Watching Brad

[dave_63]

Neil,

You are truly a gifted story teller. A really heart wrenching...gut wrenching chapter. Can't wait for what comes next.

Thanks & keep up the great work,

Dave

 

[Fiorino]

Thanks for this great story, I finally got caught up and can't wait for more chapters, really a cliff hanger, great characters. Thanks Neil for this great entertainment.
Fiorino

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part 106​

The phone at home rang only twice before it was answered. Brad's voice came through the receiver.

"Hello."

"Hi, Brad."

"Ted! Thank God! Are you okay?"

"I'm feeling better for the moment, but I'm not okay." I heard a tiny whine from my lover. "Listen, Brad. I have to say this first. I love you. I always have and I always will."

"You know I love you, too, Ted."

"Yeah, I know." I swallowed hard, preparing myself for what I had to say next. "I. . . um. . . I have a big problem, Brad. I can't get through it alone. Will you help me?"

"Of course I will. You know that."

"I needed to ask. I thought I could do it alone, but I can't. I need help." Finally bringing myself to ask Brad for help seemed to open the floodgates and I was able to say things I had previously been hesitant to say. "Brad. . . Tiger. . . I love you so much. I feel like a total asshole for treating you the way I've been treating you. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, Pops," he said quietly. "It's no big deal."

"Yes, it is, Brad. I know what I was doing now. I know I was trying to push you away, and I know why. I could feel myself sinking and I was afraid I was going to drag you down, too. I was trying to send you away before I sank completely."

"Face it, Ted, you're stuck with me," he said. "This boy ain't goin' nowhere."

I swallowed the lump which was growing in my throat.

"Listen to me, Pops," he continued, "as much as you might think I love you, it doesn't come close to how much I really do. You're my life, Ted. Whatever problems you might have, they're my problems, too. We'll face them together and get through them. And we'll get through this one together. Whatever it takes."

We were silent for a few moments before I could speak again. "I'm scared, Brad. What if we can't do this? What if I end up in the hospital or something and they come and take my kids away from me?"

"That's never going to happen, Ted. There's too many people here to take care of them. In fact, Lindsay's over at Mom and Dad's right now. She's staying there tonight. I'm here. Your parents are here. The kids are safe and in good hands. Speaking of kids, the twins are sitting here staring at me waiting to talk to you. They're worried, too, Ted. Do you feel up to it?"

"Yeah, I do. Put them on."

"I'll hold the phone so they can both talk to you at the same time." I could hear the phone being moved about and the twins' excited voices. In the background, I could hear Alex Trebek's voice reading the next Jeopardy! answer out loud. A few moments later, Brad's muffled voice said quietly, "Okay, go ahead."

Justin spoke first, as usual. "Hi, Daddy."

"Hi, Justin. Hi, Jeremy."

"Hi, Daddy," Jeremy's voice said. "Are you coming home to tuck us in?"

"Not tonight, Son," I said, and I suddenly missed being there to do that for them. "But I'll be home tomorrow."

"Daddy?" Justin said. "Are you sick?"

"I'm not feeling very well, Justin."

Jeremy asked the question I had not expected. "Are you going away like our other Daddy?"

"No, Jeremy, I'm not," I assured him. "I'm just feeling a bit sick, but I will get better. I'm not going away."

"We'll help you get better, Daddy," Justin said.

"I'm sure I'll feel a lot better when I see you tomorrow," I told them. "I expect all sorts of hugs and kisses from both of you."

"We have lots, Daddy," Justin ensured.

"We won't run out," Jeremy added.

I paused a moment, choking back the tears which had been forming in my eyes. "I love you guys," I told them. "And I miss you so much."

"We miss you, too, Daddy." I'm not sure which one that was, but I believe it was Justin.

"I'll be home for supper tomorrow," I said, but I had to get them off the phone before I started crying again. "I promise. I need to talk to Brad now, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy," Justin said.

"I'll see you tomorrow after your nap."

"Bye, Daddy," my sons said in unison.

"Bye," I said sadly as I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

Justin's voice spoke again, but not to me. "Daddy wants to talk to you now."

There was a fumbling of the phone again, and Brad's voice came back to me. "Hi," he said.

"Brad, promise me you'll look after my kids."

"Don't worry about them, okay? We'll take good care of them."

"If they want to sleep with you in our room tonight, let them," I urged.

"I think that's what they have in mind, actually."

"I'm sorry, Brad," I confessed suddenly. "I've failed you so badly, and now I've abandoned everyone and left you there to handle it all by yourself."

"I'm not alone, Ted," he said. "There's people here to help me, just like there's always been people here to help you."

There was a long silence between us before I finally whispered, "I know."

"We're all here for you, Pops," said. His voice was full of encouragement and understanding. "We always have been, and we always will be. You don't have to do everything yourself."

"I know that now, too. You were right, Tiger. I'm not Superman. And I think you were right about the breakdown. I should have listened to you. I'm sorry I didn't."

"Ted, please stop apologizing," Brad pleaded. "What's done is done. No harm. No foul. Let's just concentrate on getting you back again."

"I've already started," I admitted. "I made an appointment yesterday to see my doctor on Thursday."

"Yesterday!?" Brad asked, obviously surprised.

"I had a panic attack in my office yesterday. I didn't know what it was, but it scared the hell out of me. I thought I was having a heart attack. As soon as it was over, I called my doctor."

"So, you already knew."

"Yes, I did. And then, last night when I put you off the way I did. . ."

"I was only trying to help." There was no accusation in his voice.

"I know, and I appreciate it. But it wasn't the kind of help I needed. I need your help tomorrow, though."

"Name it."

"You have only one exam tomorrow, right?" I asked. "In the morning?"

"Yes."

"Will you come and get me when you're finished and drive me home? I don't think I should be driving right now."

"Tell me where to be and I'll be there," he assured me. "Just let me get a pen and paper first."

When Brad returned to the phone, ready to write, I gave him the address in Mississauga. "Take a cab from Ryerson, I told him. I'll pay for it when you get here."

"That will cost you a fortune," Brad objected. "I'll take the transit and GO to Mississauga. Can I talk to Warren to get the trains and buses?"

"If you take the GO, then cab it from the station," I told him. "Let the driver worry about finding the place. Call me when you get here and I'll come down and pay the fare."

"I have money, Ted," he said. "Now, please, can I talk to Warren?"

"Okay, hang on." I held the phone away from my mouth and called for my friend. He appeared a moment later. "Brad's coming in on the GO tomorrow. He wants to know the trains and stops."

"He'll get lost on the buses, Teddy," Warren said quickly. "Maybe he should cab it here from the station."

"That's what I told him." I held out the phone to Warren. "Could you tell him which train he needs to take and where to get off?"

Warren took the phone from me and made polite chat with Brad for a few moments before giving him the directions he would need. "You should take a taxi from the station, Bradley," he said near the end of his conversation. "If you miss your transfer, you'll be screwed." Warren was talking about the bus transfer, I assume. "Good. Now read it all back to me." Warren waited and listened and nodded as Bill came in and stood behind Warren, casually wrapping his arm around my best friend's waist. "That's it," Warren said finally. "It's only a few bucks for the cab from the station. . . . Good. We'll see you then, Bradley. Here's Ted back for you."

Warren handed me the telephone and I took it.

"I don't know what time I'll be there, Pops, but I'll be there," Brad promised.

My emotional roller coaster suddenly took a huge dip and I began crying uncontrollably again, but I had a good reason this time. As much as I had missed Brad those two weeks he'd spent in Thunder Bay awhile ago didn't come close to how much I missed him at that moment. I needed him to hold me and he was a lifetime away from me.

"Ted?" I could hear him saying. "Are you okay?" When he got no other response except my racking sobs, he repeated, "Ted?"

Bill took the phone from my hand and began talking to Brad as Warren sat beside me and pulled me into his arms. Once again, I cried against his chest. I felt foolish, but I couldn't help it, nor could I stop. The tears simply came of their own free will and I was powerless against them.

Warren soothed me, making shushing sounds and, once again, stroking and kissing my hair. Fortunately, his magic worked much more quickly this time. Within ten minutes, I was calm enough to finish my chat with Brad.

Bill said ‘goodbye' and handed me the phone. He remained standing there.

"I'm here, Brad."

"Are you okay, Pops?"

"Yeah," I replied sheepishly. "I feel so foolish, though. I can't seem to control my emotions."

"I won't leave you alone, Ted," Brad said. "We'll get through this together. I promise. Bill told me all about it and if it's what we think it is, it's not as bad as it sounds. It's just going to take some time and lots and lots of rest." He paused a moment or two, then added, "Look, if you want me to come get you tonight. . ."

"No," I said, cutting his sentence short. "Warren and Bill are taking good care of me and you need to study anyway. And I really think I need to be here tonight."

"Okay."

There was an uncomfortable silence as neither of us spoke until I broke the silence and said, "I love you, Brad. I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll be there. You get some sleep now, you hear?"

"I will. Goodnight, Tiger."

"Nite, Pops."

There was a click and the line went silent. I hung up the telephone.

* * * * *

Brad's voice lingered in my mind for a long time as I sat there afterward. Warren was still sitting beside me, his comforting arm around my back and his other hand gently stroking my thigh. Bill had taken the chair across from me and was telling me about his conversation with his friend, the doctor.

"He's not making a diagnosis, of course," Bill said. "He'll leave that to your doctor. He merely gave me his impression based upon the symptoms I told him you were suffering. He strongly believes it's all the stress you're under at the moment. When I mentioned that much of the stress agents would be gone in a few weeks, he said your problems should disappear as well."

"What did he say I should do?"

"He said the first thing to do is make an appointment with your doctor, which you've already done. He recommends plenty of rest and relaxation. Forget about everything and let everyone else handle it."

"I can't do that, Bill," I argued. "I have a family to take care of. They depend on me."

"You have to, Ted," Bill countered. "Who are they going to depend on if you have a complete breakdown and end up in hospital for who knows how long?"

"You can stop worrying about me right now, Teddy," Warren interjected. "There's no way I'm dying on that operating table next week. Not now. Not when you need me. I didn't think you would anymore after you met Bradley, but I know better now. The doctors may give me only eighty percent, but my determination gives me one hundred percent. Warren Michaels is going to be around for a long, long time, and I'll always be here to help you when you need me."

I smiled at Warren despite myself. "Just like you were determined to join the football team in grade ten?"

Warren smiled back. "What can I say? The quarterback had a nice ass."

I laughed then, and grabbed Warren in a strong, warm, friendly hug. "Don't ever change, my friend," I said quietly.

"And don't you ever change, Teddy."

* * * * *

At Bill's suggestion, my stress-relief was to begin immediately. Warren took me to the bathroom and, as he ran a hot bath for me, I pissed, flushed, and began to undress. Being naked in front of Warren was nothing new. We had seen each other naked many times since we were kids.

"Empty your pockets, Teddy," Warren said. "I'll give your clothes a quick wash so they're clean for tomorrow."

"Don't worry about them," I said. "They're good enough for another day."

"Don't argue with me," he warned me and he turned around to face me. "I won't have you stressing out because you have to wear dirty clothes. Now do as you're told empty the pockets."

I smiled at him as I stood there with my pants in my hand. "Yes, Mommy."

Warren smiled, too, and pinched my cheek and patted it twice with his open palm. "Mommy knows best."

We held our gaze for a long time, still smiling at each other, and then my smile disappeared and I became serious for the moment. "Warren," I said tenderly, "thank you. You're the best friend anyone could ever have."

Warren wrapped his hands around my back and pulled me into a major hug. I dropped the pants to the floor and hugged him back. "So are you, Teddy," he whispered. "You're worth fighting to stay alive for."

Warren let me hug him as long as I needed to hug him, and that was a long time. If it hadn't been for the water nearing the top of the tub, I would have held onto him longer, but I had to release him to tend to the faucets.

I emptied what items were left in my pockets, then slid out of my underwear and dropped it onto the pile of clothes at me feet. Warren helped me into the hot tub and waited until I was seated comfortably. He fit one of those plastic blow-up pillows behind my head and I lay back, luxuriating in the heat which flowed into my body. The effects were almost immediate, and the scented oils Warren had added took me back to a time when I had no worries or troubles. It was, indeed, stress-relieving.

As Warren bent down to pick up my clothes, I said, "Will you come back and stay with me?"

Warren stood up, clothes bundled in his arm. "Sure. Want anything to eat? Drink?"

"No, thanks. Just you."

Warren left the bathroom and returned almost immediately. He was empty-handed. "Bill's going to wash up your clothes." As I do when I'm giving the twins their baths, Warren laid a towel over the lip of the tub and sat down, facing me and taking my hand in his. "How are you feeling now?"

"Relaxed," I replied, "and very, very tired. I feel like I could sleep for a week."

"That's good, I think. You probably haven't been getting much lately." As an afterthought, he added, "Sleep, that is. I already know you're not getting the other thing."

I stared at Warren. There was nothing but sincerity in his face and I knew it was intentional. It made me laugh, and I laughed hard. It took me awhile to calm down enough for Warren to add, "Don't worry, Sweetie. It's been so long since I've had the ‘other thing' I can't even remember which end is up."

"The end you're sitting on, you twit!" And I laughed again.

Warren laughed with me this time and it took us a long time to stop. "It's good to hear you laugh, Teddy," he said as he gave my hand a squeeze.

"It feels good to laugh."

Warren took over the conversation after that, talking mostly about us when we were growing up. He mentioned many things which I had completely forgot and the memories came flooding back. They were all the best things which had happened to us. All the best times. Warren's voice blended with the hot water and scented oils and my mind relaxed as much as my body. The next thing I knew, my friend put his hand on my cheek and brought me to awareness once more.

"Come on, Teddy," he said in a soft, soothing voice. "You're falling asleep. Time for bed."

As I lifted myself out of the tub, Warren grabbed a large, warm, fluffy towel out of the linen cabinet in the bathroom and handed it to me. I dried my legs and feet, then stepped out onto the small tub-side rug. As I finished drying myself, he drained the tub and rinsed it down. Then, with the towel wrapped around my waist, I was led me to the guestroom where Warren pulled the sheets down and took the towel from me. I climbed into the bed and pulled the sheets over me.

Warren sat down on the edge of the bed beside me, taking my hand in his once more. "I'll stay here until you're asleep, okay?" He bent down and gave me a kiss on the lips.

"Thanks, Warren."

He smiled at me. "That's what friends are for." He began talking once more about our childhoods, recounting the weekend we had gone camping together when we were sixteen. I tried to stay awake, but my eyes closed despite my efforts to keep them open and Warren's voice became part of my dreams. Moments later, I was asleep.

To Be Continued​

 

[wesleybs8]

Hi, I've been away, only just caught up, excellent chapeters, ty, a great story, which is ever developing. Wesley

 

[botboy03]

Another good chapter Neil. I know I keep saying that but its true. They are great chapters.

Zac

 

[sheep]

Ted should be just fine when he goes to the parole hearing and tells them to hang Connie. Also, the sooner his mom and dad move out the better. Ted is an adult and resents his 'rents interfering with his life. As far as *Wheel of Fortune* and *Jeopardy* go, he could take an axe to the TV.
We had my mother staying here for awhile as her new condo wasn't ready on time and I always swore to myself if I ever saw Alex Trebek I would kill him. Thank heavens for Clonazepam.

 

[harry113]

Dear Neil, What a beautiful chapter.
This is real love between two old friends.
Thank you
Harry

 

[dave_63]

Powerful.....Emotional.....Moving.....True Friendship.....Unconditional Love.

What more can I say.....Thanks Neil, another great chapter.

Dave

 

[gmoney]

Very nice chapter, Neil. It's very soothing to see such a bond between friends and you captured that perfectly.

Gary

 

[chris0626]

Thank you so VERY much for this last chapter. I can readily identify with what Ted is going through... you've hit it spot on.

Again, thank you.

 

[dlf0001]

Neil,

You have spun a wonderful, wonderful tale.

It feels real. It's equisitely written.

It's better than any "gay" book I have ever read.

I dare say the story is better than any "gay" movie I have ever seen.

Thanks for sharing your talent and your story with those of us at JUB.

This story should be published.

DLF

 

[kcm17480]

I am really glad the Ted is finally asking for help. Brad always seems to be ready to help. This story really is my favorite. I am just amazed at the details and how well it is written. Thanks, Ken

 

[newkidondagayblock]

Another beautiful aspect of human emotions brought to the fore by Mr Neil. FRIENDSHIP. No conditions, no ulterior motives. Where a hand given is just that, for comfort. No questions, no conditions, no desires. From Warren's perspective, its perfect friendship.

Thanks. I hope all get a (or more) friend like that.

 

[caddymac]

Those kind of people are with us but we sometime don't seem them as that. I think we all have at least one in our lives, we just don't know they are there.
Thank you Neil for another wonderful Chapter.

 

[upyrkilt469]

Another great chapter Neil. I hope it wont be too long before the story continues. Keep writing, please.

Vic

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part 107​

Being away from home seemed to make all the difference in the world. All my problems were back there, and being here with Warren and seeing him so vibrantly alive and full of life lifted such a weight from my shoulders. I had barely thought of Connie, nor of the wedding. I had spent the time with my best friend, and his lust for life and his determination and his unselfish helpfulness filled me with hope.

Warren hadn't solved my problem, but he had certainly pointed me in the right direction. Despite his eccentricities and his flighty behaviour, Warren always knew when he had to be a friend first and foremost. He hadn't spoken French the entire day. There was a time for it, and this wasn't it.

I awoke that Wednesday morning lying in the guestroom bed. Warren was there, sitting in a chair near the bed and reading a book. He looked up when I stretched and groaned, put down his book and moved to sit on the side of the bed. He rested his elbow against my hip, his arm laying against my side.

He was smiling at me when I my eyes found his. "Good morning, Teddy," he said quietly as he leaned down to give me a friendly kiss. "Did you sleep well?"

"Oh, yeah," I answered with a smile of my own. "What time is it?"

"Almost ten. You've been asleep for almost twelve hours."

"No wonder I have to piss so bad."

His arm lifted from my body and his flat hand moved toward my face so he could pat my cheek. "It's no wonder Bradley loves you so much. You're such a romantic when you wake up in the morning!"

He stood up and began gathering my clothes from where they lay, all neatly folded, on the dresser. "You get yourself to the bathroom before you pee the bed. I'll bring your clothes."

I pushed back the sheets, climbed out of bed, and headed for the toilet. I was still pissing when Warren entered and set my clothes on the vanity. "Come to the kitchen when you're done," he said as he walked back out the door.

Minutes later, I was totally relieved, washed, and dressed, and I joined Warren in the kitchen. He'd already made a cup of coffee for me in the bodum and was pouring it into a mug for me.

"No coffee maker?" I asked.

"Only when we have company," Warren replied. "It's too much temptation for me if I make a whole pot."

"But you were drinking coffee all day yesterday."

"Herbal tea, Sweetie. No caffeine. Bill bought this so he could have a mug in the morning. I didn't even know what a bodum was until he brought it home. By the way, enjoy this one. It's the only one you're getting here today. Bill said you should cut down on your coffee, too."

Bill said that? How dare he! I could feel the abrupt anger building up inside of me and it brought a tightness to my chest that I clearly recognized. "Oh, God, Warren," I said suddenly. "It's happening again."

I jumped up and ran to the bathroom where I turned on the cold-water faucet and began wiping my face with it. A moment later, Warren was beside me, his arm around my waist yet again.

"Breathe deep, Teddy," he coaxed as his hand moved to my back and began rubbing in a circular motion. "Through your nose." I did. "Again, but deeper and slower. . . Deeper. . . Keep going until you think your lungs are going to burst. . . Now, let it out slowly through your mouth. . . Do it again. . . That a boy, Teddy. Keep doing it until it passes. . . Good. . . You're doing good, Teddy."

I concentrated on my breathing and, after only a few breaths, felt the anger beginning to flow out of me. I continued until it was gone entirely. "Oh, God, Warren," I said finally, "it happens so fast. And so easily."

"But you knew it was happening, Teddy, and that's a good thing. You felt it coming and now you know how to stop it."

I splashed more cold water on my face as Warren grabbed a towel for me.

"Feeling better now?"

I turned off the faucet and took the towel he offered and began wiping my face. "Yes," I said.

"Good. Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Not really," I replied. "Peckish, maybe, but not hungry."

"Toast?"

"Sure. I'll make it."

"No, you won't," he objected. He took the towel from me and hung it over the rack. Together, we walked back to the kitchen. "You sit your ass down and let me make you some toast. I'm not an invalid, you know."

Before I could respond to that, Warren set about preparing the toast and, as he did, he began talking. He didn't talk about anything other than good things. Happy things. Fun things. He talked about us.

"Remember that night we went out and came back late?" he said as he chuckled to himself. "We tried to sneak into my house through the upstairs window over the porch so Mom and Dad wouldn't know we were still out?"

"Oh, God," I said and I began to chuckle along with him. "That has to be the stupidest thing we ever did."

"It sure was the funniest thing." He began to relate the story to me in hilarious detail as he prepared my toast. Warren, as I've said before, was a chubby kid. He was also the most unathletic, the most awkward kid in town. In order to get up to the roof of the porch, we had to climb up onto the windowsill and pull ourselves up onto the roof. The problem was, we were both too short. At least, Warren was. I had to link my fingers and cup my hands into a ‘stirrup' which Warren stepped into with one foot. I hoisted him up until he was able to stand on the windowsill. I hoisted myself up and stood beside him.

That left us looking up at an eave which was much further away than we originally thought. I could reach it by jumping, but Warren had no chance whatsoever. The only way he could reach it was by climbing up on me, which I somehow convinced him to do. Balanced on the sill as we were, I grabbed the window frame with one hand as Warren grabbed onto me. I squatted down a bit, bending my right leg and giving Warren a ‘step'. He began his climb, starting on my bent knee, then my hip, and eventually pulled himself up until he was standing on my shoulders. . . and then my head!

I stood up, then, and Warren was able to grab the eave of the roof. Still holding the frame, I turned the open palm of my other hand upward and raised it to my shoulder. Warren stepped onto it. On the count of three, I pushed as hard as I could as Warren pulled himself up. I got him belly-down on the slanted roof and he lay there, puffing and panting, trying to catch his breath.

"Warren!" I had whispered desperately as loud as I dared. "Get the rest of you up there!"

I moved my hand to his other foot (the foot on the high side of the roof) and pushed again. He managed to swing his other leg up onto the low side and rolled himself onto his back. A few moments later, he was on his belly again, looking down at me from the side of the roof. He was still puffing and panting, and so was I.

"Come on, Teddy," Warren had said. "It's easy."

Easy for the person who doesn't have to actually do anything, I thought. I tried to gather my waning strength, then made a jump to grab the side of the roof where Warren waited.

"Pull, Warren!" I shouted in a loud, hoarse whisper. I suppose it was too much to hope that he would grab my hands. Instead, he reached over the side, grabbed a handful of my hair, and tugged as hard as he could. I groaned in pain as quietly as I could as I heaved myself upward. Warren grabbed the back of my T-shirt in his other hand and pulled as well, which did nothing at all in helping me get to the roof except to bind the material at my armpits.

By that time, my forearms and elbows were supporting me on the shingled roof, still feeling warm from the heat of the day. Warren released my hair and shirt as I gasped a few breaths, then I heaved up once more. Warren reached down my back, searching for something else to grab onto. I was wearing jeans, and the jeans had a good, sturdy leather belt in the loops. Either would have been excellent hand-holds for Warren, but, my friend being who he is, located the waistband of my underwear instead.

If ever there was the mother of all wedgies, that was it. Warren held on tightly and pulled, the cotton material of my BVDs stretching almost to my shoulders. My eyes crossed and watered, and the groan of pain that came out of my throat was much louder than I had expected. It felt like my entire crotch was being pressed into a sewing thimble.

I groaned and Warren laughed as he pulled my ass up onto the roof. As he rolled away and sat up, I rolled onto my back, shoved my hand into my jeans, and tried to rearrange things to a less compacted condition. I could still feel my tears as the they squeezed out of the corners of my eyes and rolled down my temples. Warren, of course, thought it was hilariously funny and sat there laughing at me.

"And I said to you, ‘Come on, Teddy. What have you got in there that can get squished!' Geez, it was funny, eh?"

"Yeah, Warren. Hilarious," I replied sarcastically. "It wasn't your nuts getting turned into sultanas."

"And I can still see that look on your face when you found out that the upstairs windows were locked!" he continued. "Man, you had murder on your mind that night!"

"Oh, yeah?" I said. "Well, what about the look on your face when your father showed up in his pyjamas on the other side of the window with his arms crossed? You're lucky he didn't make us climb back down!"

Warren and I laughed together, and it felt good. He'd already finished making my toast and was sitting kitty-corner from me at the table. "Those were the good ol' days, weren't they, Teddy?"

I looked into his face. He looked so young and full of life suddenly. "Yeah, they were, Warren," I said to him. "The best."

His hand came to rest on my arm. "There's going to be a lot more of them, Teddy," he said gently. "Fifty years from now, we're going to be sitting here and talking about these good ol' days." He stared deeply into my eyes, and I could see so many things in his. "You really have no idea how much you mean to me, Teddy. Because of you, I've had a fun life and I found the man I want to spend the rest of it with."

"I didn't help you with Bill," I reminded him. "You did that all by himself."

Warren's voice became like the whisper of snowflake falling to the ground. "I was talking about you, Teddy. You were always my first choice."

"I was your only friend. What choice did you have?"

"No, Teddy, you don't understand. There could have been a million people for me to choose from and I still would have chosen you. You really have no idea who you are and what you do for people. There is more room in your heart for loving everyone than I have ever seen before. There isn't anything you won't do for someone, and you never ask for anything in return. You're an amazing man, Teddy, and a lot of people care for you very much. Especially Bradley. I've seen a lot of people in love, but I've never seen as much love as I've seen inside that boy. He was made for you, Teddy. And God knows you deserve him. Grab hold of him and don't ever let go. You're a damned fool if you don't."

Before I could react, before I could say anything, before I could give in to the tears which threatened to burst out of me, Warren leaned back in his chair and renewed his nostalgic onslaught. He had said what he needed to say, and then he'd turned all his attention to me, doing everything he could to keep my mind occupied and away from my problems. With Warren there with me, all my problems were so far away. They couldn't hurt me.

Time flew by so quickly. I finished my coffee which, by the way, was absolutely delicious, and then joined Warren in drinking herbal tea which, by the way, wasn't. Licking water off of tree bark would have tasted better, I'm sure.

At any rate, as I said, time flew by and, before I knew it, the doorbell was ringing. "There's Bradley," Warren said. "Want me to get it?"

"Okay, thanks," I said, but I rose from my chair and followed him to the door anyway.

He opened the door and Brad appeared. Brad's eyes caught mine and he stood there in the hallway staring at me for a very long moment before he came through the door, past Warren, and into my open arms. He almost crushed me with his embrace, but I welcomed it. The entire front side of his body was pressed against me and it felt so good. I hugged him back just as hard.

We didn't speak. We simply stood there, hugging each other. Warren quietly closed the door and disappeared into the livingroom, leaving us alone.

I held onto Brad for as long as I could, and then I held onto him even longer. I absorbed the heat from his body into me from the outside while his wonderful, youthful, manly scent filled me on the inside. I kissed his neck just so I could taste him. I was exquisitely happy.

So, why was I crying?

I decided that I was crying because I was so exquisitely happy. I was in trouble and my Tiger had come to my rescue. I felt safe in his arms. I felt like nothing could hurt me when I was in them. Now that I had accepted that I needed help, I once more allowed Brad to love me, and I allowed myself to love him back. I no-longer wanted to push him away from me.

"I'm here, Pops," he whispered so softly that I could barely hear him, but it was like music to my ears.

I held him tighter.

* * * * *

Warren was sitting on the chair in the livingroom, waiting patiently for us to arrive. I sat on the sofa facing him and Brad sat beside me. His arm was still around my shoulder. He hadn't stopped touching me since he came through the door. Warren was looking at me, calculating my emotions in his head.

"Are you okay, Teddy?" he asked.

I smiled and nodded. "I am now."

He smiled and sat back in the chair. "Good." To Brad, he said, "Thank you for coming, Bradley. I really didn't want Teddy driving all the way home by himself."

"I didn't, either," Brad said, giving my shoulder a comforting squeeze as he did. "So, what do I need to know about all this?"

"We're all just guessing until Teddy sees his doctor tomorrow morning, but our consensus is the same as yours, Bradley. Too much stress. I wish Bill were here to tell you himself. He's so much better at this than I am, but he left me a list of recommendations to give to you." Warren pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket, unfolded it ceremoniously, and read: "Make sure he gets plenty of rest." He folded the paper back up and tucked it into his pocket once more.

"That's it?" Brad asked.

Warren nodded. "It was a short list." He looked at me and winked. One corner of his lips curled up ever-so-slightly.

Dear, sweet Warren. He always knew how to make me laugh, and he did this time as well. Brad joined me in laughing, and even Warren's knowing smirk grew into an enormous grin. When things settled down once more and the laughter was finished, Warren turned all serious again. "I'm placing my best friend in the world into your hands, Bradley," he said calmly. "I expect you to take very good care of him."

"I will," Brad replied.

Warren continued. "You have a beautiful ass, Bradley. I'd hate to have to take you over my knee to spank it if you don't."

"No you wouldn't, pal," I told him. "You'd sell your soul to the Devil for the chance."

It was Warren's turn to laugh, and our turn to join him. He looked at me and grinned his happy grin, then looked at Brad and winked. "He's right, you know. I would."

Brad grinned back and winked as well. "Just because you're so nice, I'd let you do it for free."

"OooOOOooo!" Warren hummed excitedly. "Something else to live for!" The smile slowly disappeared from his face. "In all seriousness, Bradley, I want you to promise me that you'll make Teddy do everything his doctor tells him to do. I hated Bill for making me do everything I was supposed to do. . ." His mind seemed to wander for a moment as he remembered his own ordeal. "All that wonderful junk food he wouldn't let me eat anymore. But I'm still here and I'm still alive, and I love him so much more for it now. I want you to do that for my Teddy now. I plan on being here for a long, long time, and I expect Teddy to be here with me. We've got a lot more memories to make yet."

"You can count on that, Warren," Brad said. "I plan on making a whole lot of memories with him myself."

Warren looked at me then. "You're so lucky you found him, Teddy. He's so much more than a pretty face."

"We're both lucky, Warren," I said to him.

He glanced at Brad momentarily, then back at me. Perhaps Brad didn't notice the look of envy in Warren's eyes, but I certainly did. "Some of us are a bit more lucky than others, my friend." He sighed, his chest swelling with the effort. Then he said more to himself than to me, "A lot more lucky."

I knew what he was feeling. Throughout Warren's entire life, someone like Brad would have been his ‘ideal'. He dearly loved Bill, and did from the moment Bill spoke to us on that bench at college so long ago, but Brad was more Warren's ‘type'. I may have been his first choice, but Brad was his type. He was extremely happy with Bill and would never even think of leaving him for someone else, but he was sad at the same time because he'd spent all those years looking for a Brad of his own and never found him. He was sad, I suppose, that I had found my Brad without even knowing I wanted to.

"But, enough of this nonsense," Warren spouted suddenly as he leaned forward, slapping the palms of his hands on his knees. "We have someone here who needs our help and we're not doing a very good job of helping him. What Teddy needs now is to get home to his family so they can start taking care of him." He looked at me sternly. "And you, Mr. de Villiers, you'll do whatever anyone tells you to do. Especially Bradley. No sulking around feeling sorry for me or anyone else. No worrying about things you can't change. And you can certainly forget about me ‘cause I'm here to stay, whether you want me here or not. And I'll be standing right beside you at your wedding in July. You see if I don't."

He stood up and came forward. "Now, come on, both of you. It's time you get your pretty little butts out of here."

"I just got here," Brad objected. "I can stay and visit for awhile."

"No, you can't, Sweetie. I don't want you here. I want you back home where you belong, taking care of my best friend. Mon Dieu! Qu'est-ce que c'est?" Warren cried as he threw his arms dramatically into the air. "What does a man have to do to get people out of his house?"

Warren was back. Since I had arrived the day before, it had been nothing but serious business between us with no room for French. Now that Brad was there, he could let himself go again and relax. He had done what needed to be done and now he was telling us that it was time that we start doing what we needed to do. He disappeared into his bedroom, returning a minute later with the items he'd confiscated while I slept the afternoon before. He handed me my wallet and cell phone, but he handed the car keys to Brad with nary a glance at me to see my reaction.

With my things tucked securely back into my pockets, Warren gave me a farewell hug. "You'll be okay, Teddy," he said quietly in my ear. "You can stop worrying about me, for one thing."

I leaned away so I could look Warren in the eye. "I have to worry about you."

"No, you don't, mon frère. I'm going to get through this operation and I'm going to be okay. You can bet your ass that I'll be standing beside you in that church."

"Can you guarantee that?"

"You bet I can," he said firmly, but smiling, "and if I'm wrong, who are you going to sue to get your money back?" His smile disappeared a moment later as his hand came to rest tenderly against my cheek. "I honestly can guarantee that I'll do everything I can to be with you when you get married. That's the best I can do."

I put my hand over his hand and pressed it harder against my cheek. "I know you will." I drew him into another long hug and whispered quietly, "Thank you for everything, Warren. Love you."

"I love you, too, Teddy," he whispered back. "And you getting better will be more than enough thanks for me."

We separated then, but Warren kept his hands on my waist. "Admitting that I need help was half the battle. And I'll do everything I'm told so I can be here with you next week."

"I told you I don't want you to worry about me."

"I'm going to worry whether I'm at home or here in Toronto. I'd rather be here with you in case you need me."

Warren nodded at me. "I'll see you next Thursday." He glanced at Brad then. "If you don't mind, I'm going to kiss your fiancé now." Without waiting for an answer, he did.

He turned to Brad then and grabbed him in a hug as well. "Do what you have to, Bradley. He's as important to me as he is to you."

"Count on it," Brad replied as he hugged my friend tighter.

Our farewells were swift after that. Within minutes, Brad and I were heading out the door and down the hall. Warren remained at the doorway, watching us. I walked with my head turned so I could watch him as he grew further and further away from me. We reached the elevator and Brad pushed the ‘down arrow' button to call for it. The elevator soon arrived on our floor and the doors opened. We stepped inside and, as Brad pushed the button for the main floor, I blew a kiss to Warren and waved. I was still waving to him as the doors closed.

I desperately hoped that it would not be the last time I would see him alive.

To Be Continued​

 

[dave_63]

A remarkable testamony to the value of true friendship and unconditional love. Ted's journey to healing has begun and I look forward to that journey, though I expect some bumps along the way.

Once again, another grest chapter!

to you Neil.

Dave

 

[botboy03]

Thanks for another great chapter Neil!

Zac

 

[chris0626]

Thank you so very much.

 

[Blktiger58]

Thank you Neil. I haven't read your story since chapter 98. I played catch up this evening. Needless to say very emotional. This story have so much heart. It touch a longing within me.
I can't find the right words at this moment. Thank you.