An Unexpected Turn

Recovery

The last thing I remember is seeing Bruce and David walking away. Then I heard someone yelling, “This guy’s bleeding to death”! I looked back to the car and saw myself in the driver’s seat. There was a cut in my neck. It didn’t look very big, but there was a lot of blood running from it. A guy ran over to me with tears in his eyes and clamped his hand over the wound and yelled, “Someone dial 911. We need to save this guy”. I heard sirens approaching and then felt strange, like I was being pulled somewhere. 

I heard muffled voices and movement all around me and then blackness. Again, I heard muffled voices and a female’s voice said, “I think he’s at least stable now. Maybe you can check back in a few hours”. I tried to open my eyes, but just caught a glint of light before darkness overtook me once more. Suddenly I became aware of a beeping sound next to me and I felt restrained. There was something in my mouth and actually, down my throat. Where was I? I slowly opened my eyes and heard a guy say, “Welcome back Steven. How are you feeling”? “Tired. Where am I”, I asked? The guy came into view. He was an older guy in a white hospital gown with a name tag that said, ‘Dr. Green’. He smiled and said, “You’re in the hospital Mr. Andrews. You were involved in an accident. They’re touting you as somewhat of a hero. They say you sacrificed your own safety and saved countless others by what you did”. Sacrificed? Oh my god! “Where’s Ian? Is Ian ok”, I suddenly asked remembering some of the accident and seeing Ian, looking like he was asleep, but with blood running from his head. All kinds of alarms seemed to be going off and nurses flooded the room. Dr. Green looked me in the eyes and said, “Your passenger, Ian, is ok. He had a head injury, but otherwise escaped unscathed. He’s been asking about you”. A nurse was giving me a shot, but I probably didn’t need it as the rapid beeping had slowed drastically after Dr. Green gave me the good news. Once again, blackness. 

I opened my eyes to sunlight shining from the curtains. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I heard someone say, “He’s waking up. How are you feeling Steve”? I recognized the voice and smiled, “Like a train rode over me. I’m so glad to hear your voice Ian”. “I’m glad to see you’re finally awake Steve. We’ve all been worrying about you, but thanks to Carl, you’re going to be fine”, Ian said. Carl? I recognized the name for some reason. “Carl”, I asked? “Yeah, he kept his hand over your wound to keep you from bleeding out until the ambulance arrived”, Ian explained. “I’m glad you pulled through. You lost a lot of blood. I had to keep pressure on your wound until the ambulance arrived. It seemed like they took forever, but they tell me it was only about five minutes. Still, with the amount of blood you lost, they weren’t sure you’d make it”, Carl said. I looked over and saw a smiling Ian and another guy with brown hair and eyes, slightly taller than Ian and probably around Ian’s age. He was smiling, but behind the smile I sensed sorrow as well. Then I remembered the conversation after the accident, “Are Bruce and David ok”? Ian and Carl both looked at me stunned. Ian then asked, “Bruce and David? Who are they”? A tear rolled down Carl’s cheek and a pained look came over his face, “Bruce is my grandfather’s name”, he explained then asked, “Did you know him”? “Not really. We just had a brief conversation after the accident. David was apologizing for causing it and Bruce forgave him and then asked me to tell you something”, I began, but then Carl interrupted, “That’s impossible! You couldn’t have talked to them. They were both killed instantly”! Tears were now rolling down his cheeks. “I’m sorry”, I said. I clearly recalled the conversation. Did I just dream it? It seemed so vivid, but how could it have occurred if they were both killed instantly? “I’m sorry your grandfather didn’t make it. What I don’t understand is the conversation seemed so real and how do I know their names if it was just a dream”, I wondered out loud? Ian just stood there looking confused. “Carl, I need to tell you this whether it was a dream or not. I’m sorry if it will cause you more pain, but I have to say it. Bruce told me to tell you that he loved you no matter what, that the conversation you were having didn’t change that. He was just sad that he wouldn’t be having any grandchildren”. Carl broke into a full blown cry and Ian put his arm around his shoulder to console him. Between sobs, Carl asked, “How could you know this. You know my grandfather’s first name and had never met him, and you know about the conversation we were having. I had told him that I’m gay and he seemed upset about it”. Bruce hadn’t given me the details, but it made sense now about not having grandchildren. I said, “So you understand now. He wasn’t upset about the fact that you’re gay, he was upset about not being able to look forward to having grandchildren”. Ian was still looking confused. Carl’s sobs were subsiding as he looked at me and smiled, “Thank you. I believe you now. You know too much for it to have been your imagination. I don’t know how, but somehow that conversation did take place. Somehow, he reached out to you. It helps to know what he was thinking before he died”. “There was something else he told me. He told me to tell you to look behind the picture of your grandmother hanging on the wall in their bedroom”, I added. Carl looked at me with an expression of surprise at first, but then it changed as one of understanding and he nodded his head. Ian felt the hair on his arms stand up and he broke out in goosebumps. This was all too weird for him. “Well, I’m glad you’re doing better, and I’ll come back to visit you again. Thank you for telling me what my grandfather said”, Carl said. “I was glad to relay that for your grandfather. I wish things were different. I would have liked to have met him under different circumstances. Thank you for saving my life as well. I probably wouldn’t be here if it were not for your quick actions, especially given the fact that you had just witnessed the death of your grandfather”, I replied. Carl smiled and said, “Well, from what I saw and from what the tanker driver who was next to us said, if you hadn’t given the guy space to get over, we’d have hit him head on. I wouldn’t be here, and a lot of other people may have died as well. You’re the hero here, not me.” I felt my face flush, “I’m no hero. I just followed my instincts.” Carl chuckled a bit and then said, “You sell yourself short. I know you didn’t really know my grandfather, but if you’re well enough, I’d feel honored if you could attend the celebration of life get-together I’m having for him. It’s going to be next Saturday” “It would be my honor”, I said. “I’m in as well”, Ian responded. Carl then left the room. 

I looked over at Ian and said, “So much for our Friday night”. Ian gave me a strange look, “What do you mean”? “When we got home, we were going to…”, I stopped mid-sentence. By the look on Ian’s face, I could tell he had no idea what I was talking about, “Ian, what’s going on. Don’t you remember”? Ian looked at me and then down to the floor, “I hit my head during the accident. It must have been pretty hard,” He turned his head to the side showing me a small bald spot with a lump at its center and what looked like some stitches, “as you can see. I got a concussion, and I don’t remember anything since about a week ago when an old high school friend and I were hanging out”. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sorry you got hurt. If I hadn’t braked, we may have been past the accident”, I said and thought that we could have had that Friday night sexcapade we were looking forward to as well. As far as Ian knew, nothing had happened between the two of us. He didn’t even realize that I had seen him and his friend in his back yard. I didn’t know whether I should say anything, so I decided at least for now, not to. “Yeah, but you heard what Carl said. If you hadn’t done what you did, he would be dead, and others may be too. You did the right thing. This bump on my head will heal and they said I may get that week back at some point though they’re not sure.”, Ian responded. 

“There you are!”, a voice called out and we turned to see Ian’s friend Chad walking toward Ian. “Chad!”, Ian smiled, and they hugged briefly. “Wow! Nice knot dude”, Chad said indicating the bump on Ian’s head. Ian grinned and then said, “Yeah, they said I broke the window with it. Chad, this is Steve. We work together. I’m his assistant.” “Nice to meet you in person Steve. I’ve seen you on the news. They’re calling you a hero”, Chad was saying. I didn’t hear most of what he said. I was stuck on what Ian had just said, “We work together”. My heart was sinking. “Steve, are you ok”, Ian suddenly asked? “Uh, yeah. I was just distracted. Sorry. Nice to meet you Chad”, I responded. “So, when are they releasing you”, Chad asked Ian. “Tomorrow”, Ian said smiling. “What about you, Steve”, Chad asked politely. “I have no idea. I actually just woke up. They said I lost a lot of blood and it will take time regaining my strength”, I replied. “Well, unless you get tired of me, I’ll be in every day to visit”, Ian said. “Thanks. I’d like that”, I said with a bit of sadness in my voice. “Are you sure you’re ok Steve? You seem like something’s bothering you.”, Ian asked. “I guess I’m just a little tired and with all that’s happened, there’s a lot on my mind”, I answered. “I understand. I still can’t wrap my head around you talking with dead people. I guess we should let you get some rest”, Ian said, then added, “Let’s go to my room and catch up. I’ll talk to you later Steve”. Ian and Chad then left me to my thoughts. As they were leaving, I heard Chad ask Ian, “What’s this about talking with dead people”? 

I was tired, but I couldn’t sleep. Ian didn’t remember anything that had happened in the past week and he may never recover that memory. It left me feeling empty. I tried to distract myself, so I turned on the TV. There, on the screen was a helicopter view of an accident. It was the accident I had just been involved in. They zoomed in on a twisted mass in the middle and I recognized what was left of our rental car. There wasn’t much left of the front driver’s side of the car and the driver’s door was pushed in where the driver’s seat should have been. I wondered how I had survived that and with only a cut on my neck, although my whole body felt like it had been beat with a baseball bat. Then I saw myself on the TV, or a photo of me. I turned up the volume and heard them describing the fact that the ambulance and rescue team had arrived quickly and had to cut the driver’s side door off to extricate me while at the same time trying to stop the bleeding. They were saying that I had barely survived. They then switched to an interview with a truck driver, apparently the driver of the fuel tanker that had been beside Bruce and Carl’s car moments before the accident. He described seeing “this idiot” pull out of traffic into the oncoming passing lane trying to pass the vehicles ahead of him. He said the line ahead of the guy was way too long and knew there would be an accident. He said it was happening so fast and the traffic ahead of him had no idea what was happening. He said there were other vehicles approaching in the left lane and the front vehicle was right beside him and had nowhere to go. He said he knew he was going to be involved and there was nothing he could do but lay on his horn. Then he said one of the vehicles seemed to slow, trying to give the guy space to get over and thought it might help avoid a disaster. The car next to him braked, so he kept moving. The guy didn’t get over in time and the accident still occurred, but fortunately his tanker made it by and a head-on collision was avoided, all thanks to the guy in the car who tried to help. He hoped the guy was going to be alright. At that point, I turned the TV off. “You know he’s right”, a nurse was in the room. I hadn’t noticed her enter. “If you hadn’t made that quick decision, a lot of people could have died. Instead, it was only two, god rest their souls”. “I’m sure someone else would have done the same. I’m no hero”, I said, growing tired of hearing it. I may have saved some lives, but I may have lost the one who right now meant the most to me. She looked at me sternly and said, “That’s the problem. No one else did do it. Most of them didn’t even realize what was happening. You did and made a quick decision and put yourself in harm’s way in the process. You ARE a hero, and you should be proud of what you did”. I took in what she said and thought that it was true. I had made the right decision, but at great cost to myself and I had put Ian in danger as well. He could have been one of the casualties. “I’m going to give you a sedative to make you sleep. You need rest so you can heal”, She told me as she added something to my IV drip. “What day is it”, I asked her? “It’s Wednesday”, she responded. “Wednesday? That’s five days! Haven’t I slept enough?”, I said surprised. No wonder Ian didn’t look so bad. He had five days to heal. “Why do I feel so tired if I’ve been out for five days”, I asked? “You lost a lot of blood Steve. You almost died. It takes time to recover from trauma that severe”, Dr. Green had walked in and had heard my question, “So how are you doing? Any headaches, physical pain, dizziness”? “You mean physical pain other than feeling like someone beat me with a baseball bat”, I asked? “Is any of that pain concentrated in a specific area or is it just overall soreness”, Dr. Green asked. “Pretty much just sore all over. Nothing specific hurts, just everything”, I responded. Both Dr. Green and the nurse laughed. Dr. Green then said, “General soreness is to be expected. Between the impact of the collision and the amount of blood you lost, I think you’ve made some good progress”. “When can I get out of here”, was my next question? Dr. Green grinned again, “That depends on your progress. If you keep progressing as you have been, I’d say Monday is a possibility”. “That long”, I asked incredulously? “That’s actually short, considering and there would be stipulation that someone else is there for the first few days. Don’t push yourself”, Dr. Green cautioned. As they were leaving the room, I overheard the nurse say, “I noticed some depression. Do you think we should pursue that”? I didn’t hear Dr. Green’s response. I slept through the night. 

I woke to the sound of voices in the room. “Hey, he’s waking up”, one of them said. “Morning Steve. How do you feel”, Ian’s sweet voice. Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I recognized Chad next to Ian. “I feel like I want to get out of here. I’m tired of being tired.”, I said. Ian grinned, “Sounds like you’re feeling better”. “Better? It’s hard to tell when all they want me to do is sleep”, I replied. “Speaking of which. I got my ‘get out of jail free card’. They’re releasing me in an hour. I’ll be back in to see you tomorrow though”, Ian stated. Just then Carl walked in, “How are you feeling Steve”? “Better”, I said, then asked, “How about you”? “I’m doing ok. I’ve come to terms with it and have talked to a lawyer about grandpa’s will. I did what you said and looked behind Grandma’s picture and found that there’s a safe there. The problem is, I have no idea what the combination is. I may have to hire someone who can open it”. Hearing this, a chill ran up Ian’s spine and once again, goosebumps. “Wow, this is some dope stuff. This guy did talk to a dead guy”, Chad whispered to Ian. I knew Carl would find something there, I had no idea what it would be, “I’m sorry. Your grandfather didn’t give me a combination to the safe. He didn’t even tell me what was behind the picture. The only other thing he said was… Wait a minute! Your grandfather said, “3, 24, 55, that’s my birthday”. Why would he tell me that, unless it was also the combination to the safe”, I said, recalling his grandfather’s words. “That could be it. I don’t know any other reason he’d tell you that. Thanks for remembering”, Carl said excitedly. I looked over and saw Ian looking at me strangely. I smiled at him wishing things were different, that he’d just remember. “I’m sorry to do this, but I hope you don’t mind if I cut my visit short. Your revelation has me wanting to get back to the house and test the numbers you gave me”, Carl said apologetically. “I understand your need to check it out and I hope it works. Good luck, Carl”, I said hoping I was right about the numbers. 

Carl left and Chad said he needed to use the restroom and would be right back leaving Ian and I alone. He was still looking at me strangely. “What? Did I grow another head or two”, I grinned at him? Ian stared at me for a while longer and then shook his head and grinned back, “You know you’re amazing, right? At work, you figure things out and it makes me shake my head. Then apparently you see this accident about to happen and you figure out a way to minimize the damage even though you almost died doing it. On top of that, you talk to dead people”. A tear ran down my cheek as I choked out, “My decision could have cost you your life as well and I gave you no choice in that” “Steve, I told you I’m fine with that. You saved lives Steve and if we’re ever in that situation again I would want you to do the same thing. That’s my choice going forward. That’s just another amazing thing about you. You’re always thinking about everyone else, never about yourself”, Ian said. That last one stung me as I suddenly realized how wrong he was. Ever since I found out about Ian’s amnesia all I’ve been thinking about is how it had cost me. How I’d lost Ian. That’s all I’d thought about since. Another tear rolled down my cheek. Chad then returned and said, “I saw the nurse on my way back. She said they have some papers for you to sign and then you’re free to go home.” “That’s great”, Ian said. “Why don’t we celebrate when I get you back home”, Chad offered. I saw Ian glance in my direction and then reply, “Yeah, maybe a little, but I have to watch myself for a bit yet. No alcohol or anything”. Chad leaned in and whispered to Chad, “I’m not talking about that kind of celebration”. I heard every word even though he had whispered it. Ian turned red and didn’t say a word. As they left, another tear rolled down my cheek. 

As they pulled away from the hospital, Chad said to Ian, “I’m not certain, but when I came back in the room, it looked like a tear was running down Steve’s cheek”. Ian replied, “Yeah. I think it was the conversation we were having. He feels guilty for putting me in danger. I tried to let him know I was fine with what he did, proud even. I told him if the same circumstances were ever to happen again, I would want him to do the same thing”. Chad smiled and then said, “I can understand what he means. I wouldn’t want to damage your cute hot body either,”, then he laughed after glancing over at Ian. Chad then added, “What a dude. He’s so concerned about you; he doesn’t realize how many lives he may have saved”. “So, beside all the sarcastic shit you just said about me, you understand what I’m saying about Steve. He doesn’t look at himself as a hero, he’s more concerned about putting my life in danger”, Ian said. Chad grinned and replied, “Exactly, except for the part of me being sarcastic. I meant every word about you dude”. Ian blushed, but didn’t respond. He instead found himself thinking about Chad and what he had planned for their “celebration”. He vaguely recalled their last time together. They had admitted their mutual attraction to each other in high school and then had oral sex together. Ian’s first real man on man sex. He thought of that and the possibility of going further with him. He found himself growing stiff as a result and looked over at Chad, “So you talked about celebrating? What do you have in mind”? Chad glanced over for a moment and grinned, “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe we can pick up where we left off and then maybe see what else happens”? “I like that idea”, Ian said grinning, then found himself thinking about Steve again. He would definitely be going back to see him tomorrow and every day after, until Steve was released from the hospital. 

They arrived at Ian’s house and as soon as they were through the door, Chad embraced Ian and began kissing him. Ian was surprised by it at first, but then went with it. Ian loosed himself enough to push the front door closed and then Chad was pulling off his shirt. Ian reciprocated and pulled off Chad’s shirt. Then the dam broke and clothes were flying everywhere. They found themselves on the sofa making out and then Chad got on his knees in front of Ian and took his rigid cock in his mouth. Ian gasped and then began running his hands through Chad’s hair as Chad bobbed on his stiff cock. He changed things up by slurping on his balls for a while and then returned to Ian’s throbbing rod. Ian was loving every second but wanted to reciprocate and reached down to pull Chad up, “Let’s go where we have more room”, Ian suggested. “Ok, but not out back. We don’t need a repeat of last time”, Chad responded. Ian was puzzled by this, but didn’t ask and said, “Let’s go to my bedroom”. Chad replied, “Sounds like a plan”. As they entered Ian’s bedroom, they hopped up on the bed and Chad immediately pushed Ian down on his back and then climbed over him into a sixty-nine position. They both began slurping on the other’s cock like a babe trying to suck the milk out of its mother’s teat. They soon felt their seed boiling up to orgasm and raced to help their partner cum as well. The result was a simultaneous unloading into each other’s throats. They both swallowed mouthfuls but saved the last of it for a cum-swapping, tongue dancing kiss that seemed to last for hours. As they broke the kiss, Chad rolled off of Ian and they laid side by side in the afterglow. Ian rolled back toward Chad and began kissing his neck and earlobe and then running his tongue in Chad’s ear, driving him crazy. “Oh my god! Where did you learn that? It’s driving me crazy”, Chad was saying! Ian was rock hard again and as he continued nuzzling Chad’s neck and tonguing Chad’s ear, he also started rubbing his fingers between Chad’s butt cheeks. As Ian’s middle finger began probing at Chad’s rosebud, Chad’s cock instantly began to stiffen again as well. “Oh fuck”, Chad exclaimed as Ian inserted the finger into him! This was new territory for Chad and he thought it was new territory for Ian as well, but as Ian worked the finger in and around his depths, his cock began leaking copious amounts of precum. They locked lips again and soon Ian added a second finger. Chad moaned into Ian’s mouth, signaling his welcome of the second finger which was soon joined by a third. After working his fingers in Chad’s hole for a few minutes, Ian got up and went into his bathroom. When he returned, he was holding a condom and was grinning. He opened a dresser drawer and pulled out a bottle of lube and then asked Chad, “Are you ready for my cock”? Chad was nervous about taking Ian’s cock, but at the same time wanted this to happen. His cock was throbbing at the thought. “I’m not sure, but I’m willing to try it. Just take it slow and if I say stop, you have to stop. Ok?”, Chad said nervously. Ian responded, “Ok. Why don’t I lie on my back and let you sit on my cock. That way you can take as much as you can. You will control how fast I enter you”. Chad liked that idea, saying, “Yeah, that’ll work. Lay down”. Ian laid down and then opened the condom and rolled it over his stiff cock. Chad then climbed up and positioned himself straddling Ian’s sides and then slowly began lowering himself down until Ian’s stiff cock was just barely touching his rosebud. He looked down into Ian’s eyes, still nervous about what he was about to do. Ian looked up and nodded, “It’s ok. Go ahead. Just take it slow”. With that, Chad laughed nervously and said, “Here goes”, and then pushed down against Ian’s lubed cock. He could feel the pressure against his anal ring. He lowered down more, feeling it trying to enter him and then suddenly his tight sphincter gave way, “Oh fuck! It burns so bad”! Ian saw a flash in his head. A face of someone in the same position as Chad, but someone different. It startled Ian, but the image was gone in an instant. “You ok”, Chad asked Ian? “Um, yeah. Sorry. Just hold it there until the burning starts to fade, then take more in until it begins to hurt again”, Ian instructed. Chad allowed himself to slide down further onto Ian’s cock, but stopped almost instantly, “Fuck! I don’t know if I can take your cock. It feels like you’re splitting me in half”. Ian grinned at Chad and assured him, “It’s ok. You’re doing great. Just keep going slow like you are”. Chad then lowered down further after the pain faded, more quickly than before. His hole felt filled, but the pain was easing and each time he took more of Ian’s cock, the pain faded more quickly. He was soon surprised that he had taken all of Ian’s cock as he felt Ian’s pubic bush against his smooth ass. “Fuck, you’re so tight”, Ian said as Chad was tightly clamped on his cock. “I feel stuffed”, Chad chuckled, then added, “I can’t believe I have your whole cock inside me”. “You ok”, Ian asked? Chad hesitated for a moment as if trying to gauge his comfort before replying, “Yeah, I’m good”. Ian then instructed, “Ok, now move up and down on my cock”. Chad then began fucking himself on Ian’s stiff rod and soon had a grin on his flushed face and was soon speeding up. “Yeah, ride my cock Chad”, Ian encouraged, loving the feel of Chad’s tight hole clamped around his throbbing member. Again the strange face flashed across his eyes, momentarily replacing Chad’s. Ian wondered who’s face it might be. It was gone in an instant, replaced by Chad’s, his mouth now wide open and eyes glazed over. He was clearly enjoying his ride on Ian’s cock. In between panting, Chad began loudly grunting, “Oh fuck! Oh my god yes! Oh fuck! Oh fuck yeah”! Ian was loving the feel of Chad riding on his cock and the look on his face as well as Chad’s own stiff cock slapping on his stomach as he slammed down onto Ian’s crotch and soon felt himself getting close. “Hold up a minute Chad”, Ian said. Chad stopped and looked down at Ian with a look of disappointment. “Climb off and get on your back”, Ian instructed. Chad understood and climbed off Ian’s hard shaft and dropped down onto the bed on his back. Ian immediately threw Chad’s legs over his shoulders and pushed his cock back into Chad’s hot hole. He was soon fucking away, rapidly slamming into Chad who was thrashing his head back and forth and grunting, “Yeah! Fuck me! Fuck my ass. Harder! Oh yeah fuck me! Oh Fuck I’m gonna cum!”, suddenly Chad’s cock jumped as a stream of cum flew out striking him across his right eye and cheek. Another and another followed, hitting his chin and then more flooded onto his chest and abs. With each shot, Ian felt Chad’s tight ring spasm around his cock bringing him to his own climax. “Oh fuck I’m gonna cum”, Ian cried out as he quickly pulled out of Chad, stripped off the condom and began firing days’ worth of cum on Chad’s chest, abs and crotch! With his chest heaving, Ian dropped down onto Chad, sandwiching their cum between them as they both caught their breath. “Holy shit! Thanks Ian. That was so fuckin’ lit”, Chad said ecstatically. Ian giggled and said, “Yeah it was”. After catching their breath and cuddling for a while, Ian suggested they get a shower. 

That afternoon, after Ian and Chad had left, I laid in bed feeling sorry for myself when the nurse came in carrying my cell phone. She handed it to me saying, “It’s been going off constantly, so I thought you might be well enough now to get it. I made sure to fully charge it for you”. “Thanks”, I said. She picked up my chart and looked at it and then said, “I’ll leave you to check your messages and call whomever you need to. I’ll bring your charger in the next time I make my rounds”. “Thank you”, I again said. She walked out and I began reading my messages. The first one was from Ryan, “Where are you. You said you’d send me a text when you guys got back home”. The next was also from Ryan, “You’re starting to worry me dude. I tried texting and calling Ian as well and he’s not responding either. Call me. Please!” The third was also from Ryan, “Now I am worried about you guys. I haven’t heard from either one of you. Please call me or text me. If you don’t want to be bothered, at least let me know you guys are ok. I really care about you”. The rest of the texts were from friends and coworkers wishing me well and for a quick recovery. I then listened to my voice mail. The first four were from Ryan desperately trying to reach me to make sure we were ok. The next was from the owner of the company I worked for wishing me well and to return only after I was completely healed and able to return and my pay would continue to be deposited into my checking account, but if I needed someone to pay my bills, to just call and he would make sure it got done. He would visit after he knew I was conscious. After that were several calls from reporters and news outlets wanting interviews and wanting to be the first to talk to me. Once I had finished listening to all the messages, I called Ryan. “Oh my god. Steve! Are you ok? Where have you been? Why didn’t you text or call me?”, Ryan was talking so fast I couldn’t get a word in. Finally, Ryan had to take a breath, so I began to explain, “I’m in the hospital”. “Oh my god. What happened”, Ryan asked. “We were on our way home and a guy was in a hurry and tried to pass using the oncoming passing lane and it caused an accident”, I explained. “Are you ok? How’s Ian? He hasn’t responded to my calls either. Is he ok?”, Ryan asked? “Ian’s ok. He got a concussion out of it and has some amnesia, but they released him today. I’m not sure why he hasn’t called you though”, I explained. “Thank god you’re both ok. I’m surprised Ian’s not there. I figured you two would be inseparable, especially if one of you were still in the hospital. I’m sure he’s in love with you”, Ryan said, relieved. “Ian doesn’t remember us. The amnesia caused him to lose all memory of the last week or so. He doesn’t even realize I know he’s gay. All he remembers me as is that he's my assistant at work”, I explained as tears ran down my cheeks. There I go feeling sorry of myself again, I thought to myself. “Oh shit! That’s awful Steve. Will he ever recover his memory”, Ryan asked? “Ian told me they said he may recover it, but couldn’t be sure”, I explained. We talked for a long time about our few days together and how much he enjoyed the time with us and then said he’d try to make time to visit, but that the job site was getting busy and he had to work the next few weekends so they could keep up with the schedule. He told me he’d call me the next day to check up on me and then we ended the call. I was glad to hear from Ryan but wondered why Ian hadn’t returned his calls. Even if he didn’t recognize who Ryan was, his name was still in Ian’s phone and thought that would at least make Ian curious. I decided to ask him the next time I saw him. 

I woke the next morning feeling more rested and less sore. My stomach was asking me if my throat had been cut. I was starving. When the nurse came in, I asked about breakfast. “That’s a good sign Steve. Let me ask the doctor if you can have solid food and if so, we’ll get that tube out of you and get you something to eat. By the way, I put your phone back on the charger. It’s there on your bedside table. You were asleep when I brought it in, so I plugged it in for you”, she said. “Thanks. I appreciate it”, I told her. She smiled and then said, “Anything I can do for a hero”, then quickly added, “Whether he admits it or not”. Then she walked out to find the doctor. He apparently said ok because the room was soon buzzing with people and the feeding tube was uncomfortably removed as well as some of the other monitoring equipment and restraints. They had told me the restraints were necessary to make sure I didn’t pull out the tubes or monitoring equipment in my sleep. The people filtered out leaving the nurse. I heard one of the nursing assistants ask another as they were leaving, “Is he the one on the news. He’s cuter than the picture on the news”. I felt my face flush at the compliment. The nurse then said to me with a grin since she had also heard the assistant, “Your food will be up in a few minutes. Is there anything else I can get for you cutie”? I ignored the last part and said, “No. Thank you very much. It feels so much better without all the tubes and having my arms and legs free”. “I’ll bet it does”, she said and then left the room. The food soon arrived and even though it was hospital food, I finished it off in no time. It was already noon and I hadn’t seen Ian yet. 

The food tray was being carted away just as Carl entered the room. “I’m not interrupting your lunch am I”, he asked. I laughed and said, “No, it was a late breakfast. First solid food in days. They told me I’d have to wait several hours before I could eat more solid food so my system can adjust to it again”. Carl approached my bed and said, “I have some news” “I hope it’s good news”, Ian said entering the room. “Oh! Hi Ian.”, Carl said as Ian walked in and took a seat, then continued, “The numbers you gave me. My Grandpa’s birthday? It turned out you were right. It was the combination of the safe. It contained his will as well as a lot of other legal papers, stocks and deeds to properties he apparently owned. I had no idea. Thank you so much Steve”, Carl said as a tear rolled down his left cheek. I noticed Ian off to the side grinning widely. I smiled too, “All I did was to pass on what Bruce asked me to. I’m just glad I was able to do that for you”. “I see they took all the tube out of you. Does that mean you’ll be able to make the Celebration of Life this Saturday? If not, I’ll move it to the following Saturday. I’m sure everyone, including Grandpa would understand.”, Carl asked. “Dr. Green said if I continue to progress as fast as I am, I could get released on Monday. Unfortunately, Dr. Green also told me that would depend on there being someone else there to monitor me for the first few days. I live alone, so that may complicate things”, I said. “You could stay with me or I could stay with you if that would help”, Ian said. My heart was wishing it could have stitched my mouth shut as I said, “You don’t have to do that. I wouldn’t want to burden you with that”. My heart was relieved as Ian said, “It won’t be a burden and would be the least I could do. We could go to the Celebration together then. Besides, everyone at work will be jealous that I’m staying with their hero for a few days”, Ian added, at my embarrassment. “I guess it’s settled then. The party will be on Saturday”, Carl said, then added, “I’m going to get going. I still have a lot to do today. I’m meeting with my lawyer to go over the stuff I found in the safe. Thanks again Steve”. “No thanks are necessary”, I said and then Carl departed leaving me and Ian alone in the room.