teen2b slow)(51/56)
The following is a pure work of fiction and is the property of the author. If you are looking to get off quick, read something else. This story is presented in serial form and you'll read a lot of background, before you get any mind-blowing sex scenes. If you are bothered by same sex relationships, read no farther.
This is a story about the interaction of males with each other in a fanciful setting. It's a story with some sex, not sex with some story.
Thanks to those who are encouraging me to continue with the presentation of this series.
I do not usually acknowledge e-mails, instead using my time to write. I do appreciate hearing from you. Hope that you continue enjoying the story. LJB
To Fulfill a Prophesy
Section 51
Dale - Thursday afternoon
I really haven't missed the kids while they've been away. Granted it was less hectic than when they are in residence and dinner times were a lot quieter with just three of us sitting at the table, sometimes at a loss for conversation after spending the whole day in proximity to each other, but I am really not normally that involved with them that their absence makes any difference to me. It was nice not having my day interrupted all the time by questions from Denny, or favours for Davey. It was only to be expected I looked for them at the Dojo, forgetting briefly they wouldn't be there and even feeling slightly disappointed in remembering. In the pool, I just naturally look around to see where each of them is and that they are safe, even when they aren't there.
Driving home from Head Office, I sometimes wondered what the boys had done while we were away and then would remember they hadn't been there while we were gone. I only phoned twice to see if Denny wanted to go somewhere with me, before I thought that he wasn't there. I called Kevin from the office one day to see if he was up for a tennis match when I got home, then suddenly knew he wasn't there. I was a little surprised with myself when at breakfast yesterday morning I though how great it would be to have them there the next morning. Jason really missed them, but I didn't miss the kids while they've been away.
When Anson drove in Thursday afternoon and they all unloaded from the van, Denny spotted me over by the garage, just checking on some items and started running to me. It was only natural I too ran to him and when we met he launched himself at me in a flying leap. I caught him and swung him around as his arms locked around my neck and he kissed me on the cheek.
"Gee, Dale." he said. "I've really missed you."
"Is that right, little man," I asked, "have you been away ?" He just squeezed me tighter and I hugged him back. I boosted him over my shoulder, like a sack of lumpy potatoes and carried him back to where the vehicles were being unloaded.
Each of the travelers came over to me, shook my hand and gave me a hug, including Anson and Ted. Denny, still slung over my shoulder, started telling me about all their adventures and I knew with the familiar tones of his voice in my ears, they had truly returned.
Tim Wright - Thursday afternoon
It seems to be a rule my life runs in peaks and valleys. As I sit here in the airport, waiting for my flight to be called, I can't help thinking back to the low when my lover left, the high when I found Kevin and then the low of losing him. Another high when I was reunited with him that has lasted these weeks and now this has to happen. I know it isn't right to feel sorry for myself, when the real tragedy in this is my brother, Doug, but I am really at a loss as to what I am going to do now. How can I face losing Kevin ?
Doug and my nephew are my only living family. It had just been the two of us when I was 15 and Dougie was 21. After Mom died, I lived with him until I went to College. I had been there when Matthew was born, when Karen his wife died and while he struggled to look after the three of us. When I went to school, I returned often to help out as much as I could. He was well established by then, his law practice flourished and Matthew was well looked after, with his Dad making him the most important part of his life. Now Matthew was six and Doug at 31 was dying. My big, strong brother who had always been there for me was going to die.
I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I wasn't the first. The night he told me, I had cried endlessly laying in bed. He had come into the room and sat on the side of the bed stroking my hair. There I was crying, with him reassuring me, everything would be all right. He wanted me to raise Matthew. I told him about Kevin and my relationship with him and he still wanted me to raise Matthew. He told me, I was a good man and I was the only person he would ever trust to raise his son. What else could I do. I told him I would.
Now I had to return to Kevin and the family and tell them I had to leave. I knew Kevin could not come with me. I knew raising Matthew in the midst of all the special boys I had come to care about so much in such a short time was not likely an option. The only clear answer was to leave behind the special place I had the great fortune of being accepted into and the person with whom I had planned to spend the rest of my life. It was my responsibility to care for Matthew and I owed Doug everything.
My flight was called and I realized that in a couple days my life had again fallen into the depths of one of my very low valleys.
Jason - Thursday night
"Well, that's the most enthusiasm you've shown all week." I told him. "What got you so excited ?"
"It must have been my other boy friend coming home this afternoon." he answered. "I didn't think I had missed him, but when he hugged and kissed me, I felt like part of me had just been put back in place."
"It's almost funny." I commented. "Here we are two healthy, horny, 26 year old, experienced men and the best sex we have all week is the night we know a little 8 year old boy is safely tucked in bed, sound asleep on the floor above us. Would you ever have believed it ?"
"No." Dale replied. "And I'm not even sure how it snuck up on us, but it certainly has." Still embedded deeply in me, he started to move slowly, again stroking across my prostate, causing me to harden and extend in his hand.
His other hand swept slowly across my back, stimulating my senses with the lightness of his touch. His hips thrust rhythmically as his big, solid shaft raped my prostate time and again. His hand on my shaft had begun a steady beat in time with his thrusting and I could feel the stirring of a second load simmering in my testes.
"Not `til I tell you, little man." he instructed me and I knew he was going to make me wait. I reached back and rubbed my hand over his smooth, firm, butt cheek, thinking how wonderful it would be to have my lips and tongue exploring it and the mysteries hidden within its crease. My hand rode his hip as it rocked forward and back, moving him inside of me with that steady beat.
His hand left my back and reaching over my shoulder found my nipple and twisted it, causing a gentle pain that warmed me and caused me to thrust my hips back to him. His foot caught my shins and in one powerful move, he rolled me forward from my side onto my stomach, so he was above me, still pounding into my ass without missing a beat. The hand holding my rod urged me up onto my knees while he rode into me and he knelt behind me, his strokes becoming powerful and deep. He was reaching my very core. His hand was again stroking my shaft at an increased pace and I started to moan and groan as the effort to contain my load caused me to tighten my butt cheeks.
"You hold on now, boy." he instructed and I knew above all my needs, I wanted to obey his instruction. I tightened every part of me, reinforcing the dam which contained my flood from bursting through. He was riding me so hard, I was being pushed up against the head of the bed, but it felt so wonderful, I didn't care where I was headed.
"Get ready, Jason." he guided me. "We're going to hit the top of the mountain any second." I strained and tightened until there was just nothing left. "Now, my love, you are mine" he roared, releasing his control on me as his shaft buried completely into me and deposited his sap while mine flew wildly across my body and the bed sheets below me. We collapsed together, panting and gasping as we tried to regain our senses in small bits and pieces. As I slowly found my voice had returned, I responded.
"Forever." I gasped.
Later, I made an observation, "Denny is just going to have to go away, so he can come back more often."
Brian Taylor - Friday morning
To most people I guess I have led a very sheltered life. This is the first time ever I could remember opening my eyes and wondering first thing, `Where am I ?'. Maybe I'm wrong, but I always imagine most gay guys, before they are 20, have done that. But this was my first time. I knew I was in bed, I was naked and I had no idea where I was. Slowly, I rolled over, looking around
He was laying there looking like part of my dream which didn't disappear as I wakened. It was all clear to me now. This was Davey's room and Davey's bed. He was there, on his back, with the covers pulled up to his waist. His handsome face, the defined pecs with the light rose coloured, nickel sized nipples, sunken inward in their relaxed state, his firm six pack abdomen, all drew my eyes downward to the bulge in the covers which marked where his solid 6 «" shaft tented the blankets covering his lower body. My will power dissolved as I reached out and slid my hand under the blanket at his waist and ran down through his dense pubic hair, wrapping it around the stiff member.
He moaned and thrust his hips upward, jabbing the thick post through my fingers. As his butt settled back onto the bed I rubbed the swollen bell shaped cap and felt the slimy fluid seep from the slit, providing lubricant for me to massage into the spongy dome. His eyes were open and looked into mine with fire. Davey turned on his side toward me. He reached out and stroked my chest, gently playing with my nipples and running his finger down to my slightly protruding navel.
"You keep doing that and you're going to have a hand full of Davey cum." he told me.
"That sounds like a good way to start the morning off." I replied. He reached lower and began to tug on my erect shaft. Leaving it, he reached lower and stroked my sac, playing with my testicles.
"I have something I really need to talk to you about." Davey said. "Can we hold on this `til after we have a talk ?" He stopped stroking and just held my staff firmly in his hand. I did the same to him and he leaned over and kissed me.
"What is so important we have to interrupt our morning exercise ?" I joked.
"When you think about us being together and making love, what is it you actually imagine ?" he asked.
"What ?" I replied, not really knowing what he was asking.
"Do you see me taking you orally ?" he questioned. I nodded. "And do you take me orally ?"
"Of course." I responded. He paused waiting for me to continue, but I didn't know where to go.
"When we join together, how do you desire it to be ? I don't know how else to say this Brian." Davey said, obviously embarrassed and seeming to get upset. "Are you fucking me, or am I fucking you ?" The question, though very straight forward and blunt, threw me just a little.
"Why ?" I asked. "What do you think about ?" Davey was silent as he stared into my eyes.
"I've always pictured myself on top." he answered. "It's not just with you. I've always pictured myself as a `top', even before I knew you. Is that going to be a problem for us ?"
"I don't know Davey." I told him. "I love you and have imagined you becoming a part of me, but I also thought I would become a part of you. I guess I need to work out what I really expect from us. I take it you mean always, not just the first time." Davey hesitated and then nodded, not looking at me any longer.
"We need to work this out, so both of us can be satisfied." he ventured. "Maybe this is part of what `getting to know each other' time is about." I nodded. We had both lost our urges and were holding each other's flaccid tools. The tricky part was releasing them without making the other person feel rejected. We just sort of rolled onto our backs at the same time, which required the desired release. We then lay there thinking.
"Oh, oh !" said a voice at the doorway. There stood Denny with his hands on his hips, looking at the two of us. "Does Dad know you were here all night ?" Without waiting for an answer, he trotted to my side of the bed and climbing over me, sat on the bed between us. "What's wrong ? Why are you two upset with each other ?"
"It's okay, Denny" Davey told him. "We can look after it." Denny looked him right in the eyes and then he turned and looked deep into my eyes.
"You two are going to talk to Dad, now." Denny told us and he was telling us, there was no question about it. He turned back to Davey. "If you are going to hide behind fear and not resolve this, Jamie, Kevin and I will." Davey hung his head.
Ted - Friday night
It was a nice homecoming yesterday. The boys were all excited when we drove onto the estate and I thought Denny was going to jump out of the car and run all the way in from the highway. Poor Dale got the full force of Denny's excitement, but seemed not only able to handle it, but quite happy to do so. Everyone we saw told the boys how nice it would be to have them back. You would think we had been away for months instead of only three days.
Dean provided his own special welcome home for me last night. Afterward, as we lay in bed gasping for breath, I told him about the trip and what I had observed and experienced with each of my crew. We both felt it had been time and effort well invested. We started planning another outing that would include both Dean and Jamie. Dean suggested possibly taking his boat for a week's cruise with a minimum of crew, so the boys could experience the workings of the craft. It sounded like a great adventure for all of us.
I slept soundly, extra tired from the activities of the past few days and drained from Dean's enthusiastic homecoming celebration. I don't remember if I was dreaming anything at the time, but suddenly I was focused on Denny.
"Dad, would it be okay if I woke you up now ?" the dream specter inquired.
"Okay." I replied. "I'm not doing anything special right now, little man." I opened my eyes and there he was standing beside me as I lay in my bed. "Is this what you do to Davey and the others ?" A big, wicked grin spread across his face.
"Kinda." he responded. "I sometimes start them off with a `Boo', or make a comment about Davey's sexy dreams." He giggled.
"Are you coming in here ?" I asked, raising the edge of my blankets, indicating space for him. He didn't move.
"Dad, there's a problem with Davey and Brian." he told me. "Can they come and talk to you, right now ?"
"Can't this wait until we get up and dressed ?" I wanted to know. He shook his head.
"It's a bedroom problem Dad," Denny stressed, "and needs a Dad, not `the Boss'."
"Well, you can't get any less formal than this." I commented. "Can I at least wake Dean and put on some pajama bottoms." Denny just giggled and oddly said, "No." I looked at him and saw a shine in his eyes that told me he was up to something.
As if on cue, Davey and Brian appeared at our bedroom doorway. Davey's head hung as if he could not look at either Denny or me. Brian was obviously acutely embarrassed. I nearly laughed out loud when I had a really good look at Brian. He had on what was clearly a pair of Davey's pajama bottoms and they were at least 4 sizes too small. I pointed to a drawer in my dresser and Denny went over and got a pair of my bottoms. I threw them to Brian and he left the room momentarily and reappeared wearing them.
"Thank you, Sir." he stammered. I could see the boy was bewildered and nervous.
"Brian," I said, "come over here and sit." It was an order and he responded as I moved over and he sat on the side of my bed. "Relax, Son. I'm just Dad in here. Quit worrying about everything else." He looked at me and then settled a little. "What's going on Davey ?"
"Denny made us come in here, Dad." Davey explained. "When he came to my room, we had just discussed what we talked about while we were away. You know, top and bottom. I don't know why we're even here." Davey put his hand up to his head. He whirled and glaring at Denny, hissing at him. "Denny, get out of my head."
"Then tell the truth." Denny hissed back. "You don't lie to me and you don't lie to Brian and you certainly don't ever lie to Dad. You know the rules." Davey turned back to us. He knelt down in front of Brian and laid his head on Brian's lap.
"I'm so sorry, Brian. I mislead you, on purpose. I've thought about you making love with me and you entering me, but I'm afraid. I'm afraid of the pain. I'm afraid of having someone I love so much hurting me. In the past the people who hurt me, I didn't care about, so it didn't matter. I didn't mean to lie to you, it just seemed easier if I could get you to not want me in that way, then it wouldn't be a problem. Selfishly, I still want you the same way, yet I'm trying to deny you the same feelings. I'm sorry." Tears poured from Davey's eyes. Denny came up behind him and knelt down, wrapping his arms around Davey and holding him with Brian.
"Davey," Brian said, softly rubbing the back of Davey's head, "it's all right. I understand. I will never do anything, knowing it will hurt you. We can work this out. We just need a little time and we have lots and we need a little help. Luckily, we also have lots of that."
"You boys are worrying too much and too far in advance." I advised them. "This is your time for finding problems. You found one and we will all help you to deal with it. Davey, you were wrong trying to cover it over and hope it would go away. Luckily for you, Denny loves you too much to let that happen. He has been your brother and a good friend to both of you today." They both thanked Denny and hugged him. Looking at him, I could see the Guardian was gone and our little boy remained, soaking up their attention and love.
"Sir, this may sound really strange," Brian ventured, "but when it comes time for Davey and me to express our love to each other in that most intimate way, would you consider being there to guide us ?" Brian was looking directly at me and as he spoke Davey's head rose from his lap and peeked around him at me. "I know it's a really personal thing to ask of you, but I'm totally inexperienced and it would kill me if I hurt Davey in any way. I just though of all the people who care about us, you would be the one......." His voice trailed off without completing his sentence.
"Boys, when the time comes, we will look at things again," I assured them, "and if you still feel the same way then, I will provide whatever help you need the most."
After breakfast, I was working in my office, catching up on some of the paper work Dale had prepared while I was away, when Lily Taylor knocked on the door. I waved her in and she came over and stood at the corner of my desk, not saying anything until I had finished the task I was performing.
"Good morning, Mrs. Taylor." I greeted her. "How are you this morning ?"
"Good morning, Mr. Tanner." she replied. "Up until a few minutes ago when I bumped into my son, Brian, I was quite well. I wonder if you would allow me to take the next hour off."
"Is there a problem, Lily ?" I asked, concerned for her. "Is there something I can help you with ?"
"It will be all right, Sir." she responded. "My love sick eldest son spent the night here with your love sick middle son." I nodded, acknowledging I was aware. "This of course meant he wasn't home this morning when I left to come in to work, which also means he didn't bring his brothers in here with him, as I had arranged with him to do, this of course being the first day of school holidays. They are sitting at home waiting to be picked up."
"Why don't you page Brian and send him home to pick up Len and Gus ?" I suggested. "Tell him I ordered it and when he returns I want to see Davey and him."
"I don't want him in trouble, Sir. This is just a mistake." she told me, obviously concerned I was going to be angry with Brian.
"Lily, I'm not going to beat him." I teasingly promised. "I am going to reinforce to both Brian and Davey that a world exists outside of their relationship and they have responsibilities for which they must remain accountable. I know you could say it to him, but my saying it, in this instance, will bear more weight."
"Thank you, Sir." Lily said. "You know he's always been a good boy and he is a good man. He respects the men here, especially you and a word from you carries more weight than from the Mother he's had to listen to all his life." She left my office and set in motion the arrangements to pick up Len and Gus.
With a start like this to a day, you would expect everything else to be trivial. Not around our house. Tim had asked at dinner last night if he could meet with Dean and me this morning and we had set a time with him. We had all noticed how quiet Tim had been since he returned and even seeing Kevin had not seemed to pick him up much. I noticed Denny and Davey had been watching him, both last evening and this morning.
When Tim arrived outside Dean's office, my three boys were with him. He asked if we minded them joining us and of course we were willing to have them present. Tim told us about his visit to his brother and the shock of finding out Doug was dying. We learned he had an inoperable brain tumor that was steadily increasing in size and although he remained outwardly healthy, one day his autonomic functions would quit and he would simply die. Tim outlined his expected course of action and Kevin became more and more upset as he realized his partner was intending to leave him.
"How long has your brother had this tumor ?" Davey wanted to know.
"The Doctors were not sure." Tim replied. "They have been monitoring it for about 4 months and from the growth rate feel he has less than two months left."
"Tim," Dean said, "if I send the corporate jet for them and return them the same way, can you get Doug to come and visit us for a few days ? I know the boys want to meet him and your nephew." The boys all nodded their heads.
"I'll ask him." Tim responded. "I've told him all about you. Not the special parts about the boys. I don't know why he wouldn't come."
"It likely won't work." Davey said looking straight at Dean. "There are limits even we can't go beyond."
"Can you explain ?" Dean asked.
"We really don't heal." Davey explained to him. "We displace time. We take a body back to a time prior to the injury to it. But there are limits. We are still growing and our full power will not be attained until Denny reaches his 25th year."
"Couldn't you move him back a few days at a time ? I questioned.
"Once only, Dad." Denny told me. "A normal human can only tolerate the process once. A second time would do great damage to them. They would likely die during the process."
"The only exception to that is a Guardian." Kevin volunteered. "We can be processed any number of times without any damage. The other thing you must know is the process is very draining on those who participate. It draws directly on our life force. If we exceed the safe amount, we can also die. That is why we do it as a group. As we grow older and stronger, we will be able to do it individually, but it can be extremely dangerous to us."
"When we did Denny and Kevin," Davey explained, "it was not hard on us because the injuries were very recent, so the time span was short and there were three of us doing it.
"I still would like to have Doug come and visit, to see if anything can be done for him." Dean told us. Everyone agreed and Tim said he would call his brother right away.
We all made it out to the airstrip at 3:pm to meet Jamie, Brenda and Digger. I'm not really sure you could tell who was the most excited person there between Dean and Anson. It wasn't until later, I realized my three boys had not greeted Jamie, they stood back and watched him. When the last of the passengers finally hit the pavement and all the greetings had been completed, there appeared to be two extra bodies.
"Dad, Uncle Ted," Jamie announced, "I'd like to introduce Brendan Styles and Todd Tenman. I invited them to come and spend a few days with us on their way home for the summer." I gave Jamie a stern look and knew he would have no trouble reading my thoughts. Dean greeted the boys cordially and everyone helped load the luggage onto the transport. Dean and I talked on the way back to the `castle'.
Mr. Chen met us at the rear entrance and it was determined, our new guests would prefer to have a room together. He suggested that they use Jamie's room so they could be in close proximity to the other boys and Jamie would be placed elsewhere. We all headed into the building.
"Jamie." I said. "I'd like to see you and Digger in my office." He stopped and turned to look at me.
"I'll be there after I settle our guests, Uncle Ted." he responded.
"Now." I told him, leaving no question that I meant it. Denny moved over to me and put his hand in mine. I headed to the office wing, Denny still holding my hand and Digger following. Jamie hesitated a moment and then came hurrying after us.
"Would you like to explain to me, how we have two unexpected guests arrive with no notice and in fact no permission ?" I asked as Jamie and Digger sat in the chairs in front of my desk. Denny had invited himself into the office with us and gone to sit on the couch in the lounge area, where he could listen. Digger said nothing and just looked over to Jamie.
"I don't see why I need your permission to have friends visit my father's house." he said with an insolent edge to his voice and manner.
"Your father didn't give permission either." I replied. "He didn't get the chance, because he wasn't asked."
"I'm a Guardian." he claimed. "I know these guys are safe. They pose no security problem." As he spoke, Dean and Debra entered the room and stood leaning against the door.
"Guardian or not," I responded, "you are a barely 13 year old boy and you are under your father's and my care and protection. There are proper ways to go about things and just because you decide you want to do something isn't enough reason for you to do so." I turned my attention to Digger. "Why didn't you do something about this ?"
"I'm sorry, Boss." Digger answered. "There was nothing I could do. I told him it was wrong, but he wouldn't listen, or let me do anything."
"Did you use your gifts to influence, or restrain Digger ?" I asked.
"I don't have to listen to this. I can do as I choose." he raised his voice. "I am a Guardian." He sprang up out of his chair and started to leave, but something whipped him right back into the chair. He looked stunned. A voice came quietly from the corner of the office. Denny stood, his stare drilling into Jamie.
"You have misused the gifts given to your keeping. You have broken the ethic and disrespected our Fathers. From this time until you prove yourself worthy, if ever, your gifts will be held by the fourth Guardian." Denny turned and went to the office door. "Digger come with me. I will undo any harm which may have been done to you." I nodded to Digger and he rose and walked over to Denny, who took him by his hand. The two of them left my office. Jamie was left sitting with a shocked look on his face.
"They're gone." he mumbled. "They're gone. I can't hear my brothers. I can't hear anyone. They're all gone." He looked at me and then turning around, seemed to realize for the first time his parents were standing in the room. "Mom, he can't do that to me. I'm a Guardian, but it's all gone."
"Jamie, being a Guardian was a gift." Dean told him. "What you had, were gifts. You misused them and now they are gone. That is a gift of the fourth Guardian. He has the right to remove your gifts when they are abused, which is what you did."
"I think we have a case of too much, too soon." I said. "Jamie's gifts developed while he was alone. He needed the support of the others to keep him balanced with them. Maybe, being with the others regularly now, will help him prove his worth and regain his gifts."
"It seems a bit cruel." Debra suggested. "It's not totally his fault."
"Maybe not," I responded, "but a Guardian is far too powerful to be left out of control. If they don't apply their own ethics and discipline, who will. We couldn't. Not if they didn't allow us to. We were given these boys to guide and direct. That necessitates correcting and reprimanding when necessary." I wondered in my own thoughts, if Denny were the one out of control, could something be done to stop him. We still had his teen years to look forward to.
It was decided Jamie would be staying with Dean and myself, sleeping with Davey, if Davey would have him and on the lounge couch in our suite, if he would not. It's not that we are short of beds and rooms, we just felt Jamie being uncomfortable for awhile would help him learn a lesson. It occurred to me I should talk with Digger and Denny. I paged them and asked them to return to my office. Dean and Debra took Jamie to have a discussion in Dean's office.
Digger filled me in on the activities of the week including the examination monitoring. He indicated while Jamie had been free the past three days, he had spent quite a great deal of time with the two young men who were now our guests. He said he was certain there was some type of sexual activity going on, but he wasn't sure who was doing who, or what was being done. Denny suggested we should talk with the two new boys. I paged Dale and asked him to escort them here.
The boys seemed slightly nervous when Dale brought them to my office. I assured them they had nothing to fear. I explained this was a high security location and Jamie was in trouble for not clearing their arrival beforehand, but we were pleased to have them. I asked where there fathers worked.
"My father is the Sr. Vice-President for Davidson Paper Products." Todd Tenman stated. "He is a very important businessman. He took my Mother to Europe for the summer and I was to stay at home with the staff, until it's time to return to school."
"My father is the President of Terstone Building Corporation." Brendan Styles reported. "I'm in the same situation as Todd. No father for the summer and my older sister didn't want to be tied down with me either. When Jamie offered to have us come here for awhile, it seemed like a good idea. Looking at the place, it's like coming to a resort." I buzzed Mr. Dennis and gave him the parent's information.
"I just am going to call your parents and make sure they know where you are." I told them.
"You won't be able to reach my Father." Brendan warned me. "He told me he would have to call me, because he couldn't be reached. He said this was his vacation and God himself would have to wait for him to return." My phone buzzed. It was Todd's father. I explained the situation and that his son may be with us, at the `castle', for the summer. Todd had a very astonished look on his face.
"Can I stay ?" Todd asked. I nodded `yes' and he broke into a big smile. My other line buzzed and it turned out to be Brendan's father. Again I repeated the story. There was some discussion until I made it clear Mr. McAdams and his son wished Brendan to be their guest, then everything settled. I hung up the phone.
"What did he say ?" Brendan wanted to know. I told him there was no problem, he also would be here for the summer. I would suggest the word `beamed' would be a fitting description of his face. Two young men were not going to be lonely this summer, or getting into the things they had anticipated.
"By the way boys." I told them as they were leaving my office. "It might interest you to know Mr. McAdams owns both of the companies for which your fathers work." They both looked shocked and then glancing at each other, laughed as they left.
Denny came around my desk and put out his arms to be picked up to sit on my lap.
"Well, little man," I said, "what did you think of all that ?" He looked up into my eyes and never said a word. In an instant, everything about Jamie and the two boys, all their shared experiences, all their conversations, every contact they had ever had with each other, flashed through my mind. He also showed me what was happening and what was to be done about it. "Wow, I will never get use to that happening." Denny giggled.
"You have a question you want to ask me, Dad." he stated as he leaned back into me, resting his head on my chest. "You need to know, for your own peace."
"So, if you can control the other Guardians," I asked, "if they have problems, who can control you ?" I felt really strange, almost as if I was telling him I didn't trust him, which wasn't true.
"You can." he answered turning to look at me. I must have looked puzzled, because he continued. "I can never harm or hurt you, Dad. No matter what you do to me, I can not stop or control you. The others could, if they needed to, but I can not."
"That is an awful lot of responsibility and power for one man to have." I declared.
"It's all right. I feel safe." he told me, wrapping his arms around me and placing his head back on my chest. I hugged him back as we sat there together, silently.
Debra - Friday afternoon
As I waited for the corporate jet to land and pick me up, I thought about the past weeks since I had returned home from the 'castle'. My life had taken a 180 degree turn during my visit there. My thinking, which had been muddled for months, became clear and analytical. My common sense about things, which had escaped me too long ago to remember, had moved back in and taken over my decisions. Nervous reactions such as smoking and taking unusual amounts of sedatives mixed with large quantities of alcohol had stopped and never been renewed.
Eduardo, my 4th husband had mixed feelings about these sudden changes. He found, I was far more sociable but much less malleable. I remembered things from one minute to the next, such as the word "no" and did not hesitate to use it when it was the appropriate response. The zero amount in our joint bank account was constant and the expense moneys which Dean provided through Jamie were drawn and placed into my own account from which expenses of food and living were paid. There were funds for social events, but again common sense played a role in deciding what was attended and what was not and when we would entertain and when we would not.
Eduardo was placed on a $2000 per month allowance and when that was gone in 10 days, the "no" word was used, resulting in tantrums, threats and pleading. He left the house for two days and finding no one else would put up with him, returned to sulk and grumble. After a week of this, I suggested to him calmly, but resolutely he would no doubt be happier somewhere else and if he wouldn't, I at least would prefer having him elsewhere. A trip to my lawyer, spending part of my monthly allowance, resulted in his rapid eviction.
The Guardians had been correct. Once I examined my marriage in the cold hard daylight of sobriety and common sense, I was better off on my own. My marriage was ending and yet I didn't fear the future. I was prepared to embrace being on my own for the first time in my life and of living my own life. Even being away from my boys, I could draw strength from them, knowing with certainty they loved me and always would.
When Dean called and invited me to come for the `end of school' dinner I was ready and eager. I looked forward to this little event as if it were a night in high society. When I thought about it, I realized it was the boys. The opportunity to be with them and to share their enthusiasm and zest for living had overwhelming appeal. As I watched the corporate jet landing, knowing Jamie was aboard, my excitement grew.
Once aboard the jet, Jamie introduced me to two of his school mates, who were coming to spend some time with everyone at the `castle'. I commented that his father had not mentioned anything about their visit to me. The two boys seemed surprised, Digger was silent and Jamie quickly changed the subject. A feeling stayed with me something was not right about this situation. When I questioned Digger about it, he told me this was Jamie's decision and he had been told to stay out of it.
I could see on the airstrip when we landed the extra boys had not been expected. I saw the light blue of Ted's eyes turn to gray and knew there was trouble brewing. Ted and Dean talked together on the ride in from the airstrip and as we entered the building, Ted called Jamie to his office. Jamie attempted to put him off, but the "Now" Ted directed to him left no question in anyone's mind there was going to be some trouble. I noticed Denny take Ted's hand and I wondered if he was calming Ted or reinforcing him.
Davey and Kevin took charge of the new boys and along with Len and Gus showed them to Jamie's room. Dean came over to me and suggested we sit in the garden for a moment. He asked me about the plane ride and I gave him my impressions. When he asked if I had noted the other Guardian's response to Jamie when he arrived, I realized they had held back and not approached him. Dean suggested we go to Ted's office and warned me to say nothing, allowing Ted to handle things.
We stood inside the office door as Ted spoke to Jamie and Digger. It became very clear to me something was very wrong with Jamie. The way he spoke to Ted was so uncharacteristic. There was no one he respected more than his Uncle Ted. Was he really this much out of control ? Jamie spoke and tried to leave the room. Some unseen force grabbed him and threw him back into the chair.
Denny spoke and yet it wasn't Denny. The voice was Denny, but the manner was someone much older and mature, someone in total control and yet not threatening, almost sad as he spoke. I listened carefully and realized Jamie's gifts had been stripped from him. Denny had punished Jamie's lack of respect and self control. I could tell Jamie was shocked and devastated. It was as if he had lost everything. When he looked at Dean and me, I felt he was going to cry.
We took Jamie from Ted's office and went over to Dean's office. Sitting on the couch Jamie started to cry and I wanted to hold him, but Dean stopped me. There was a knock at the door and Davey popped his head inside. He asked to come in and was welcomed. He came and sat beside Jamie on the couch, wrapped his arms around him and pulled Jamie's head to his shoulder. He rocked gently with Jamie.
"Tell me." Davey finally said to Jamie.
"It was too much for me." Jamie told him. "I could not resist it. At first I knew it was happening and told myself I could manage it, but soon it became too big for me to control. It was in control of me."
"You have not been in contact with me for three days." Davey stated. "You blocked my transmissions to you."
"It knew if you reached me, you would feel it, just like you did at the airstrip today." Jamie said. "I wanted to, but I couldn't risk it."
"Denny found parts of it in Digger. He burned it and the three of us repaired him." Davey continued. "He is going to check the two others and you will have to be burned. We will also have to check you." He turned and looked at me. "You were in the plane with Jamie and the two others."
"What is happening ?" Dean asked.
"The Prophesy tells that `there are dark forces and men who fear the power of the Guardians and would use it for their own purposes'." Davey explained. "Jamie has been attacked by one of those dark forces and it has tried to take over his gifts. He fought it as best he could. We have now taken control of it and are destroying it. We must make sure anyone it tried to use has been purged of its influence."
"How did you know what was happening ?" I asked.
"I felt it when Jamie arrived and from my feelings Denny identified it. Denny went with Jamie and when I told Mr. Chen he told Kevin and me what needed to be done." Davey explained further. "Once Denny took Jamie's gifts, he could isolate it and we destroyed it. This happened because Jamie was separated from us too long and didn't have the direct support which we require while we are growing."
I was starting to understand more each time I was with the boys. I now saw why, when Jamie visits me, or we go away somewhere he is to be accompanied by the Protector and one other Guardian. This was making more sense to me all the time. Denny and Kevin came into the room and we watched them treat Jamie very much like they had treated Kevin when he broke his collar bone. There was no levitation this time and the light was focused on Jamie's head as he sat in a chair around which the other three boys stood. It was over in three minutes.
Kevin told us this would be repeated three more times over the next three days and Jamie's gifts would be held until after that time. Jamie seemed relieved after they were done. Denny came over and took both of my hands into his. He asked me to look deeply into his eyes and when I did I experienced a great feeling of peace and calm. I saw a spark and flame deep in his eyes for just a second and then he reached up and hugged me around the neck. I felt wonderful again.
"Do you think we could go horse back riding before supper ?" he asked. I looked over at Dean who was smiling.
"My dear." I said. "You know darn well I can't refuse you anything."