Trial Of Strength (Book 13)

"GRADY GRIEVES"

Grady’s boy Brian has had a serious accident and Grady, the handsome popular movie star, is devastated. He loves Brian deeply and sits for hours by his boy’s hospital bed, neglecting his film work. But he finally agrees to take a break and return briefly to filming. But Grady is emotionally exhausted, and the result is unforgettable, stunning the film’s entire crew into awed silence.

<><>    Emergency    <><>

Young Brandon was having a great time in Palm Springs with his man Ranger Pete until a shadow fell over his happiness.  It began with a phone call from his boyfriend Brian. 

The boys shared a special bond as both used wheelchairs. Brian was the much-loved boy of the famous action movie star Grady and Grady’s lover Mario, living in the opulent Grady House in the Hollywood Hills. Brian said on the phone, “Hey Brandon, when Grady gets home tonight after filming at the beach, he’s gonna be hungry for gossip about the tribe. You got any?”

Brandon said he had tons of it, so Brian said, “In that case I’ll need to write it in my notebook, it’s up in my room.  Won’t take a minute, I’ll use the new ramp that Randy built round back.  It goes straight upstairs so I don’t have to take the elevator every time.  I’ll call you right back, dude.”

But Brandon was concerned when Brian did not call back, and he phoned Mario to see what was happening.  Mario said, “I haven’t seen Brian in a while, Brandon, I’ve been in the kitchen with Danny.  I’ll go and look for him and have him call you.”

Mario went across the garden but saw no sign of Brian.  He went round the back of the house ... and gasped in shock.  “Dio mio ... No ...”  He yelled, “Danny, come quickly. I need your help ...”

Danny rushed from the kitchen and across the garden to see Mario bending over Brian lying on the ground.  Brian’s broken wheelchair was lying beside him, one wheel still spinning.”

“What happened, Mario?”

“Looks like he and his chair took a tumble from that ramp..  Don’t know how far up he was when he fell but he must have hit is head on the concrete here.  It’s bleeding badly and he’s not responding to me.”

Danny took off his shirt and Mario wrapped it round Brian’s head to soak up the blood.  “Brian, can you hear me, buddy?  It’s Mario.  You’ve had a fall.”

There was no response and Mario steeled himself to remain calm.  “Danny, call 911, we need the paramedics.  I’ll try to reach Doctor Chad.”

Chad, one of the tribe, was head surgeon at a hospital specializing in sports and workplace accidents.  Mario reached his assistant, whom he knew, and explained the emergency.  “Chad’s in his office, Mario, luckily not in surgery.  I’ll put you right through.”

When Chad came on the phone his voice was calm and businesslike as always as he listened.   “OK, Mario, when the paramedics get there, tell them to bring him straight to my hospital.  You should come with them and I’ll be waiting for you. In the meantime, don’t move him.  Put a pillow under his head, and have Danny bring you a clean towel that you press lightly on the wound to staunch the bleeding.”

“Thanks Chad.  Oh, I can already hear the sirens in the distance, that was quick.”

“Good.  I’m gonna ring off now and alert the staff.  Don’t worry, Mario, we’ll take care of him.  He’s a sweet kid.”

Danny opened the gate and when the ambulance arrived two paramedics rushed a stretcher over to where Mario was kneeling.  Mario pulled away and let them examine the boy.  “Yeah,” one said, “nasty gash there. We’ll work on the bleeding.”

“I called Doc Chad, he’s a friend, and he told me to ask you to take him there.”

“Oh yeah,” the EMT said cheerfully, “we know doc Chad.  Been to his place a million times.  OK, you coming with us?”

“Chad said I should.”

“Sure thing.”  They gently eased the limp Brian onto the stretcher and pulled it up on its wheels. 

As Mario accompanied them to the gate, he said, “Danny, call Brandon back and tell him what’s happened, but try not to alarm him.  Hold the fort here, there’ll probably be lots of phone calls and I’d prefer they call you, not me.  I’ll be in touch to keep you posted, but, er, leave Grady to me.  I’ll try to reach him at the beach location.”

“OK, Mario.  Let me know as soon as you know anything.”

The EMTs pushed the stretcher against the back of the ambulance, the wheels folded up and they slid it in.  One said to Mario, “You sit there, buddy, and leave everything to us, OK?”

Mario smiled out at Danny, the doors closed and the ambulance sped away, sirens blaring.

<><>    Mario Spreads The Word    <><>

It took only a few minutes to reach the hospital where staff were waiting at the Emergency Room doors.  They transferred Brian to a gurney which they hurried inside and Chad came out for a preliminary look at him.  He gently pulled his eye open and shone a flashlight in it.  Then he looked at the gash on his forehead. 

“Hmm,” he said, “obviously a nasty fall, Mario.  He’s concussed, probably in a mild coma.  First I’ll work on the cut, get that sewn up, then get him a CT scan, see if there’s any internal damage.  When I’m done I’ll come and see you.  The nurse will show you into a private waiting room.  Er, does Grady know?”

“No, Chad, he’s still filming at the beach.  That’s my next job – try to get word to him.”

“OK, dude, hang in there.  We’ll take good care of the boy.”

He left with the gurney crew, and a nurse smiled, “I’ll take you up to a private waiting room, Mario.  There’s coffee, juice and snacks in the machine there.  Nothing you can do now, I’m afraid, except wait for the doctor to come back.”

Left suddenly alone in the waiting room Mario’s adrenaline stopped racing and the severity of the situation hit him.  He took a few deep breaths to calm himself and pulled out his phone.  He didn’t want to give Grady the news in the middle of filming so he tried to reach Jamie.”

He prayed silently for Jamie to pick up ... and he did.  “Hey Mario, what’s up?”

“I was afraid you would be working Jamie.”

“Nah, Nate and I have a break while Grady finishes up a scene.  He’s only got another couple of takes to go.  Is there a problem, dude?”

“Si, amico, I’m afraid there is.  It’s Brian.  Looks like he was wheeling himself up a ramp and he fell off.  Hit his head rather badly on the concrete.  The paramedics brought him and me to Doc Chad’s hospital and Chad is in with him now, stitching him up and running tests.  I’m waiting for him to come back with the news.”

“Jesus, poor kid.  You want me to interrupt Grady?”

“No, don’t do that, Jamie. He’s bound to react strongly and come rushing back, but there’s nothing either of us can do just now.  What I need from you is Grady’s shooting schedule, I don’t have a copy with me at the hospital.”

“Right, so like I said, Grady should wrap fairly soon, but Nate and I have to stick around for some establishing shots the director wants when the sun sets.  So I won’t be able to leave with him.  But of course he’s got a limo waiting for him as always.”

“And when does he work next?”

“Let’s see.   OK, his call time tomorrow is two-pm and he has only one scene.  It’s basically a solo scene, but it’s a toughie that’s really been worrying him.”

“Right, so when he’s finished today he’ll be free until, say, about one-pm tomorrow.  That’s good. OK, here’s what I’d like you to do, Jamie.  As soon as he’s wrapped there, break the news to him as gently as possible.  Impress on him that Brian is in Chad’s care and we won’t know anything more until Chad’s finished.   

“Grady’s reaction will be to rush straight here, and that’s fine.  I’ll try to prevent any publicity.  Last thing we need is a reporter taking pictures of Grady rushing into a hospital.  They’d have a field day with that one.   So try not to let any of the guys down there hear you tell Grady.  Just let him leave quietly.”

“OK, Mario, I can handle that.  The only one I’ll tell is Nate.  Hang in there, dude.”

When the call ended Mario felt anxiety overwhelming him, he needed help.  And he knew exactly where to get it.  He punched another number and Bob’s voice said, “Hey, you sexy Italian, how are you?”

“Not so good, Bob.  Here it is in a nutshell.”  Mario related everything that had happened and Bob listened in anxious silence. 

His calm, practical response was reassuring.  “I’m glad you called me, Mario.  I’m not only Grady’s friend but his attorney, so I can deal with the studio if necessary.  One thing I need is his upcoming schedule.”

“I just got that from Jamie.  He’ll wrap for the day quite soon and then he’s free until two tomorrow afternoon.  He’ll have only one scene that he’s been dreading for some reason.”

“Interesting ...  OK, I’ll come right over, Mario, you shouldn’t be alone.  And when Grady gets there we won’t talk about work.  That’s the last thing he’ll wanna focus on.  He’ll probably insist that he’s not going back to work until Brian is out of the woods.  He’s crazy about that boy, as you know.  If anything should happen to him ...

“Sorry, I shouldn’t talk like that.  Nothing bad will happen to Brian – Doc Chad won’t let it.  Right, I’ll be over there with you soon.  Hang in there, buddy.”

Mario managed a smile.  “You’re the third guy to tell me that, Bob.”

“It’s good advice, dude. Though to tell the truth, I’m never quite sure what it means.”

Mario called Danny to update him, and Danny said.  “You were right about calls coming in, Mario, they’ve already started.  You know the grapevine – word gets around.  I called Brandon in Palm Springs and his instinct was to rush straight back to town.   But I stressed what you told me, that there’s nothing he could do, better to wait until we know more.”

After that Mario felt at a loose end.  The wait seemed endless and he was sipping coffee and flicking through a magazine when Chad came in.  “OK, Mario I’ve stitched him up – took ten stitches.  There’ll be a scar but it’ll fade in time.  They’ve taken him off for the CT scan and I’m waiting for the result to show me what’s going on in his brain.  I’ve sedated him so it’ll be a while before he regains consciousness.

“Chad, Bob is on his way here.”

“Good thinking, dude. Grady will be highly emotional and, as his lawyer, Bob will make sure common sense prevails.”

“Yeah, Grady will be coming soon too, once he’s finished for the day.”

“Ah ... in a limo, I suppose.”

“’Fraid so, Chad.”

“When you speak to him tell him to call when he’s almost here and I’ll have our PR girl direct the driver to the side entrance so we can run him up here with no-one seeing.  We’ve had celebrities here before and Grady’s a biggie.  The last thing I need is a gaggle of reporters at the front door.  OK, I gotta get back.  See you later, dude.”

<><>    “Hey, Kiddo, It’s Grady”    <><>

At the beach, the director was saying, “And that’s a wrap for you Grady.  Great work as always.  Now you’re free to escape.  Your limo awaits.”

Grady chuckled, “Escape is the word, Andy. See you tomorrow for that impossible scene you want me to play.”

“You can do it, Grady, you’re a champ.”

Grady was walking up the beach, barefoot in just lifeguard shorts, when he saw Jamie and Nate waiting for him.  “Hey guys, don’t you just hate it when I get to go home and you guys have another hour or two surfing while the sun sets?”

But they didn’t laugh.  As Jamie spoke to Grady quietly, his face darkened and he clenched his fists.  “I gotta go to him.  He’ll need me.” 

Without another world he ran up the road to his waiting limo.  “Jamie followed him, pulled off his own T-shirt and sneakers and tossed them into the limo.  “You’ll need these, dude.  And I’ve told Eric where the hospital is,” referring to Grady’s driver.

Grady said, “You hear that, Eric.  You’ve met my kid Brian, haven’t you?”

“That nice kid in the wheelchair who opens the gate for me when I come to collect you?”

“That’s him. I was just told that he’s had a bad fall, he’s in the hospital, all the way across town.” 

His voice cracked and Eric said. “Don’t worry, dude, I’ll get you there in no time.  Traffic’s a bitch but I know shortcuts.”

Grady called Mario who gave him the latest update from Chad. Grady asked a series of panicky questions that had no answer.  “He’s still undergoing tests, Grady, then Chad will give us a progress report.  Bob will soon be here too.  When you’re near the hospital, have Eric call me, and the PR girl here will direct him to the side entrance where she’ll be waiting to bring you up here.  Pull your baseball cap low.”

After a speedy trip from Malibu all the way across L.A., the limo pulled up at the small side entrance.  Grady got out, wearing red lifeguard shorts, Jamie’s T-shirt and sneakers, and his baseball cap.  The hospital’s PR lady hustled him inside, up a narrow staircase, along a deserted corridor and into a private waiting room where Mario and Bob were waiting for him.  Mario hugged Grady, who grunted, “Where is he?  I want to see him.”

“Grady, a nurse told us he’s just finished the tests and they’ve taken him to a room.  They’re getting him settled and we can go see him after Chad has spoken to us.”

“Is he awake? Is he in pain?  I want to see him.”

Mario said with relief, “Ah, here’s Chad now.  He’ll answer your questions, amico.”

“Hi, guys.  Hello Grady.  OK, here’s where we are.  Fortunately no broken bones, and the CT scan was encouraging.  Brain activity is normal, though I did see a spot that I’d like to take another look at later with an MRI.”

“A spot, what kind of spot, doc ... like a tumor?

“Grady, please don’t imagine things like that.  It’s not unusual to see something that turns out to be quite normal and benign. I’m hopeful that will be the case with Brian.  Right now, as I expected, he is in a mild coma ...”

“A coma ... that’s bad ain’t it?”

“Not at all, Grady, I prefer that.  It’s the mind’s way of shutting down after a trauma to guard against pain.  It’s not a deep coma and I expect him to be responsive to stimulus in a few hours.  In the meantime I want him to sleep so the mind can do its own healing.”

“Can he hear voices, doc?  I read somewhere that coma people can.”

“You’re right, Grady.  There have been studies that show brainwave activity when voices they know talk about familiar things they know.”

“So that’s what I’ll do, doc.  I’ll stay with him all night and talk to him all night.”

“I can’t agree to that, Grady.  Here’s what I will allow.  All three of you can go in for a quick look at him, then one of you can stay for a couple of hours, and talk if you want.”

“Doc,” Grady said, “I wanna make it clear that Brian has to get the best of everything.  Don’t spare any expense.  I’ll even endow a new wing here or however that works.”

“Grady,” Chad said, with a hint of irritation, “I’m not doing this for the money.  An endowment is always welcome, of course, but I’m giving Brian the best of care because he’s not only my patient, he’s a friend and a sweet kid, much loved by all you guys.  And I know what he means to you, Grady.  He’s in a really nice private room, and you’ll see he has an IV, which is standard procedure for nutrition. When we go in, I emphasize that I am in charge, I make the decisions.”

“Understood doc,” Bob said, with a stern glance at Grady. 

Chad led the way along the corridor to Brian’s room. The room was quiet and peaceful and Brian lay with his eyes closed, breathing steadily.  There was a bandage round his head securing a large patch over the sutured wound.

Grady went to the bed, bent down, kissed him lightly on the cheek, then sat in a bedside chair.

“Hey kiddo, it’s Grady. So you really did it this time, eh?  Probably just an attention getter, but you always have my attention, kid, you know that.  You gotta get well soon, buddy ‘cos I need all the gossip.  Do you remember after the big party at our house how we sat for hours in bed and talked it all out?  Damn, you made me laugh.  Mario got real mad, but we ignored him didn’t we?  Like that time when ...”

From then on Grady talked non-stop, and Chad looked at Bob and Mario and nodded toward the door.  Grady didn’t even notice them leave ... he was taking care of his boy.   

They went back to the private waiting room and Chad said, “I have to go back to my office now, but my staff will alert me the minute there’s any change.  I do assure you that Brian is getting the very best of care ... endowment or not,” he grinned.

“I think Grady will be talking to him as long as I let him.  But, as I said, I’ll make him leave after a couple of hours as I want to transfer Brian to Intensive Care for the night where he’ll be monitored continuously. Deep sleep is the best thing after trauma.”

Mario said, “We’ll go home soon then I’ll come back for Grady when you throw him out. Chad, we can’t thank you enough for giving Brian your personal attention.  He’s very precious to us.  I’m sorry Grady was so insistent ...”

“Mario, I understand perfectly. I’d be just as demanding if I were in his place.”

Just then the PR lady, Susan, came in.  “Gentlemen, I have some not-so-good news.  Word seems to have got out that Grady’s here, they probably saw the limo before you sent it away.  There are several reporters at the door, and in my experience their number will grow.”

“Guys,” Chad said, ‘I’m gonna leave all that to you.  I have patients to attend to.”

“Susan,” Bob said, “I’ll take care of them if you like.  I know most of them and they know I speak for Grady as his lawyer.  I always think it’s best to tell them the truth – or some version of it.”

Susan breathed a sigh of relief and Bob went to meet the hoards.  “Gentlemen,” he said, raising his hands to be heard above the clamor. “I know why you’re here and it’s true, Grady is here at the hospital.  But I emphasize, not as a patient.  He is as healthy and active as ever. 

“He came to visit a sick friend, and I know you’ll accord him privacy at such a stressful time.  He will be leaving soon without making a statement. And I will not be taking any more questions because, of course, the hospital, by law, insists on total privacy for patients and visitors.”

Soon after that the crowd began to disburse and Bob went back to Mario.  “Hey, Mario, look at this, Grady left his baseball cap here.  I have an idea.  You put it on and try to look famous, with that celebrity hunch they all use.  I left my car at the loading dock.”

And so, a few minutes later, Bob left the hospital by the freight entrance with a figure in a crouch, a baseball cap hiding his face.  They got in Bob’s Mercedes and drove away.  “We made it,” Bob smiled, “you can stop being famous.  Pity I’m not still there ‘cos I always wanted to use that old Elvis line ... Gentlemen, Grady has Left the Building.  Grady has Left the Building!  OK, not strictly true, but like I said, a version of the truth.

<><>    Randy Shoulders The Blame    <><>

As they drove back home Bob said, “Mario, I applaud you for the way you’ve handled all this, when you yourself must feel pretty shattered.  But at times like this, that old phrase – ‘take care of the caregiver’ – is vital.  So I want you to let others do some of the heavy lifting.  You’re focus will naturally be on comforting Grady when we bring him home.

“So right now I’ll distract you by talking business.  Jamie told me that Grady’s next call time on the set at the beach is at two tomorrow afternoon, and I wanted to ask you about this difficult scene I keep hearing about.”

“Yes, Bob, it’s one that bothers Grady a lot, he’s afraid he won’t be able to deliver what the director wants.  You recall that first scene he shot on this new movie?  The one where Hunter explains to his girlfriend, who wants a fulltime relationship, why it’s so hard for a busy lifeguard captain to go steady with a girl.”

“Yeah, where he essentially rejects the girl.”

“So tomorrow’s scene is a follow-up to that one, where Hunter is informed that the girl has gone missing, and he has to react to the news.  That’s demanding for any actor.”

“Hmm,” Bob said, “but not physically demanding like those grueling action scenes. It’s basically improv, no lines to learn.  In that case, I think it would be good for him to go ahead as scheduled.  Besides, the studio will have a fit if he doesn’t show up for work.  They’ll try to reschedule and shoot around him, but that’s expensive.

“Of course, Grady will want to spend the whole day at the hospital with Brian.  I’ll try to persuade him with business sense, but you’re the one who can really convince him of anything.”

“Si, amico, I have my ways to overcome his objections.  And I agree with you.  Spending all day at the hospital talking to a sleeping boy would really be punishing and not very fruitful.  A few hours break to go to work could be helpful.  And he won’t have to drive, his limo driver Eric will take him there and back and he really understands Grady after all this time.  They’re buddies.”

“Ah, here we are at the house.  Oh, Bob, I’ll be so relieved to bring Grady home tonight.”

Danny had been waiting for them and opened the gates.  The first thing they noticed was a banging noise coming from the back of the house.  Danny came running up and said, “Welcome home, guys ... and I’m sure you want to know what all that noise is about.  It’s Randy.  He came up here with a load of wood, muttering something about it’s all his fault.”

“Oh dear,” Bob sighed. “I think I know what brought this on. They all went round to the back of the house where Randy, in full work gear, was hammering planks onto the ramp that Brian had fallen from.”

“Randy,” Bob shouted, “what are you doing?”

Randy stopped hammering and looked down from the ramp.  “It’s all my fault ... it’s all my fucking fault.  I’m the reason that poor kid is lying in a hospital bed.”

“Randy, please come down and tell us what you mean.”

Randy came down the ramp, hammer in hand, and said, “I installed this fucking ramp for Brian but I didn’t have enough wood for the guardrails, told him I’d come back to finish it off.  But I got caught up in other work and left it unfinished like this, with bare edges.”

Danny spoke up.  “But sir you should tell them the rest.  Brian told me you warned him not to use the ramp until the job was finished.  But he was so eager to use it to avoid the elevator, which he finds demeaning. He must have taken a chance in spite of your warning.”

“That’s no fucking excuse, kid.  The thing’s a death trap like this.  I’ll never forgive myself for ....”

Bob walked up to him and silenced him with a hard, grinding kiss.   Randy instinctively tried to pull away but Bob wrapped both hands behind his head and held him tight.  When they separated at last, Randy asked plaintively, “How’s he doing, buddy?”

“Brian is sleeping peacefully and Chad is guardedly optimistic.  There are no bones broken and Chad has stitched up the wound on his forehead.  He’s in a mild coma, which Chad said is a good thing.  He’s going to order an MRI to check out a spot he saw on the CT scan, but he said it could probably be harmless.

“Chad will transfer him to Intensive Care overnight to make sure he’s monitored, and in the meantime Grady is with his boy talking to him in case he can hear.  Mario and I will go and bring Grady back home later this evening.”

“As for your feelings of guilt, Randy, they are misplaced.  Danny says that you warned Brian but he took a chance anyway and fell.  If it makes you feel better you can finish up installing the guardrails while I stay here with Mario.”

Mario said, “Randy, nobody could possibly blame you for what happened.  Please ... come si dice? ... stop beating yourself up.”

Bob asked Danny, “How have the phones been?”

“Pretty non-stop, Bob.  Word gets around fast, and you know the boys – they always circle the wagons when one of them is in trouble.  I’ve been in constant touch with Brandon with updates.  He was going to come straight home but I persuaded him to stay put with Pete in Palm Springs. I told him that Grady is in Brian’s room all the time, but in any case, Brian’s in a deep sleep and likely to stay that way for a while.”

“Well done, Danny.  While I’m here I can help you field the calls.

“As to that, signori,” Mario said, “I have a suggestion ... a request really.  Bob, when you and I bring Grady home, would you and Randy stay overnight here?  The main guestroom is already made up, and it would be such a comfort to have you both here.”

Danny said, “Sir, my lover Tommy is coming to spend the night with me, so he can help me with meals and anything else you all need.”

“That all sounds like a very good idea,” Bob said.  “You agree, Randy?”

“Yeah sure,” Randy said.  “Whatever we can do to help you guys.  Now I gotta get this job finished.”   Randy went back up the ramp, and swung his hammer again.”

<><>    A Good Sign    <><>

At the hospital Grady was still at his post – or what he regarded as his post, his responsibility – talking softly to his boy, basically sharing gossip as they always did – except this time Grady did all the talking.  Holding Brian’s hand lightly under the bedcovers he went over all the many events they had shared, the parties, the love affairs and dramas of the tribe. 

Nurses came and went, checking the patient’s vitals and adjusting his IV, but Grady barely noticed them.  All his attention was on his boy, searching for small signs of recognizing his voice.   And eventually his persistence was rewarded.

Grady was giggling over some joke about one of Mario’s language blunders that had once inadvertently turned a compliment into an obscenity ... and suddenly he thought he felt Brian’s fingers tighten round his hand, almost imperceptibly. 

Fearing that it might be just his wishful thinking, he quickly thought up another joke and this time he laughed loudly.  He felt another squeeze, slight but unmistakable this time.  “Hey, kiddo, wake up.  I’m waiting here for all the gossip.”

Brian’s eyelids flickered and slowly opened, blinking as if trying to focus.  His head turned slightly and a hint of a smile crossed his lips.  He gulped, sighed and said softly, “Hello, sir.  Is that you? ... I’m glad you’re here.”  He frowned, his eyes flickered and he slurred his words.  “I got ...” he groped for the word ... “I got gossip for you ... my book’s upstairs ... I’ll get it ... but ... I’m just so tired, and my head aches...”

“That’s OK, kiddo, it can wait till tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow, yes sir ... see you tomorrow ... I gotta sleep now ... I love you, sir ...”

His eyes closed and he was fast asleep in seconds.  Grady bent down and kissed his cheek, then rang the call button.  A nurse came right away and Grady said excitedly, “He woke up. Just for a few seconds, but he spoke.  I don’t think he knew where he was, but he recognized me.  He said he was tired and he’d see me tomorrow.”

“That’s an excellent sign, Grady,” the nurse smiled.  “I’ll get the doctor.”

In a few minutes Chad came in.  “So, nurse tells me Brian woke briefly, and even spoke.  

“Yes, doc, he was kinda vague but he knew me, said he’d see me tomorrow and that he loved me.  He said he was sleepy and his head ached, and he fell asleep again.”

“Let me take a look.”  Chad pulled back Brian’s eyelid and shone a light in his eye. Then he held his wrist, taking his pulse.  “His pulse is slightly elevated, that’s a good thing.  I’ve seen it in patients before, a sign they are capable of awareness and on the mend. However, he is now asleep at the same level he was before and he’s likely to remain that way, which is what I want. 

“He told you he had a headache, which is why his mind has taken refuge in sleep.  As I said before, a light coma is the brain’s protection against pain. I don’t think he’ll wake again anytime soon, and even then only for a few seconds.  Soon I’m going to take him down to Intensive Care where we can monitor him continuously. And at that time I’m sending you home, Grady

“You can come back tomorrow morning for a few hours, then I suggest you go back to work.”

“I don’t give a shit about work, Chad, I just want my boy back.”

“Well, you can talk about that with Mario and Bob.  I’ll have someone call them to come and pick you up.  My staff will help you leave discreetly, as there are still a few reporters hanging around.”  As he left he squeezed Grady’s shoulders.  “Signs are good, old buddy.  Keep that famous square chin up.”

Soon the nurses came and wheeled Brian away.  Grady accompanied them as far as the elevator, and said a quiet, “See you tomorrow, kiddo,” as the elevator doors closed.     

He suddenly felt dizzy, trying to focus on things other than his boy, which he had been doing for hours.  He was relieved to see Mario and Bob walking towards him.

Grady said eagerly, “He woke up, guys.  Only for a few seconds, but before he fell asleep again he said he loved me.”

“That’s great news, amico, and of course he loves you. Now it’s your turn for a good night’s sleep.  Here, I brought your baseball cap.  Pull it down low.  We’re taking the freight elevator down to the loading dock where Bob parked the car.  Paparazzi are the last thing we want.”

“Guys, do you know how unimportant all that celebrity stuff is right now?  I’d give it all up if that’s what it took for my boy to get well.”

Bob smiled, “You won’t have to do that, Grady, because Brian is going to get well all on his own, you’ll see.” 

<><>    Blame    <><>

When they reached the Grady House Danny and Tommy had food and drinks set up for them on a table by the pool.  Grady seemed to be in a daze and Mario had to steer him to the table.   “Grady, you’ve hardly eaten anything all day, nor had any rest.  Now you have to have both.  You eat now, have a drink, and then I’ll take you to bed.

Grady was too disoriented to object, but he did manage a weak smile to Danny and Tommy.  “Thanks, guys, for everything you’ve done to support us.  Brian would thank you too ...”  His mind drifted off again to the hospital bed but Mario jerked him back again.

“Also, Grady, Bob and Randy have agreed to spend the night here, so there are six of us altogether.  I thought that would be better than the two of us kicking around an empty house.”

Grady smiled over at Bob and clutched his hand.  Randy appeared from round the corner of the house and joined them.  “Hey Grady, how’s he doing?”

“He woke up for a few seconds, Randy, and murmured something about his gossip notebook.  He was pretty much out of it, but he recognized me and told me he loved me before going back into that deep sleep.  Chad said it was a good sign.”  He looked at the hammer Randy had been holding.  “Randy, what have you been doing?”

“Been fixing that damn ramp, making it safe.  I know, it’s like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, but I gotta try and make amends somehow for causing all this.  If I hadn’t left the job unfinished ...”

“Randy,” Mario interrupted, “we’ve been through all that and it’s not your fault.  Please stop blaming yourself.”

“It’s true, sir,” Danny said.  “I know you warned Brian not to use the ramp until you made it safe with guardrails.  I blame myself for not warning Brian when he said he was eager to use the ramp to avoid the elevator.  And eventually he went anyway.”

Suddenly Grady’s daze seemed to clear and his eyes flashed.  “Stop it, all of you.  Next you’ll be blaming Brian.  This was not the kid’s fault, absolutely not.  It was an accident and now he’s ...” He choked up and gulped.  

“So for god’s sake stop trying to pin the blame on someone. It’s nobody’s fault, it was an accident.  And anyway, what the fuck does it matter who’s to blame?  That kid is right now lying in Intensive Care in a deep sleep, fighting to come back to us.  That’s what we should all be focused on ... that sweet kid and how we can help him recover.  Nothing else is important. Not any of us, only him.”

He lapsed into a sullen silence and there were guilty looks all round.  Then he mumbled, “Sorry, guys, I shouldn’t have sounded off like that.  It’s just that I’m so worried about ...”

“Grady we all understand that, and the strain you’re under,” Mario said.  “And I’m going to take you upstairs now and take care of you.  Danny, could you put some food on a tray and leave it outside our bedroom door in case Grady gets hungry.”

“Of course, Mario, no problem.  They stood up and Grady said, “Sorry, guys ... see you in the morning.  And thanks for everything.”

They watched them go back to the house, leaving behind them four guys with a mix of sorrow, concern, inadequacy and even a sense of guilt after Grady’s little speech.

Bob said, “OK, guys, let’s eat.  All Grady needs now is Mario.  He’ll know how to take care of him – he’s been doing it for years.”

<><>    The Balm of Love    <><>

After they closed their bedroom door behind them, Mario and Grady folded their arms round each and stood locked in a tight, timeless embrace.  When at last they reluctantly pulled apart Grady said, “Did I make a fool of myself down there, buddy?”

“Of course not, Grady.  Let us be clear about something, amore.  We are all in this together, each of us doing what we can ... you more than anyone.  And as you said earlier, our whole focus has to be on Brian.  Nobody is to blame for anything, nobody has to apologize for anything, we’re all supporting each other.  Our friends are a great bunch of guys, we couldn’t have better backup than them.

“And Grady, you always have me – always and ever.  And now I’m going to take you to bed.”

Grady managed a smile and kissed him.  Mario pulled Grady’s T-shirt off over his head, then unlaced his boardshorts and let them drop.  Grady stood there naked watching Mario undress.  He unbuttoned his loose linen shirt and shrugged it off.  He slid his feet out of his slider sandals, untied the drawstring of his lounger pants and they dropped to the floor.”

Grady said, “You are so beautiful, Mario.  I love you so much and I need to be close to you.  Dude, would you make love to me?”

Mario smiled, “Grady, that’s a question you never need to ask.  Come to bed.”

They lay together naked, kissing tenderly, touching, stroking.  “Feel better, amore?

“Much better.  It’s been a really tough day ... I keep thinking of that kid ....”  Mario stopped him again with a kiss, then Grady smiled into Mario’s soft brown eyes.  “You know what would really make me feel better, take my mind off things ...”

“Of course I do.  All you have to do is lie there and look beautiful, which for you comes easily. I’ll do the rest.”

Gazing up at the handsome Italian, Grady gave his world-famous smile, the first real smile all day.  Ciao, bambino,” Mario said, “that’s the man I love.” 

Grady pulled his legs back and Mario’s cock slid in easily.  Grady smiled as if his cares had been lifted from him, which they had, at least for now.  And so they made love, kissing, fondling, as Mario’s cock eased in and out of him.  Mario knew that this was the only way to ease his lover’s tension, and he was ready to continue for as long as Grady needed it.

It was so long that they lost track of time.  It felt as if they were under a spell, as spell that would be broken as soon as their climax came.  That was when Grady looked up at Mario and said plaintively, “He is gonna be OK, isn’t he, Mario?”

“Of course he is, amore.  He told you he loves you, and that will wake him up when he’s ready.  Because he knows you need him.”

With that, Grady relaxed.  “Make me cum, dude.  I’m ready ...”  Mario bent down and kissed him, then thrust deep and ... “aaahh?’ ... their juices flowed together.”

Mario pulled out and lay on top of him, sliding on the cum Grady had splashed over his body.  When eventually they lay side by side Grady said, “Dude, have I been over-reacting to all this?”

“Assolutamente no, amore!  You love Brian, he means the world to you, and it’s natural to feel pain and sorrow as deeply as you do.  Of course,” Mario smiled, “all you actors tend to feel emotions more sharply than us mere mortals.

“But Grady, I have one suggestion that I want you to think about.  Making love has helped take your mind off the situation and ... and I think work would too.  Tomorrow your call time is two-pm, and you have only one scene, that requires no lines and no heavy action.  I feel it would be good for you to take a break from your vigil, let Eric drive you to work at the beach, then back to the hospital.  You would only be gone for a few hours.”

Grady tensed, but Mario said, “No, don’t answer now.  Just keep my idea in the back of your mind.  Right now I want you to focus on me, on us, and fall asleep in my arms.”

Grady nestled against him.  “I have to take care of you too, Mario.  I know you’ve shouldered most of the burden, it must have been a rough day.”

“But Danny and Bob have been an enormous help.  Bob has that calm authoritative way about him, he’s like a rock.  Now he has his hands full with poor Randy who, typically, wants to blame himself and take all the responsibility as he always does with the boys.”

“Ah, Bob can handle him ... like you handle me, dude, and you know how I love to be handled,” 

“There’s one other thing that puzzles me, Grady.  People often say to friends who are hurting, ‘Don’t bottle it up, let it all out.  You’ll feel better if you have a good cry’.  But what surprises me is that you haven’t shed a single tear yet, have you?”

“No, and I’m not going to.  I have to be strong, for Brian.  And if I’m afraid that if I cry I’ll fall apart and won’t be able to stop.  So sure, I can bottle it up ... it’s a coping mechanism.  You won’t see tears rolling down my cheeks, buddy.

Mario smiled, folded his arm over Grady’s chest and at long last he fell asleep.

<><>    A Primitive Concept    <><>

In the main guestroom next door, as Grady had predicted, Bob was ‘handling’ Randy.  He knew that Randy’s feelings of guilt were really a feature of his inability to take charge and overcome a crisis that had flared up today.  He couldn’t see past his failure to complete construction on the ramp that had led to Brian’s accident.

As they lay in bed naked, he said to Bob, “Dude, I know what Grady said was true, that our focus now should be on the boy, not on ourselves.  But you know me, dude ...”

“I should after all these years, Randy.  So let me cut to the chase here.  You feel guilty for causing Brian’s accident, and if a man is guilty of hurting a boy he has to be punished.  And the best way to do that is to get his ass ploughed.  Something of a primitive concept, but there it is.”

“Well I am primitive, dude.”  Randy got up and knelt on the bed on all fours.  To Randy, getting butt-fucked doggy style was the most degrading position for an alpha stud like himself.  And he was deliberately facing the mirror at the head of the bed so he could watch his own humiliation.

Bob sighed.  “OK, Randy, if this is what it takes to put this thing to rest, here goes.”  Kneeling behind Randy Bob had to admit that seeing the naked gypsy on hands and knees begging to get fucked could not fail to rouse him.  He spat on his rigid cock and drove it hard in his ass.  Randy grunted and stared at the mirror image of himself doing penance for hurting a boy.  

Bob banged away but, apart from sexual arousal, took no pleasure in performing such an act of so-called revenge on behalf of Grady’s boy while the kid lay unresponsive in a hospital bed.   It was so distasteful to him that he yelled “No!” and pulled out.

“Randy, I can’t do this, it doesn’t feel right.”  He flipped Randy over on his back.  “Dude, we’ve all had a very rough day especially poor Grady, who I’ve watched trying to be so brave he won’t even allow himself to shed a tear.  Now he needs love and strength from his lover ... and that’s what I need from you, Randy – your strength and guidance to help me though this.  Most of all, I need your love.  I need you to make love to me, Randy ... please.”

Randy got up on his knees to face Bob and his steely blue eyes softened.  “Damn, I am such a selfish prick.  I’m sorry man.  It’s what everyone needs right now ... to make love.”

He flipped Bob gently on his back and smiled down at him.  You’re right, buddy, this does feel better ... feels right.  He pushed Bob’s legs back and pressed his huge cock against his ass.  There was no driving force, just a gentle pressure as Randy’s cock entered him and he saw a smile come to Bob’s handsome square-cut features ... and they made love.

“Feel better, dude?” Randy asked, just as Mario had asked Grady in the next room.  And, like them, Randy poured semen in his lover as Bob shot juice over himself.  And they too ended in each other’s arms, and slept.

A trauma like this one always roused strong emotions in this volatile group of men, but in the end the bedrock of the tribe was love.  As he fell asleep Bob hoped that in some way, the powerful wave of love, with its healing powers, would reach as far as a sweet kid lying alone and in a deep sleep.

<><>    Doc Chad Persuades Grady    <><>

Next morning Grady woke early with only one thought in mind.   Mario persuaded him to eat some of the breakfast Danny had prepared, but soon Danny and Tommy were wishing him luck as he got in Mario’s car.  “When you talk to Brian, sir, tell him we’re rooting for him.” 

“At the hospital they did their quick back-door dash and a nurse took them straight to Brian’s room.  They found him lying exactly the same as they had left him.  Grady suppressed his disappointment and sat by the bed.  “Hey kiddo, I told you I’d be back.  A bit more color in your cheeks I think.  Let me tell you about last night ...”

“In a while Doc Chad came in and Mario said, “You been working all night, Chad?”

“Yeah, the night shift.  A couple of minor emergency surgeries, but mostly keeping an eye on our boy here.  Vital signs are still good, brain activity slightly elevated, but I think it’ll be a while before he really comes out of this mild coma.  Early this afternoon we’ll do the MRI to check out that spot I saw, though, as I said, it’s most likely nothing serious.  Are you going to work later, Grady?  I’m told you have a two-pm call.”

“Depends,” Grady muttered non-committally, focused only on Brian.  Mario and Chad exchanged glances, and Mario said, “Chad, once again we can’t thank you enough for all the personal attention you’ve given Brian ... and all night too.”

“All in a day’s work, buddy.”

“We both know that’s not true, Chad, but thanks for saying it.  Soon I have to go back to the house and take care of all the stuff there, but I’ll have Grady’s driver Eric come here to wait and see when, and if, Grady’s ready to leave.”

Mario soon left, and Grady spent the rest of the morning by Brian’s bedside, talking and laughing – and hoping it was not just to himself.  But the vigil inevitably took its toll, as Chad could see every time he looked in.  Eventually, around noon, Chad sat down and said, “Grady in a short while I’m going to take Brian down to the imaging suite for his MRI.  With all the prep and the procedure itself, he’ll be gone from his room for several hours. 

“Grady, I can tell you’re emotionally exhausted and that concerns me.  I think now would be a good time to take a break.  Work would help take your mind off this and ease your tension and you’d be refreshed for when you come back. Mario tells me you have only one scene, and you have that limo on call, so you could be back with Brian in a few hours.”

Grady hesitated and Chad hastened to add, “Of course, I would let you know the minute there’s any change.  Mario gave me Jamie’s number at the beach and I’ll stay in touch with him as he’s not involved in your scene.  I strongly suggest it, Grady.  How about it?”

“OK, doc,” Grady said reluctantly.  “It’s true the scene needs no rehearsal or blocking, it’s basically me standing alone on the beach, what they call internal monologue.  It’s a tough scene, scares me to death, but I guess that’s what I need right now.  OK, you win.  I’ll call Eric.”

<><>    One For The Records    <><>

A little over an hour later the limo was pulling up at the beach location.  “Here we are, dude,” Eric said. “Good luck with the scene, buddy – you can do it. You could read the phone book and make it sound sexy.  And the minute you wrap I’ll be here to whisk you back to the hospital.”

“Thanks buddy.  The studio should give you a medal ... better yet, a raise.”

People came up to the car to take Grady to hair, makeup and wardrobe.  Soon, barefoot and shirtless in the new red shorts wardrobe had supplied, Grady reported to the director, Andy.  “Dude” the director smiled, “that’s a relief.  We heard about your trouble and I was told it was touch and go you’d make it here at all.  It should be a quick scene, just you, no rehearsal, no blocking, and hopefully one take.

“Right, you know the setup, but I’ll go over it again.  It concerns Hunter’s girlfriend who was crazy about him and wanted a steady relationship with him.  But Hunter’s loyalties are all to his job, and you’ve already shot the scene when Hunter rejects her, basically gives her the brushoff. 

“Now this scene picks that up days later – and tragically.  Everyone except Hunter knows that the girl has gone missing, presumed drowned, the implication being that it was deliberate, out of despair at Hunter’s rejection.”

“We already shot the bit where one of the lifeguards comes up to Hunter on the beach and gives him the news.  Stunned, he asks to be left alone.  And that’s where this scene opens.  I’ve chosen a crane shot, an aerial shot of Hunter standing alone on the beach gazing out to sea.

“From up high the camera swoops in and we cut to a steadicam shot from behind Hunter focused on his back.  The camera moves slowly round to face him and pans in slowly for a full closeup of Hunter’s face ... and his reaction to the terrible news. 

“From that point on, it’s up to you, dude.  It’s the kind of scene I can’t give you much direction, except that Hunter is a strong, stoic lifeguard captain who never gives in to grief.  He’s always in control.   But now, the news is shattering.  So it’s all on you, buddy.  Take your time, no pressure and we’ll see what happens.  Any questions?”

“No thanks, Andy.  Let’s just go ... let’s shoot it.”

Grady went down to the water’s edge and stood staring out to sea.  He heard the director shout, “Quiet please, everyone.  Total silence.  Ready?  And ... action. “

The crane camera focused on the distant, lonely figure of Hunter, then swooped slowly down to ground level.  Behind him the steadicam operator took over, camera on his shoulder.  He walked slowly round him and stood at the water’s edge facing him a short distance away.  The camera’s focus zoomed slowly in on Grady’s face for an extreme closeup.

This was it.  Grady knew all the tricks – concentrate on the moment, think of the last time you saw the girl, picture her face ... and now this news ...

But he couldn’t do it.  His mind was elsewhere, on a hospital bed, and on a sleeping boy he loved.  His boy was always so lively, Grady recalled the giggle, the big round eyes blinking behind his owl glasses.  It was unbearable to think that he ...

His expression was impassive ... a single tear welled in one eye and rolled slowly down his cheeks.  He wanted to touch Brian, help him, kiss him, but he ....  Tears rolled from both eyes now, and the emotion he had held in check for so long brimmed over at long last. 

He saw the boy’s eager face so clearly, heard him laugh that silvery laugh.  He saw him in his wheelchair racing joyfully toward him waving his gossip notebook.  He longed to pull him into bed with him as he had done so often, and feel him press lovingly against him.

Grady’s handsome, chiseled features, so strong, now crumpled, his square jaw quivered, and the sobs began.  He lost all control, lost sight of where he was ... he was in his bed with Brian laughing, then in the hospital room crying over the same boy who would not wake up. The sobs deepened, his chest heaved ... and he couldn’t stop crying.”

The director and crew were watching monitors in stunned silence.  They had never seen Grady like this.  The director said softly, “Keep rolling, don’t stop.  This is pure gold.”

Grady’s face was twisted in grief, wet with tears, his body racked with uncontrollable sobs.  He needed Brian, he was his boy, his sweet, sweet kid. The thought of losing him was ... “aaagh ...” He raised his head, opened his mouth wide and uttered the howl of a wounded animal, the sound of unbearable grief.

His misery continued unabated, the pain, the unending sobs ... until at last, emotionally drained, he was bereft of feeling. His heaving breaths subsided, the tears lessened and he made a visible effort to get control.

He gulped back the last of the sobs, wiped the back of his hand across his face and gazed blankly out to sea, the lifeguard’s handsome features stoic again, jaw clenched.  He stood perfectly still, and from somewhere behind him he heard, “Cut!” 

He became aware of the makeup girl, whom he liked a lot, come up to him with tears running down her face.  She mopped Grady’s face, then her own.  “Grady, that was ... you were ...” 

She flung her arms round him and Grady heard the first cheers.  He kissed the girl in the cheek and turned round to a startling sight.  The crew were all on their feet, wiping tears from their faces, then clapping and cheering, a standing ovation. 

Not quite sure what had happened, what was happening, Grady needed only one thing – to be with his boy.  As he stumbled up the beach the director confronted him and shook his hand.  “Un-fucking-believable, dude, pure magic.  One of those times where you don’t know where it came from.  It’s the beauty of what we do.  OK, that’s a wrap, Grady, you’re free to go.  See you at the Oscars, buddy.”

Grady continued up the beach toward the limo, the crew crowding round, clapping him on the back, shaking his hand.  Suddenly Jamie came running up to him, holding his phone. “It’s Doc Chad, Grady.  He needs to speak to you.”

Grady’s blood ran cold, his hand trembled as he took the phone.  “Hi, doc.  What is it?  Just give it to me straight, Chad.”

“OK, here it is ... He woke up, Grady.  Your boy woke up.  Not only woke up but fully alert, and his first words were asking for you.  And by the way, his MRI was clear, no problems.  I’m with him now and he wants to speak to you.  Only a few seconds, though, I want him to rest.”

Grady heard his boy’s voice, still a bit dreamy.  “Hello, sir, where are you?  I was looking for you, I have so much to tell you.”

“And I you, kiddo.  Hang in there, tiger, I’m coming right now. Half an hour, tops.”

Chad got back on the phone, said goodbye and the call ended.  Grady was at the limo now and beamed, “Eric, my boy’s awake, he’s asking for me.”

“Have you there in a flash buddy, I know all the shortcuts.  Amazing scene that, Grady.  One for the record books.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

TO BE CONTINUED IN “A Trial Of Strength – Book 13: Chapter 41