An Unexpected Turn

Aftermath

Suddenly, someone yelled, “Let go of me you bastards”! It was Julie. Mike hadn’t realized, when he stepped up to protect little Ben, Julie was left vulnerable. Two of the guys were holding her and bringing her forward. George grinned and said, “This gal’s wedding plans are going down in flames”. Mike yelled out “Leave her alone asshole!” and sprang forward. A sudden look of shock came across his face then he turned white and collapsed onto the ground, blood began staining the back of his shirt. He’d been stabbed. Julie screamed, “Oh my god! Mike”! Steve stepped forward shouting, “Mike”! George yelled, “Stop right there, hero”! Then he pulled something out of his pocket and said, “Time for the fireworks guys”. They watched as George pushed a button on the device he was holding.

George’s expression changed to one of confusion. He pressed the button twice more and said, “What the fuck is wrong with this thing”? Then a sound behind them of someone crashing into the ground. When they turned to see what the source of the sound was, they found one of the thugs laying on the ground knocked out with someone standing near him. The guy said, “There’s nothing wrong with your device dick head! I pulled all the wires from your shit. Nice to finally meet you face to face Ian. Glad you invited me to the party”. Ian smiled and said, “I’m glad you came Jason. We could use a hand”. Jason Mamoa grinned and said, “It will be my pleasure”. George reached into his pocket and pulled a pistol out, but before he had a chance to use it, it went flying off into the water. Steve had kicked it free. George hit the ground and was out before he knew what hit him. An arm was heard cracking as a crowbar flew threw the air hitting the ground. The guy who had wielded it dropped to the ground screaming in pain. Steve was moving in a blur. Jason Mamoa was attacking from the other side using Jiu Jitsu. Ian was blocking blows and dropping guys to the ground next to Steve. Though not trained fighters, the others joined in. Their attackers were confused by the onslaught. It happened so fast that half of them were down in the first thirty seconds instantly evening the numbers. The others, out of shape and not expecting to actually have to fight went down quickly. It was over within fifteen minutes.

Other than some bruised ribs, bloody noses, and black eyes, the only one that seemed to be hurt badly was Mike. Steve quickly went over where Melissa, Julie and Melissa’s father, Ben were attending to Mike. Steve asked, “How is he”? Melissa was holding Ben’s shirt on Mike’s wound. It was soaked in blood. Julie was crying, “Mike, hold on please. Help is on the way”. Mike was still conscious and said, “I’m cold. I think I’m going to…”. He never completed the sentence. Julie yelled, “Mike! No”! Steve bent down and checked his breathing and heartbeat and said, “He just passed out. He’s still alive but he’s losing blood pretty fast”. The elder Ben said, “An ambulance is on its way”. Sirens were getting closer and soon police cars were pulling up with an ambulance right behind. As the police approached, George began to regain consciousness. As he opened his eyes, he saw little Ben standing there with Tony and Scott. Little Ben looked at him grinning and said, “I told you they’d show you”. The police then came over and said to little Ben, “Thank you son, if you don’t mind, we’ll take it from here”. They then rolled George onto his back and handcuffed him. It took three vans, a couple ambulances, and a few police cars to load up the group. Steve gave them a statement and indicated the direction in which the pistol went. The elder Ben, David and Melissa filled in the beginning while Julie went with Mike in the ambulance to the hospital. Apparently, the guys were wandering around on the pier after having already planted the explosives underneath. When Julie confronted them and told them they needed to leave, George had them surrounded and they were threatened with being beaten.

Steve looked around for Ian and found him talking and laughing with Jason Mamoa. He walked over and Ian said, “Jason, this is Steve”. Steve shook his hand and said, “Pleasure to meet you Mr. Mamoa”. Jason smiled and said, “The pleasure is mine and it’s Jason. Those were some pretty good moves Steve. Maybe you can show me some of them sometime”. Steve grinned and said, “That Jiu Jitsu of yours is pretty awesome as well. Brazilian? Maybe we can compare notes”. Then Jason looked to Ian and said, “This guy was putting on his own one-man show. The little hulk was smashing”. Ian grinned as he blushed.

The rest of the group came over and Scott, looking worried, asked, “How bad is Mike injured”? Steve said, “I’m not really sure. He’s lost a lot of blood and we don’t know what was damaged internally”. Tony put his arm around Scott and said, “Mike’s pretty tough. If anyone can pull through this, he can.”. Tony then noticed Scott had jerked away slightly when he had grabbed his shoulder and asked, “Scott, you’re hurt”? Scott said, “I’ll be ok. I got caught off guard and one of those assholes hit me in the arm with a bat”. Tony said, “Let’s get you to the hospital to get it looked at”. Scott said, “I’ll be fine Tony, but we need to go check on how Mike’s doing”. Tony smiled and said, “Fine! We’ll check on Mike and then get you checked afterward”. It seemed to take forever for the caravan of vehicles to get to the hospital. They found Julie in the waiting room in tears. Tony and Scott sat down on either side of her trying to console her.

Steve and Ian went to see if they could find anything out. The nurse’s station said they couldn’t discuss Mike’s condition due to HIPPA. Ian then saw Dr. Green and made a beeline to him. Dr. Green gave them the same spiel about HIPPA but said he’d see what he could find out.

Back at the waiting room, the door swung open violently and in walked Tom Bradford, Mike’s dad. He saw Julie, Tony and Scott and walked over to them. He was red-faced as he said, “I tried telling Mike not to have anything to do with those two queers. Nothing but trouble can come from that kind of behavior”! The whole waiting room tensed up, but before anyone else could say anything, Julie jumped up and slapped Tom, then berated him, “Mike was stabbed by someone with the same hate-filled heart that you’re displaying right now Mr. Bradford, and he was stabbed trying to save me! Sexual orientation had nothing to do with this! Hate-filled hearts had everything to do with this! The only difference between those thugs and you, Mr. Bradford is that they had crow bars, bats and even guns with them instead of just the vitriol you spout! You are far more guilty of what happened to Mike as any of those who were attacked”! As Julie finished, she collapsed back down on the chair crying. Tony and Scott consoled her and gave Tom an accusing look. Tom was at a loss for words. Julie, his son’s girlfriend, sweet Julie had just slapped him, hard. The handprint was still on his face. He had somehow expected more.. sympathy? Suddenly Tom felt a presence next to him, a big presence. He looked and found Jason standing in front of him. Tom realized who it was standing there and said, “You’re Jason Mamoa”. Jason grinned and said, “Yeah, I know that. Do you know that your son did something heroic today, twice? It takes a lot of guts to stand up against incredible odds and yet he didn’t flinch. On the other hand, the people who seem to hold the same hatred that seems to infect your own soul hid behind children and women to conduct their heinous actions. The actions of cowards. So, Mr. Bradford, who do you stand for, true heroes or hateful cowards”? Tom turned bright red and stormed out of the waiting room.

Tom went to the operating room area and tried looking in the window but was turned away. He sat down on a bench in the hallway. He couldn’t understand why people were so sympathetic to the homosexuals. They were doing things against God’s laws. He couldn’t understand it. Someone sat down beside him. After a few minutes, the person said, “It is written, ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you’. Is that the path you follow? Would you wish others to hate you for the life’s choices that you make or the loves which happen regardless of your choices. Did you know that there are instances in nature of animals being homosexual”? The man then got up and walked away. Tom didn’t feel brave enough to look him in the eye, but when he did look up, there was no one there. Then a doctor walked into the hall and Tom thought he would walk on by, but he stopped and sat down next to Tom. The doctor inhaled deeply and said, “I’m deeply saddened by what happened to your son. What he did both to protect a child, and to protect his girlfriend was brave, even heroic considering the odds against him. Tom, your son showed some true heroism today. Now, let me be clear, I’ve known Steve and Ian for a few years. They’re two of the most brave people I’ve ever met. They didn’t earn their reputation by any Hollywood antics, but by their own integrity. They don’t do things for recognition, quite the contrary, they’d rather not have any focus on them. They’re just trying to live their lives in obscurity and love. Life just keeps on interrupting that, and they can’t say no to helping others, no matter what risks it poses to them. If there’s anything that Steve and Ian are spreading, it’s their selflessness, not their sexual orientation. That’s the same thing that your son showed today. Feel proud of him for that and not hatred for others. That’s something some don’t understand, that there are people out there that are actually like that, unselfish, selfless. Maybe someday you might come to understand that Tom”. Then the doctor got up and walked away.

At first Tom thought everyone was ganging up on him but after thinking about what they had to say, he felt bad about his last encounter with his son. He had told him what to do because of what he believed. His son was now an adult, and he should have at the least allowed some discussion with him. Instead, he demanded he take his own position and pushed him away. Now he may not have the chance to tell him he regrets that. He believed everything he’d watched on his favorite cable news show. After all, it was fair and balanced. At least that’s what they advertised and deep down he wanted to believe it. The country was turning browner and more liberal. Homosexuality was becoming ok, and he couldn’t wrap his head around that. It disgusted him. How had his son changed so much? He had figured that those two guys, Steve and Ian had somehow used the rescue to influence them, indoctrinate them. They were the true culprits he had thought, but after hearing several ‘people’ praising them, should he reconsider? Should he talk to them even though he disagreed with their ‘choices’?

Another person sat down next to Tom. He didn’t even turn to look at them as he was still trying to process everything going through his head. “Mr. Bradford, I’ve known Mike and you for most of my life. He’s one of my two best friends. I have to be honest with you though. You may not like me after this, and it doesn’t matter to me now. What matters is Mike. I came out to Mike a few months ago and he didn’t take it very well, but when things got real and our friends were in danger, he showed his true friendship regardless of his views. Please don’t judge him because he wants to continue to be my friend even though he knows I’m gay. Another person sat down near them and said, “We’re gay Mr. Bradford. No one indoctrinated us and we didn’t choose to be. Please research the available data. Either way, our friend is being operated on to save his life because he chose to do what’s right, and we need to stay focused on what’s important, supporting him”. Tom sat, unable to look into the eyes of the two friends Mike grew up with. They had just confessed they were gay, another gut wrenching revelation.

Suddenly there was commotion from the operating room and people were rushing in. Tom stood up and asked, “What’s going on? What’s happening? I’m his father! I want to know what’s going on”! A nurse approached him and asked if she could talk to him in a private room. Tom looked at her and realized it must be something serious. He nodded and followed her. Tony and Scott sat there with their arms around each other, praying for the best, but silently preparing for the worst. Could they be losing their best friend? Tears rolled down Scott’s eyes and Tony held him tighter, though avoiding his shoulder.

When Steve and Ian returned to the waiting room, they found a very somber crowd. The room was packed. The Boscolas, O’Sheas, and Smiths were there as well as Greg and Catherine Janson. Jason approached them and said he needed to go but wanted assurance that they would keep him up to date on Mike’s situation. They assured him they would. In return, they wanted his assurance that he would be at their wedding. He said he’d have crashed it if he wasn’t invited. Tony and Scott had already informed the others of the sudden rush of people into the operating room where Mike was. They then updated Steve and Ian. Tears began running down Ian’s cheeks as he said, “How can people hate so much that they can do something so evil”. Steve put his arm around Ian and said, “I don’t know the answer to that, all we can do about it is counter it with love and good deeds”.

The police were developing a list of charges, federal, state and local which ranged from trespassing to attempted murder. They were all denied bail, at least for the immediate future as the government was deciding on adding hate crimes charges as well as terrorism for the explosives. They had recovered the gun and the fingerprints on the knife clearly identified the attacker who had stabbed Mike. They were all in deep trouble, but a few of them were looking at decades in prison. The only shoe left to drop was whether there would be a murder charge.

The phone rang just as James Jackson was getting ready to head to the studio. He picked up his cell phone and said, “What’s up? I’m about to head into the studio. Can’t it wait”. His Program Editor on the other end said, “Afraid not. Have you seen the news on the local stations”? James replied, “I don’t watch the news, I make it”. The Editor said, “I’m hoping you’re wrong in this case. A few of the people you’ve had on your show have been arrested for attempted murder, aggravated assault and potentially hate crimes and terrorism. They attacked a group of people and were attempting to blow up a pier the Army Corps of Engineers had just rebuilt and sold to a private entity”. “Oh fuck! I mean, what does this have to do with me? They were on one of my shows, so what? They don’t have any connection to me”, James said. The Editor caught the initial reaction, but replied, “I’m just giving you a heads-up on this before you arrive because there are a lot of competitors outside waiting for your arrival”. There was a pause before James replied, “Fuck them! When I get there, I’m not answering a single question. We won’t have anything on the show about it either. Got that”? The Editor reluctantly replied, “You’re the boss”.

After settling Ian down, Steve went to find Dr. Green to see if he’d heard and could give him any news. Unfortunately, Dr. Green was in surgery for an emergency. On his way back to the waiting room, Steve saw a pale Tom Bradford sitting on a bench seat alone, looking both in shock and defeated. Steve stopped next to him and then asked, “Would you mind if I sat next to you Mr. Bradford”? Tom Bradford didn’t respond. He just looked straight forward without changing his expression. Steve decided to sit down regardless. After he sat down, Steve said, “The night I came upon their car and found the four of them inside, your son Mike was more concerned about helping Julie and getting Tony and Scott to safety even though he was in severe pain himself. He’s an extraordinary and caring person Mr. Bradford and you raised him to be that person. You can be proud of that. I haven’t known Mike for long, but I found out he was one of the volunteers who were going into the collapsed side of the mountain to search for Ian and me when we were buried under it. Even though I’ve known him for such a short time, I consider Mike a dear and close friend. If there is anything I can do for you or Mike, just ask. I don’t care if your religious beliefs are in opposition with my impending marriage with Ian, we can deal with that at another time. Right now, the focus should be about Mike and his health, and we should concentrate on that right now. I hope we can agree on that.

Tom Bradford continued to stare straight forward as he said, “I told him he wasn’t allowed to attend your wedding. I don’t believe in that kind of thing. It was hard raising Mike as a single parent while working a full-time job. The Boscolas and O’Sheas were a tremendous help. I tried to instill in Mike a strong belief in right and wrong and to stand up for his convictions. Mike did exactly that and I was too stubborn to realize it. I wish I could tell him that now”, and then Tom turned toward Steve as tears were running down his cheeks. Steve reached his hand out and squeezed Tom’s arm and suddenly, Tom embraced him in a hug and began crying profusely as Steve comforted him, saying, “I’m sure he knows that you love him Mr. Bradford”. In between sobs, Mr. Bradford said, “I just want him to make it out of the coma they induced”. The realization of what Mr. Bradford just said sank in. Steve then replied, “We all hope for that. Your son is strong. I’m sure he’ll fight as hard as he can to come back to us”. As Tom Bradford sat back up, he looked at Steve and said, “Thank you Steve, and please, call me Tom”. Steve smiled and nodded, and replied, “Ok, Tom”.

Tony was about to come out to talk with someone at the nurse’s desk when he saw Tom and Steve embracing through the window in the door. He waved Scott and Julie over to look. Ian came over as well. They all looked on in awe. Ian asked, “Did hell just freeze over”? Scott drew a different perspective and said, “I hope this doesn’t mean Mike’s situation got worse”. Julie said, “Mike’s still alive. That much I’m sure of and that’s all that matters”. As Scott, Julie and Ian backed away from the window, Tony called over to his parents, “Dad, mom, come look at this”. As they got up and walked over, the O’Sheas followed. All four smiled as they saw Tom Bradford talking to Steve. Joseph Boscola commented, “Well, I guess global warming is real. I never thought I’d see that iceberg melting”. Jennifer O’Shea said, “Yes, but at what cost. Mike must be in serious trouble if Tom’s heart is thawing”. They then noticed Tom and Steve standing up and walking their way, so they moved back from the door.

Steve Andrews and Tom Bradford entered the waiting room, which by now had filled with Mike’s well-wishers. Steve looked to Tom and Tom nodded back. Steve then said, “Tom has asked me to fill you in on Mike’s current situation. He lost a lot of blood which resulted in some of his organs to begin shutting down. He went into a seizure, and they induced a coma to prevent any more damage. They’re hoping this will allow his body to heal and he will recover more quickly”. Scott asked, “So he’s going to recover, right”? Steve replied, “I’m afraid that’s not guaranteed. Right now, it’s all up to Mike. Keep him in your prayers”. Everyone nodded somberly. Julie burst into tears again and Tom walked over to her and embraced her and said, “Mike’s a strong boy Julie. I’m sure he’ll pull through”, as he prayed that he was right. Julie said, “I’m sorry I slapped you earlier”. Tom smiled and said, “Maybe I had that coming”. Quite a few in the room smiled.

Few had noticed Steve and Ian leaving the room, but they returned a few minutes later and Steve announced, “Because of the situation with Mike, Ian and I thought it would be best to delay the wedding for a few weeks and give Mike time to recover. We’ll put the official word out tomorrow. I hope this doesn’t inconvenience anyone. Julie looked over and said, “I’ll talk to the caterers and the band and let them know. I’m sure they’ll understand. I appreciate what you’re doing and I’m sure Mike would as well”. Tom Bradford said, “I never thought I’d say this about a gay wedding, but I’m sorry you have to delay this because of what happened. I also want to thank you on behalf of my son because I’m sure he wants to be there”. That statement alone brought smiles to everyone in the room. Ian said, “Thank you Mr. Bradford”. “It’s Tom, Mr. O’Connor and soon to be Mr. Andrews-O’Connor”. Everyone laughed and then Ian replied, “It’s Ian, Tom”. More laughter. Then Tom said, “It’s been a long day and it’s getting late. Why don’t you all go home and get some rest and I’ll let you know if anything changes and thank you for everything, especially you, Steve”. Steve shook Tom’s hand and said, “I’m just glad we’re having this conversation and am looking forward to many more and when we have the new wedding date set, you’re invited if you wish to attend”. Tom suddenly and unexpectedly embraced Steve, patted him on the back and then released him, then said to Ian, “You’re marrying a good man Ian”. Ian grinned widely, glanced at Steve and said, “I know”. Tom then said, “I’m not sure I’m ready for something like that yet, but I’ll give it some serious consideration”.

As everyone began filtering out, Tony said to Scott, “You’re not going home yet. We need to get your arm checked out”. Jennifer O’Shea’s eyes widened as she said, “What’s wrong with your arm Scott”? Scott winced in pain as she took it gently and realized how much pain he was in. The O’Sheas escorted Scott with Tony directly to the Emergency desk. When they got him into the room and got his shirt off, it revealed that it was severely bruised from shoulder to elbow. They immediately took him down for x-rays which revealed only a slight crack to his humerus. They put him in a sling to immobilize it and released him.

Mike woke up not knowing where he was. He seemed to be on a mountaintop with a deep valley on either side. It was odd though, that he couldn’t make out any trees. It all seemed shrouded in mist, yet when he focused on one side and looked down, he almost felt like he was falling in that direction, but it was only his vision zooming downward. As it zoomed in, he saw his Jules sitting in her room. She was crying which made Mike sad and he wondered what she was crying about and wished he could comfort her. Suddenly he was in a room he was unfamiliar with. There were two boys there who looked familiar. They were with a man who he didn’t know. They were calling him dad and he was telling them that he needed to go and visit their sister Cindy. They both hugged him and said they missed him very much. He hugged them back and said he missed them as well, but always watches them from afar. Suddenly he was gone and then he was in another room with a familiar girl. She was happy to see the man and hugged him immediately. He told her he was very proud of how she was helping her mother with the boys and other things. Then they were in another room and the guy bent over the bed and kissed a woman on the forehead. It was Catherine and she smiled in her sleep. Then just as quickly, Mike found himself atop the mountain again, but there was someone approaching him from across the ridge. It was the same man. As he approached, the man smiled at Mike and said, “Hello Mike, I’m David. May I sit next to you”? Mike was suddenly surprised that he was sitting in the middle of a park-like bench he hadn’t noticed before. Mike replied, “Sure, but how did you know my name”. The man, David, just smiled and looked in the direction of the other side of the mountain where Mike hadn’t looked yet. Through the mist, he could make out the form of another man walking up the mountain toward them. As the man reached the top, he smiled and said, “Good to see you again David”. Then he turned toward Mike and said, “Hello Mike. My name is Bruce. May I sit next to you as well”? Mike didn’t bother asking Bruce how he knew his name, so he just replied, “Of course”. Bruce sat down and looked straight ahead and said, “Seems like only moments ago that I was telling someone you know to leave this place because they didn’t belong here". David added, “And I was apologizing for putting you both here”. Mike asked, “Someone I know? I’m confused. Are you saying I need to go back? Where is this place? You seem to know each other but you came from opposites sides of the mountain”. David said, “Until that moment, we’d never met before, and I didn’t come from the opposite side of the mountain. I live here, at least for this moment in time. I am privileged though, to be able to visit my children on that side of the mountain as you call it. I can only visit my wife though in her dreams, but that is fine for now”. Bruce then said, “Yes, someone you know, but his case was different. He needed to go back as he has more to do. Your case is different. I don’t know your future and neither does David. We’re just here to let you know that the choice is yours as to whether you return or follow me down the side of the mountain that I came from”. David said, “Strange that your reality is the top of a mountain where your choice is going down one side or the other much like the fence you seemed to sit yourself on before finding yourself here”. Mike thought about what they just said and asked, “Are you saying this is my own reality, that I chose this mountain to be on right now? You’re saying that it’s my choice to return or to follow you, Bruce? Where would that take me”? Bruce smiled and said, “More questions. You remind me of my grandson”. Then David said, “Yes Mike, this is the reality you created for this moment for us to reside in with you. We’re here to help you make the choice, but we can’t tell you which choice to make. That decision is yours”. Mike was more confused than ever, “Bruce, you mentioned your grandson as if I know him. Do I? You said I also know the person you sent back. Is it the same person”. Bruce shook his head and said, “No, they are not the same person, but I’m afraid I can’t tell you more because it may influence your decision”. Mike shook his head, “If you can’t answer my questions, how will you help me to make my decision? You’re saying that I created this reality. Does this mean that I’m dreaming this”? David smiled but Bruce looked at Mike and said, “In a sense, yes, this is a dream, but unlike a dream your choice is real. You either choose to return or you move on. To help you choose, you need to ask the right questions”. Mike thought for a moment and asked, “How do I know what questions to ask? David, you said I chose to be on this mountain between these two valleys, why”? David smiled and said, “Indeed why? What is the fence you seem to be straddling”? Mike thought about what David said and noticed Bruce smiling. Mike’s eyes lit up, “Am I worried about a decision that I may have to make if I return”? Bruce smiled and said, “Now you’re asking the right questions. The answer is right in front of you, Mike. The question is whether or not you’re willing to risk the possibility of hurting someone you love”. Mike nodded. He’d had oral sex with another man and liked it a lot and was afraid he may even enjoy anal sex having been fingered to orgasm. Did that mean he was gay and would never have a life with Julie? David suddenly said, “That is what you fear may happen if you return”. Mike looked at David in shock, “You read my mind”! Bruce chuckled and said, “For the moment, we reside there. We now await your decision”. It weighed on Mike like a ton of bricks. He was afraid that if he returned and completed Julie’s challenge, he may find himself in the difficult position of hurting the one he loved most.

For the next several days, flowers piled up in Mike’s room as visitors had to wait their turn to visit their sleeping friend. Most would talk to him like he was listening and only had his eyes closed. Others would beg him to wake from his coma. Julie would come by immediately from work and stay until she had to go home and sleep. It was the same with Mike’s dad, Tom. Tony and Scott would stop by daily and stay for a few hours hoping one day they would find him awake and smiling. Steve and Ian stopped by every other day, not wanting to take up other’s visiting allotments. On the way home after leaving the hospital on the fifth day of Mike’s coma, Ian asked Steve, “Do you think Mike’s going to make it Steve? This is day five. I’m beginning to worry”. Steve glanced over and said, “Don’t give up hope just yet stud. There’s still time and his vital signs are still ok”. Ian smiled and said, “You’re right Steve. I’m not giving up on him just yet. There’s still hope”.

End of Chapter 59