. It's not as if Justin said, "I don't love you any more." Justin doesn't remember it ever happening. It's as if the relationship never occurred in Justin's eyes. How do you think he would react to the news, if the guys even tell him? They may keep it a secret.
And, confound it, who is this person breaking into Eric's pad? Find out next chapter!