An Unexpected Turn

Awakening

Friday evening after work, Steve and Ian came to visit Mike and found Julie and Tom in the waiting room. They greeted them and asked if anyone was in Mike’s room visiting. Tom said, “Yes, that guy David. He’s been in every day”. Steve looked to Ian and Ian shrugged. As they entered the room, David glanced over at them. He said, “Hi”, as they approached the bed, then added, “No change. He’s still out of it”. Ian then asked, “How long have you known Mike”? David paused for a minute before answering, “Only since your bachelor party. We ran into each other, and um talked for a bit and kind of hit it off. I don’t have many friends since I’ve been away for so long”. The explanation piqued Steve’s curiosity but he decided not to pry. Instead, he put his hand on Mike’s shoulder and said, “Come on Mike, it’s time to wake up from this. What are you waiting for”? Ian then said, “Steve didn’t save you so you could die on us now. You have more to give Mike”. David then said, “They’re right Mike. You do have more to give and more to explore. You can’t give up so soon in your young life”. Tony and Scott came in a while later.

Tony and Scott’s parents showed up as well, so most everyone else went back to the waiting room to conform to the visiting restrictions. Mike’s father, Tom, told everyone that the doctors can’t do anything more for him and that it’s now up to Mike, much like the case with Steve those many months ago. Fortunately, both Tony and Scott’s moms brought food along because Tom Bradford was staying at the hospital when he didn’t have to work and wasn’t eating properly. His concern was for his son, Mike. They were making sure Tom was ate least eating something.

After arriving home after stopping at a restaurant to eat dinner, Steve and Ian relaxed with a drink while sitting on the sofa. Ian asked, “Steve, you seem to be distracted the past few days, especially after we’ve visited Mike at the hospital. Something’s bothering you. Please tell me”. Steve inhaled deeply, looked at Ian and said, “I keep thinking that if I’d have gone after that George guy right away, maybe Mike wouldn’t be in the situation he’s in right now”. Ian squeezed Steve’s hand and said, “Yeah, and maybe they would have started beating them with those crowbars and baseball bats as soon as you moved toward them and someone might be dead right now. Melissa may have lost the babies. You can’t beat yourself up over this Steve. You did everything you could have. I think you did everything right”. Steve smiled slightly and said, “Maybe you’re right stud and I’m over thinking this. I’m just glad Jason showed up and distracted them enough so we could catch them off guard. He really did show up at the right time. How did he know the explosives were under the pier”? Ian giggled. Steve gave him the eye. Ian tried to stifle his giggle as he told Steve what Jason Mamoa had told him, “Jason showed up after they had already surrounded the others and though it best to circle around. He went down under the pier and was going to climb up from behind and that’s when he noticed the wires and explosives. He decided to pull the wires out of them before climbing up. In the meantime, we had arrived, so he bided his time until everyone was looking toward us”. Steve actually smiled then and said, “I like his thinking. Maybe you’re right Ian. Maybe things had to fall the way they did. I just wish we could have prevented Mike from getting hurt”. Ian squeezed Steve’s hand again and said, “Yeah, me too, but that’s not your fault. That was all on those assholes. I hope they put them away for fifty years”. Steve squeezed Ian’s hand back and said, “Now who’s getting stressed? Let’s get a shower”. Ian grinned and said, “Now you’re talkin’”.

They stripped and entered the shower and let the hot water cascade across their bodies and then Ian began soaping up Steve’s back and shoulders. He slowly massaged them, kneading the muscles, relieving their tension. He finally allowed himself to relax and let Ian’s magic fingers do their work. Soon Steve was totally relaxed with the exception of one muscle which became totally pumped. Ian took notice and turned Steve to face him. They kissed briefly before Ian dropped down and took Steve’s one remaining tense muscle into his mouth. Steve inhaled sharply. They’d been missing this intimacy for awhile as their schedules, the wedding planning and bachelor party took up their time. Steve realized he needed this. Ian realized it as well and he made love to Steve’s shaft. Taking it in as far as possible while swirling his tongue around it. Soon Steve realized he was on the verge of cumming and pulled Ian off of his throbbing cock, “I’m not going to let you do all the work”, he said as he dropped down and took Ian’s cock in his mouth. Ian surrendered his body to Steve as he also seemed to relax for the first time in days. It was precisely what they needed right now. Steve worked a finger into Ian’s tight hole as he worked his mouth on Ian’s precum-leaking cock. Ian leaned back against the shower wall and enjoyed Steve’s ministrations. Soon, though, he too felt ready to unload his seed and pushed Steve back. Steve looked up questioningly. Ian smiled down at him and said, “Let’s take this to the bedroom. I need you inside me Steve and I want to look at you as you fuck me”. Steve stood up and said, “Your wish is my command Stud. Get your ass on the bed”. They wasted no time getting to the bed and Ian was barely dried off before he jumped onto the bed and spread his legs for Steve. Steve grinned and said, “You must need it bad”. Ian looked back at him with fire in his eyes and said, “You know I do, and I need it now”! Steve climbed up between Ian’s legs and began rubbing the tip of his cock against his pucker, teasing it. Ian was inhaling sharply in anticipation, but Steve held back, teasing him, with mischief in his eyes. Ian’s cock was pulsing with want as he looked in Steve’s eyes, pleading, “Stop teasing me and push it in, please”. Steve grinned, and said, “Well, since you said please”, and then slowly pushed inside. The look on Ian’s face spoke, ‘finally’, as Steve entered him. Once he was pressed firmly inside Ian, Steve bent down and kissed him. Ian met the kiss passionately as their tongues battled for dominance. Steve then began slowly pistoning his cock in and out of Ian. They were making love, not fucking. They took it slow, as Steve was going deep, and Ian was enjoying the slow strokes across his prostate. It was a slowly building pleasure with passion showing in their kissing. Ian’s hard cock was rubbing against Steve’s abs as Steve slowly pistoned in and out of Ian’s tight hole. Soon Steve’s abs were coated in Ian’s slick precum which allowed Ian’s cock to glide more smoothly over the hard ribs of muscle. Ian soon became frantic, asking Steve, “Please Steve. Ram me harder! I need to cum”! Steve felt his own orgasm building and began speeding up and driving in harder. Ian responded, “Oh Fuck! Yes! Oh yeah! Fuck me hard Steve”! Suddenly Ian yelled, “Oh fuck!”, and his cum blasted between them, coating their abdomens, chests and even Ian’s face in his cum. Steve could hold back no longer and announced, “I’m going to cum”! Ian said, “Pull out Steve! Cum all over me! I want our cum to combine”! Steve pulled out of Ian just in time as his cock exploded, blasting cum all over Ian’s abs, chest, face and even some landing in his hair. Ian giggled which resulted in one more wad of cum to blast from his cock landing directly in Ian’s mouth. Steve chuckled and said, “That’ll teach you to giggle. Ian swallowed the cum and said, “Yep, I need to do that more often. Steve just shook his head.

As their breathing slowed and they looked into each other’s eyes, smiling, Steve began licking up the cum from Ian and then sharing it with him in kisses, sometimes momentary and sometimes lasting minutes. This went on until there was no more cum to clean up. They kissed for a while longer and then Steve got up and took Ian’s hand as he pulled him from the bed. They returned to the shower, but this time they slowly and methodically massaged any remaining tension from each other as they soaped each other and washed their tensions down the drain. They then climbed back into bed, Steve spooning Ian lovingly. Ian snuggled back into Steve and said, “I needed that. Thanks Steve”. Steve draped his arm over Ian and said, “We both needed that Stud. Thank you for being in my life”.  They then both drifted off into a deep sleep.

Steve awoke and walked out onto the back deck and was puzzled. Instead of the ocean crashing below, he looked down on three figures sitting on a peak between two valleys. They seemed to be sitting in silence, contemplating. Steve recognized them and wanted to talk to them but found himself voiceless. Mike sat between Bruce and David, deciding what to do, deciding his own fate! Steve tried yelling to Mike that he needed to return to them, but no sound came from his voice. Steve recognized the other two people as they looked to him and smiled, acknowledging him. Steve then realized that this was a decision Mike had to make, unlike his decision which was basically thrust upon him. Bruce and David’s look alone conveyed that thought to him.

Steve suddenly awoke in his bed, still snuggled against Ian. He thought about his dream and was saddened that Mike may wish to not return to the living world and wondered why. Suddenly, Ian rolled over and looked into Steve’s eyes and asked, “Who were those two men on either side of Mike”? Steve smiled weakly and said, “You were eavesdropping on my dreams again. That was Carl’s grandfather, Bruce, and Catherine’s husband, and Greg’s brother, David”. “Why were they with Mike”, Ian asked? Steve let out a sigh before telling Ian, “They’re waiting for him to decide”. Ian’s eyes opened wider. He knew the answer, but had to ask the question regardless, “Decide what”? Steve somberly replied, “He’s deciding whether he wants to live or move on”. Ian frowned and asked rhetorically, “Why wouldn’t he want to live? He has so much to live for. What about Julie and all his friends”? Steve kissed Ian’s forehead and said, “Let’s just hope he chooses life”.

After breakfast, Steve and Ian went back to the hospital to visit Mike again. There wasn’t anyone in the waiting room they recognized which seemed odd as there were usually several waiting for others to leave so they could go in and see him. As they entered Mike’s room, they were surprised to find it full. Mike’s dad Tom, Julie, Tony, Scott, Mr. & Mrs. O’Shea as well as Mr. & Mrs. Boscola. Steve said, “Sorry, we’ll wait in the waiting room”. Tom said, “No, Steve, come on in. The hospital has waived the rules for us”. Steve saw the tears welling up in Tom’s eyes and understood what it meant. Everyone else in the room seemed to have red eyes as well. Ian asked, “Has something changed? Why did they suddenly change the visiting rules”? Tony pulled Ian to the opposite side of the room from Tom and whispered, “When someone doesn’t come out of a coma after five days, their chances of a full recovery go down drastically”, then tears began pouring from Tony’s eyes and Ian hugged him for comfort as Tony sobbed, “I don’t want to lose him. He’s our best friend”. Ian held him tightly and said softly, “There’s still hope Tony”.

While that was happening, Steve approached Julie and asked, “How are you holding up? This must be hard on you. Is there anything I can do for you”? Julie smiled weakly up at Steve and said, “Thank you. You and Ian have been great friends to both me and Mike. I know you’d do anything for us. I just don’t know what to do or even think. Part of this is my fault”, she said and then hugged Steve tightly as she cried, “I don’t want to lose him. I love him so much”. Steve embraced her and asked, “How is any of this your fault”? Julie hesitated before asking, “Can we talk somewhere privately”? Steve replied, “Sure”. He and Julie then left Mike’s room and asked the nurse’s station if there was a room they could use for a private meeting.

They showed them to a meeting room and Steve and Julie sat down. Steve then said, “Look Julie, if you think it was your fault that Mike was stabbed, you’re wrong. Those thugs were looking for trouble and someone was bound to get injured”. Julie had tears running down her cheeks and said, “Mike will kill me for telling you this, if he makes it, but here goes. Julie then explained what Mike had confessed to her and her conditions Mike had to meet before she would agree to marry him. Suddenly things began making sense to Steve. Mike had caught his friends having sex and had been turned on by it and had confessed it to Julie. Had Mike followed through and experimented or was he too afraid to attempt it? Was he that afraid of losing Julie that he would want to give up on life? Steve stood up and said, “Julie, you’ve done nothing wrong here. You just want to be sure that Mike is sure you’re the one. You are wise beyond your years Julie. If I didn’t have Ian, I may have given Mike a run for his money”. Julie gave Steve an odd look, smiled and said, “Except you’re gay”. Steve grinned and said, “Actually Julie, I’m bisexual. I’ve dated quite a few girls in my short life and almost asked one of them to marry me. When Ian came along though, he knocked me off my feet and now I’m marrying him. Trust me, Mike loves you and whatever happens, that won’t change, regardless of what he finds out about himself”. Julie stood up and said, “I think that’s the problem. He does love me so much that he doesn’t want to lose me regardless of what he finds out about himself. He doesn’t realize that he’ll never lose my love, even if it has to be in friendship instead of marriage. I love hm that much that I’m willing to let him go”. Julie began crying in earnest now and Steve held her tightly. After Julie calmed down, Steve suggested they return to Mike’s room.

As they entered the room, a nurse was just exiting. Steve asked, “Any change”? The nurse shook her head as she continued on. Tony hugged Julie as she came in and Steve walked over to Mike’s bed and bent down to whisper in his ear. No one heard what he said, but they were all curious. Tom approached Steve and said, “I don’t want to lose him. He’s all I have. I’ve been a bad father and I’d like a chance to change that. You’ve done so many amazing things Steve. Please give me my son back”. Tom latched onto Steve, embracing him in a hug that said he wasn’t going to let go until Steve agreed to his terms. Steve didn’t flinch and embraced Tom and told him, “I’m sorry Tom, but I can’t work miracles. I’m just a normal guy like you that hopes for the best for your son”.

“Did I get off on the wrong bus and end up in bizarro world. How is my homophobic dad hugging my friend Steve?”, everyone heard. They looked and found Mike’s eyes open and looking confused. Julie almost dived on top of him, crying. Everyone had tears of joy in their eyes as they realized Mike had returned to them. Ian gave Steve a knowing nod. He’d seen him approach the bed and say something and wondered what it might have been. Tom was over to Mike with tears, this time of joy, running down his cheeks, “I’m so sorry Mike. I love you so much. Please forgive me for the way I’ve acted recently. I want you to come back home if you can forgive me”. Mike replied quietly as he still had tubes in his nose and throat, “It’s ok dad. I love you too. That’s all that matters”. As Tom straightened back up, Mike saw Julie standing next to him and he smiled, “Jules, the love of my life. I’m committed to my promise and hope you’ll marry me some day”. Julie broke down and started planting kisses all over Mike’s face where there weren’t tubes sticking out. Then Mike looked over at Steve and said, “You know Bruce and David”. Most everyone looked at him confused, but Steve said, “I do, Bruce is Carl’s deceased grandfather and David is Catherine’s late husband. Why do you ask”? Mike smiled and said, “I think that’s a conversation we should have between the two of us”. Steve smiled and said, “agreed”, then added, “Welcome back”. Carl then asked, “You saw my Granpa”!? Mike smiled and nodded. Suddenly the room was invaded by doctors and nurses telling everyone else to get out. Mike put his hand up and said, “Can I have a say in this? I’ve been out for a few hours and would like to catch up on what happened today with my friends if you don’t mind”. The doctors and nurses looked at each other and then the lead doctor said, “We’ll give you fifteen minutes, and you’ve been out for six days son”. Mike was stunned by the doctor’s statement, “It’s been six days? It seemed like about twenty minutes that I was up there”. Tom Bradford gave his son a puzzled look and said, “Up where Mike”? Mike smiled and said, “It’s hard to explain dad. They told me it was all in my mind, but they were real. We were on top of a mountain peak, and I had to decide which side I would walk down. One side was here, life. The other was to move on. I’ve been afraid of a situation that I’m in, and that weighed on my decision until I realized that if I made a decision based on my fears, it would be wrong and selfish of me. I had to come back and deal with it no matter how it turns out”. Tom Bradford smiled and said, “You lost me on the mountain, Mike but the fact that you want to face what you fear makes me one proud father”. Mike smiled just slightly as he wondered how proud his dad would be if he knew what that fear was that he was willing to face.

Tony and Scott then came up to Mike’s bedside and Tony said, “You gave us quite a scare Mike. We would have chased you to hell if you tried to die on us”. Mike laughed and said, “Well, you’d have made a wrong turn then”. Scott laughed and said, “So you think you’re angel material then? Seriously though Mike, you had me, us, very worried. It’s good to have you back”. Mike checked to verify his dad and Julie were out of hearing range and said, “Guys, I made a promise to myself that I would commit to Jule’s challenge. I’m scared and I need your support. I need to talk to you about something that happened last week, but it will have to wait”. Scott started to make a joke but stopped himself. Tony picked up on it and said, “We’re here for you bro. Always”. Suddenly the nurses and doctors returned, saying, “Ok folks, visiting time is over. We need to run some tests on the patient”.  Everyone then cleared the room to let the medical team do their thing.

Everyone returned to the waiting room with smiles on their faces. Mike had returned to them and seemed like there were no repercussions from the coma. Tom approached Ian and Steve and asked, “Steve, I’d like to know what you whispered in my son’s ear? He woke up right after that. I doubt very much that you’re just a regular guy as you keep saying. Whether you admit it or not, you’ve made a believer out of me. There’s something very special about you and I think your boyfriend as well”. Steve smiled and squeezing Ian’s hand in his, said, “Mr. Bradford, the only thing special about me is that I have Ian as my partner. All I whispered to your son was that Julie loved him and I doubt he heard that. The timing was a coincidence, I’m sure”. Tom chuckled and said, “I knew you would say that. Regardless, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. You are welcome in my home any time. I’m really ashamed of the hate I felt in my heart against you. I hope I can make amends both to you and to my son”. Steve said, Mr. Bradford, I mean Tom, knowledge and understanding open our eyes to the love that permeates the world. It’s fear and misunderstanding as well as misinformation that results in hate. I’m glad you’ve chosen the former and I accept your apology for everyone who is different than the sociably acceptable among us. I hope going forward that you’ll find love and understanding in others you meet who are different than yourself”. Tom hugged Steve and said, “I will certainly try”. Steve noticed Julie smiling at him from over Tom’s shoulder. He smiled back. The room was abuzz with chatter as everyone was happy at Mike’s sudden awakening. The waiting room door opened and a nurse asked, “Steve, Mike Bradford has asked to talk with you privately. The rest of you can visit afterward”.

Steve entered Mike’s room to see Mike smiling at him. Steve smiled back and said, “Glad you decided to stay with us Mike. You wanted to talk with me”? Mike said, “Yeah, I do. I heard what you said, that Julie loved me no matter what and that she would be heartbroken if I chose not to return. I had been close to returning before that, but that was the final push. Bruce and David also heard because right after I heard your words, Bruce said, “No matter what”, and David said, “You wouldn’t want to break her heart would you”? They heard you too Steve! Minutes before that, when I was trying to decide with Bruce and David on either side of me, I felt another presence behind me, observing. That was you, wasn’t it? You don’t have to answer that. I already know it was. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you’ve done for me and for everyone. I won’t say anything to anyone else about this and I’m not even sure what this is. I’m just glad I have a friend like you. Whether you admit it or not, there’s something special about you and I think Ian too”. Steve smiled and said, “I’m not sure how you heard me and maybe it was just your subconscious that heard me. Like I told your dad, the only thing special about me is that I have Ian in my life. It’s true that some strange things have happened around us, but it wasn’t something I did. Forces far beyond me were at work here. I’ll let the others come in and see you now. Ian and I will come back tomorrow”. Mike grinned and said, “I expected that response from you Steve and will leave it at that. Like I said though, I won’t repeat our conversation with anyone. Thanks. See you tomorrow”. Steve then returned to the waiting room and let everyone know they could go back in to Mike’s room. He and Ian then headed out to their car. Right after the car started, the speakers started ringing. Steve was getting a call. At first, he didn’t recognize the number, but then decided to answer anyway, “Hello. What’s up”? “We heard the news. Is everything alright. Is your friend going to be okay”? Ian and Steve exchanged glances and Steve replied, “If you mean Mike, yes, he woke from the coma today. Who is this”? Steve and Ian heard laughter from two people. Then the reply, “It’s Christopher and Jordan. We danced for you at your bachelor party”. Ian giggled and said, “Danced? Is that what you call it”? Steve looked at him and asked, “Stud?”, then said, “We’ll never forget that night. What can we do for you”? One of the twins asked, “Well, we heard about what happened and were devastated, but it sounds like things are good. Is that true”? Steve said, “Yes , things are great now that Mike is going to be ok”. One of the twins then asked, “Well, since that’s the case, would you want some company this evening? Jordan and I would like to get to know you better if you feel the same”. Steve and Ian looked at each other grinning. Ian responded, “How soon can you come over”? The twins responded, “We can be ther in anhour if that’s ok”? Steve replied, “Perfect”.

Steve and Ian got home, showered together and then waited for the twins to arrive. They talked about the bachelor party and how hot the two were. Ian joked how he wanted to make them their pets on a leash. Steve chuckled at the thought. The doorbell rang indicating the twins had arrived.

As the twins were led into the living room, Ian asked what they wanted to drink. Both asked for beers, making Steve smile. He asked, “So, Christopher and Jordan”? The twin with the small mole on the left side of his cheek said, “Yeah, I’m Jordan and he’s Chris”. Ian began noticing the differences in the twins, realizing Jordan was a little slimmer than his twin and his brown hair was slightly darker and curlier than his brother’s. Both had dimples when they smiled, and they seemed to be smiling a lot now. This wasn’t a job where they had to perform. This was a social and personal visit. “So, what do we owe the pleasure of your visit”, Steve asked? Both twins turned red before Chris said, “Well, we wanted to get to know you guys better. We didn’t know who we were performing for before we arrived the other week. Now, we just want to get to know you and then see if you want to have a little more fun between us before you’re married. We understand you’re getting married and understand if you’re not into it. We just wanted to have some fun with you beforehand”. Steve and Ian looked to each other and grinned.

 End of Chapter 60