An Unexpected Turn

Out of Left Field

The accident with the group of kids in the previous chapter was from something I actually experienced. I embellished some things as I was not actually burned during the rescue and initially was worried about stopping. You see, I had a friend with me and we were cruising around smoking weed. The era of cell phones was still in the future, so 911 was not an option. I was concerned the police would show up and arrest us. I actually had to back up about forty feet after I determined I had to try and help. The teens inside had broken bones and head injuries and initially I wanted them to stay put because I was afraid to move them and make their injuries worse. I told the two of them who were conscious that I would go get help. The one with the head injury, which I found out later had been severe, begged me not to leave them. I decided to try to get them into my car and slowly got them out and moved them as carefully as I could. My friend helped a little, but he was freaked out by the whole thing and mostly just stood by in shock. It was a good thing I was driving my dad’s old Fleetwood Cadillac and even then, it was tight because those with broken bones had to be situated carefully. I drove them to the emergency entrance at the nearest hospital and my friend went in and alerted the staff. They came out and loaded them on gurneys and then rolled them inside. I told the staff that I didn’t know them and had just come upon the accident and the location. They asked me to wait for the police to arrive, but I drove off. I learned the next day that most of their injuries were pretty severe, but when the police arrived at the scene of the accident, the car was engulfed in flames. The teens all made full recoveries and told acquaintances they wanted to thank me. Having them fully recover was thanks enough. Amazing to think how sometimes the decisions you make affect others lives and those lives in turn have their own affects. Had they not convinced me to get them out, they probably would have died and many other lives would have been changes or never even existed. I did only what I’m sure someone else would have done in the same situation. I found one of their bowls filled with weed in the back of the Cadillac when I cleaned it out the next day. Smart kid.

I led Ian into the shower in my master bath and he turned on the water. I had to put gallon size zip lock bags over my gauze mittens before I stepped in. As the water cascaded over us, Ian applied shampoo to my head and gently washed my hair. After rinsing it out, he grabbed the soap and began lathering up my body. It felt so good feeling his hands massaging the soap into my shoulders and down my back. I kept my hands up against the shower wall trying to keep the mittens from getting wet. His hands then reached around lathering up my pecs. “Oh fuuuuck”, I moaned as he pinched one of my nipples teasingly and then giggled. I was instantly hard as steel. My cock throbbed almost painfully. He slowly soaped down my stomach, slowly massaging my abs and causing my cock to jump as if trying to get his attention. Unfortunately, Jr. was bypassed as Ian crouched down and soaped both of my legs, teasingly working both hands up each thigh and stopping just below my balls. Jr. was in a panic, jumping around in an attempt to get attention each time those hands worked their way up one of my thighs. I hadn’t realized I was audibly groaning as well. Ian then stood back up, “Stay there for a minute”, Ian instructed and then shampooed his own hair and then lathered soap over his own hard body. I was about to glance back, but suddenly he reached around me again and was applying more soap to my abdomen. Jr. was excited again as was jumping for attention and then suddenly Ian’s soapy hands began caressing my balls and soaping up my pubic bush. Jr. expressed his joy by spilling out a long string of precum which bounced with him as Ian soaped me up. I thought I was going to cum instantly and gasped as Ian grabbed my hard shaft. Jr. was happy and I think I was lightheaded from all the blood that had rushed to Jr’s aid. Ian was now massaging Jr. with soap while rubbing my chest and abs with his other hand. Simultaneously, Ian’s stiff rod was sliding between my own butt cheeks. “Oh, fuuuck. Oh my god Ian”, I was moaning. I knew we didn’t have time for this. We needed to make breakfast. “Oh fuck, that feels so good. Fuck me Ian”, I heard myself say. “You sure Steve”, Ian asked. I nodded my head and prepared for Ian’s bare cock to enter me. The soap was lube enough as the head of his cock pushed and entered me. Ian waited once he had entered me and I nodded. He then slowly slid in until his hard abs and pubic bush were tightly up against me. A few seconds later he was slowly sliding in and out in short strokes. “Fuuuck yes Ian. Fuck me”, I moaned as his cock slowly glided over my prostate. “You feel so hot and tight and wet inside Steve. You feel great”, Ian said as he fed me his condom-less cock. Once Ian overcame the newness of barebacking, he began showing me what he had learned and was changing up from short to long strokes and slow to rapid fucking. He was doing a fantastic job and I was moaning and groaning and begging for more, “Fuck yes Ian. Harder! Fuck yeah! Fucking slam my ass Ian! Fuck, I love it! Fuck me”! “Fuck, Steve! I can’t hold back any more”, Ian suddenly cried! “Yes! Give me your seed Ian! I love you so much! Breed my ass”! Almost simultaneously, Steve Jr. was painting the shower wall while Ian Jr. was painting my insides. Ian felt my hole spasming on his erupting rod as I was feeling his rod pulse and the warm cum flooding my insides. As our orgasms subsided, I leaned up against the shower wall and Ian leaned up against my back as we both fought to catch our breath.

Ian slowly pulled his cock from me and then began rewashing us and occasionally kissing me on the back of my neck and back. From out of nowhere the emotions crashed down on me. Ian realized my upper body was what seemed like convulsing to him, “Steve! What’s wrong? Steve”! I turned around and looked at him. There were tears running down my cheek, but also a huge smile on my face. I was laughing. “Nothing is wrong Ian. These are tears of joy. I am so happy to have you back with me once more”, and I grabbed him in an embrace and brought my lips to his. Ian was caught off guard at first, but soon melted in my embrace and joined the sensual kiss. As we eventually broke the kiss, Ian said, “Thanks Steve”. I gave him a puzzled look, then asked, “For what”? He looked at me as if in wonderment, “For sharing yourself with me. You didn’t have to let me, you know”? I grabbed his chin between my index finger and thumb and gave him a peck on the lips and smiled, “Ian, I didn’t let you do anything. I wanted you. I wanted to share myself with you as you’ve shared yourself with me. I enjoyed it as much as you hopefully did”. Ian replied, “Oh, I definitely enjoyed it”, and then glanced down at his hard cock, throbbing for more. I chuckled and said, “Jr. will have to wait until later. Breakfast is already out of the question already”, I added as I looked at the clock on the bathroom counter. We dried and hurriedly got dressed, well Ian hurriedly dressed us and headed for my appointment.

We arrived at the hospital and rushed up to Dr. Green’s suite. He was standing in the waiting room when we opened the door. “You’re late”, he said in an angry fatherly tone. Thinking quickly, I replied, “Sorry Dr. Green, but we have good news, Ian’s got his memory back”. Dr. Green’s expression changed completely, “That’s great news. Well, since this is a surprise and scheduling you for an appointment would delay my questions being answered, would you mind Ian coming back with us”? I looked at Ian grinning, “Of course not Dr. Green”. Dr. Green then led the way back to his office. He lifted my hands up and said, “You’ve gotten these wet”. I grinned sheepishly and said, Sorry. I put baggies over them in the shower, but somehow they got a little damp anyway”. Dr. Green smiled, and then asked the nurse to remove the bandages from my hands. While the nurse was doing that, Dr. Green had Ian follow his fingers with his eyes and then asked him if he knew what it was that caused his memory to return, whether it was something gradual or something sudden. Ian admitted to getting periodic flashes, bits and pieces, but he couldn’t piece them together. Then he told him of his dream this morning, leaving out the loving looks part, and how suddenly when the rear of the other car came crashing into Steve’s door, it all came flooding back. Dr. Green smiled and said, “I’m glad you’ve recovered your memory Ian. I’d like to do a follow-up next week if you don’t mind”. “Sure doc”, Ian replied. By that time, the nurse had removed the bandages from my hands. They were wrinkled up like prunes, with large white rings which were the blisters from the burns, mostly on my left hand and both on the palm and back of my hand. There was only one blister remaining on my right hand. It was on the back of my hand where the flames had burnt it. It was only the size of a quarter now. Dr. Green looked them over and said, “They’re healing up very well. You still need to keep them covered, but I think you’ll only need a small pad on the back of your right hand. The left we can wrap up a lot less than before and if you promise to wear gloves, you can start trying to get back to normal. Normal is NOT rushing to pull people out of a burning car”. I grinned. Ian said, “Tell him doc”! Dr. Green smiled, I’ll give you some gauze and tape so you can rewrap them as you need, obviously you’ll need help”, Dr. Green looked over at Ian. Ian grinned and said, “I’m on it, doc”. I smiled over at Ian. Dr. Green then removed the bandage from my left shoulder and the one on my forearm, “Ouch”, I yelled as the tape removed some of my arm hair! My shoulder had a still-inflated bubble filled with fluid and the nurse began wiping it with alcohol and then applying a cream on it. Dr. Green was examining the large scab on my forearm. “That doesn’t look good”, Ian exclaimed wide-eyed. Dr. Green continued to examine it as he answered Ian’s concerns, “Actually Ian, this looks surprisingly good. It seems to be healing pretty well, with no infection showing. You see Ian. This was a third-degree burn. They are the worst since the burned skin is dead and will not repair itself. We had to cut the dead tissue out as best we could and hope it didn’t get infected. That’s the biggest concern with burns, especially third degree. Keep the other wounds covered, clean and dry. Change the bandages at least once a day. This one I need you to check at least three times a day and come in immediately if there’s any sign of infection. You may feel it itch as it heals. That’s normal, but try not to scratch it. It will take a while for the tissue to grow back and there will probably be some scarring once it does heal”. “Thanks Doctor Green”, I said as the nurse rebandaged my arm. “Yeah, thanks doc”, chimed in Ian, then added, “I’ll make sure he follows your orders”. I grinned at Ian and Dr. Green smiled as well. The nurse then stepped out and I was finishing putting my shirt on, glad to have some use of my hands again, when Dr. Green said with a smile, “I know this is none of my business and you don’t need to respond to this, but I suspect you two have become more than just coworkers”. Ian and I looked at each other and we both had wide, shameless smiles on our faces. “It’s that obvious”, I asked? He laughed and said, “Oh no, not to everyone. Only to those with sight and hearing”. Our smiles grew that much wider.

We stopped and had lunch at a small Mexican restaurant and ate mostly in silence, only looking at each other. I adored this guy sitting opposite me. I’d do anything for him. I even loved how he chewed his food. At one point he caught me grinning at him, “What”? I laughed and reached over to wipe a drop of hot sauce off the tip of his nose. He giggled. Steve Jr. went crazy.

On the way home, I asked Ian what he had planned for the rest of the day since we hadn’t discussed it previously. I figured since Chad hadn’t been over on Saturday that he’d be coming over today. “The first thing I plan on doing is calling Chad”, he began, which I had expected, “and tell him we have other plans and maybe Tuesday would be a better day to come over”. That was a little unexpected, but Steve Jr. was doing a victory lap in my pants. “Then we could take a swim in the pool and hang out on the patio for a while. Oh, I forgot, I need to stop at the butcher shop and the seafood store, because then I want to make us some surf and turf with buttery garlic baked potatoes and what vegetable would you prefer”? I watched the energized look on Ian’s face as he was saying this and shook my head, “Ian, we could just go out to a restaurant and have that and save you the trouble”. “No Steve. I want to do this. I want to show you how much I love you. How much I want to make up for the past few weeks”, Ian was saying, then he turned to look my way and saw a tear running down my cheek, “Steve! What is it”? “Ian, you don’t have anything to make up for. Your amnesia was my fault. I’m the one who needs to make things right”, I explained. Suddenly Ian pulled off the road and turned off the ignition. I wasn’t sure if his look was one of care or anger, his expression kept changing, but he said, “Steve, I want to get this one thing straight! My amnesia was NOT your fault! Got it? You did what you had to do, and I’d trade a couple weeks of amnesia any day for the number of lives that were saved that day. You keep beating yourself up over this and it stops now! I’m so proud of what you did that day. Don’t regret it!”, then his face softened and he said, “I’m fine and I love you so much. What I want to make up for is lost time, not some perceived mistake. Let me do this, ok”? The tears down my cheeks increased in flow and I threw myself over to him and said, “I love you so much Ian”, and then kissed him deeply. As I broke the kiss, Ian was looking at me, waiting for more, a reply. I smiled sheepishly and said, “No more regrets. Of course I’ll let you do this Ian. Thank you”. Ian grinned from ear to ear and restarted the car. Once we were heading home, Ian glanced over at me with an evil grin and said, “After dinner and a drink, we’re going to go downstairs and play a game of pool”. I interrupted him, “You know how many times I’ve wanted to bend you over that pool table”? I asked rhetorically, grinning. Ian glanced over grinning and said, “As I was saying, we’re going to play a game of pool, strip pool”. “I’m liking this”, I said with a sly grin. Ian continued, “The loser gets bent over the pool table and fucked”. I smiled to myself, “you’re sure you thought this through”, I asked, knowing how much better I was at shooting pool? “We’ll see”, Ian responded with a smile.

We arrived at the house and I helped Ian bring in the groceries. Ian didn’t want me to help, but I convinced him that I needed to get back to using my hands again and assured him I’d be careful. Once the groceries were in the kitchen, Ian had me make us some drinks while he prepared the food. I was surprised when he allowed me to chop the broccoli which I had chosen for the vegetable. Once the food was prepared and put in the fridge until later, we headed out to the pool. Ian let me undress him as he undressed me. Obviously, it took me longer. I had to agree that as soon as we climbed out of the pool, we would clean and redress my burns per Dr. Green’s instructions. We had a great time, but we made out more than swam.

After getting dry bandages on, I was relegated to just hang out while Ian made the meal. It was smelling delicious. I’m sure there were neighbors’ stomachs rumbling for miles. The food turned out to taste as delicious as it smelled. Everything was perfect. The steak and lobster melted in your mouth. There was just enough garlic in the potatoes to give them an awesome flavor without an overwhelming garlic taste. The broccoli was steamed to perfection. After we ate, we lounged for a while with a glass of wine while we digested our food. I just stared into Ian’s eyes. My perfect muscle pup. I loved him so much. “So where did you learn to make such an awesome meal”, I asked him? Ian grinned slyly and said, “I actually had planned to do this on the day that I was leaving, when you didn’t need me any longer. I talked to one of the chefs at The Amour”. The Amour was the most exclusive restaurant in the area. Reservations were made months in advance and only then if you had name recognition. “So, you just went up to an Amour Chef and asked him to teach you to make steak and lobster”, I asked doubtfully? “Actually, he had dated my oldest sister back in high school”, Ian replied, then continued, “He was reluctant to teach me, but after I told him who it was for, he was more than willing.  By the way, he told me later that the owner would like to treat you to a free meal with a guest any time that you want.” “You never cease to amaze me Ian. No wonder I love you so much”, I said as I sat my wine down and embraced him. When we broke the embrace, I said, “Now I have to decide who I want to invite along to The Amour. OW”! “Bastard”, Ian said, knowing I said that just to pull his chain, he punched me in my right arm. “At least you chose the right arm this time”, I said laughing and then added, “and Ian, I’ll always need you”.  Ian smiled and replied, “That’s really sweet of you to say Steve”, then getting a wicked glint in his eye added, “Let’s see if you feel the same way when I have you bent over the pool table”. I couldn’t help but laugh. My mischievous muscle pup was back. For all his bravado though and even though my hands were still bandaged up to some degree, his chance at winning were very slim. “Let’s clean up and then we’ll see who’s bending who over the pool table”, I said still grinning. We cleaned up and put the dishes in the dishwasher before heading downstairs.

The rules of the game were simple. For each of the opponent’s balls which dropped, they would have to remove an article of clothing. Since we each only had on shorts, underwear and a t-shirt, each shoe and sock would count as one. It didn’t matter who put the ball in, if it was yours, you lost an article of clothing. It also didn’t matter who was naked first. It was the winner of the game that counted. The eight ball had to be called. We flipped a coin for the break and Ian won. I was surprised when he made two low balls, the five and two, and a high ball, the twelve, on the break. I removed both my sneakers. He removed his right. He then sank the seven ball but ended up with the cue ball in a bad spot. I took off my left sock. I was surprised that he went after and barely missed a spectacular shot at the six ball. “Looks like someone’s been practicing”, I said, impressed. Ian grinned, “Maybe a little. I’ve been schooling Chad down here and sometimes just by myself. You kick my ass all the time except when you let me win”. I smiled. I didn’t think I’d been that obvious. I walked up to the table for my first turn and sank the fourteen, followed by the thirteen, tying things up. Ian removed his left sneaker and sock. I bent down to eye up slicing the nine ball in the side when I felt Ian come up behind me and grind his crotch against my butt. I grinned and looked back at him and said, “You know that’s cheating”. Ian stepped back and put his hands up and said, “I’m only warming up for the real thing. Just saying”. I smiled as I realigned my shot and thought, ‘he’s trying to distract me. The little bastard’. I missed the nine ball completely. Ian was grinning from ear to ear. I was giving him the evil eye. Ian then dropped the four ball and set himself up for the six he’d missed earlier. I removed my other sock , then pulled off my t-shirt when the six ball dropped. When he took a long shot for the one ball and made it, I began to be a little concerned. I dropped my shorts. Ian broke out in a wide grin as he glanced down at the outline of my stiff cock fighting against the fabric of my blue boxer briefs with a wet spot at its tip. “Looks like you can’t wait for me to bend you over this table”, he said grinning. “It’s anticipation of having you bent over the table, Ian”, I replied.  The three ball was trapped, so all Ian could do was break it out, making it my turn. I dropped the nine in the side and then put the fifteen in the corner. I waited as Ian yanked off his other sock and then slid his t-shirt over his head. It gave me time to try and figure out my next shot since the cue ball had drifted behind the eight. My double-bank attempt failed and it was Ian’s turn. “Yes”, Ian shouted as the three ball dropped! My cock slapped my abdomen as I slid down and stepped out of my briefs. Ian eyed up the eight ball and I crossed my fingers and yet my cock throbbed with the possibility that it could be me draped over the table with Ian’s cock ramming my insides. Ian cursed as the eight ball bounced around the rails and stopped. I dropped the eleven and Ian slid out of his shorts exposing his own excitement through his red Jockey briefs. The darker red spot at the tip wasn’t a fashion accessory. I lined up to bury the ten ball, as I had anticipated, Ian began grinding his cotton-sheathed crotch into my exposed bare butt. I caught him off guard by grinding back into him and said, “Just want you to know what you’re going to miss”. I then bumped him back and took my shot. The ten ball dropped, leaving me a shot for the eight. Before Ian had climbed out of his briefs, I sank the eight as well and stood up grinning at him. “Fuck, I almost had you”, he said grinning. “Yep, almost, but this isn’t horse shoes Ian. Assume the position”, I was going to enjoy this. Ian walked up and bent over the table, placing his forearms on the table’s surface. He turned just in time to see me take a pic with my cell phone. “Hey, you have to delete that Steve”, he protested. “Don’t worry. This won’t get shared with anyone but you. You just look so hot bent over that table. I couldn’t resist.”, I assured him. I put the phone down and grabbed a tube of lube, then walked over to Ian and began massaging his solid shoulders and back. I leaned into him and reached under his arm pits and began rubbing his pecs and grinding my stiff, precum-leaking steel shaft up and down his deep crack. “You know this became one of my fantasies that first day I brought you down here and showed you this table and you bent over and began taking shots, really bad shots. Ian giggled. Steve Jr. jumped like a hound restrained and added an additional flood of precum into Ian’s deep crevasse. Ian’s own stiff cock had a long string of precum dangling from its tip. I nudged his neck and as he turned toward me I locked onto his lips. We stayed locked and I continued sliding between his hard globes. We broke the kiss and Ian said, “God Steve, I don’t think we’ll need the lube”. He was right. My cock had leaked so much precum, his crack was flooded with it. I pulled back a little and began rubbing the tip of my cock against his twitching pucker. Ian actually pushed back into it and took the tip inside his tight ring. He inhaled sharply and then whispered, “Fuck me Steve”.  I slowly sank my shaft into him, relishing the warm tightness of him. As I pushed up firmly against him, I pulled against his chest with my forearms and kissed his neck. “You are so fuckin’ hot Ian”, I whispered to him. “Fuck me Steve”, he replied. I began my strokes, short and slow at first, then still slow, but longer. I continued pushing and withdrawing, feeling his reaction each time I hit or glided over his prostate. Ian’s reactions excited me as much as my own body’s. I wanted him to enjoy every movement of our bodies bonding together. We were one in this moment and his enjoyment was mine. Ian’s long string of precum was now painting the side of the pool table and puddling on the hardwood floor beneath him. “Fuck Steve. You feel so good in me. Fuck me harder! Slam my ass Steve! Reach for my tonsils!”, Ian cried! I knew he must be getting close, so I obliged and began slamming into him in long outward strokes and then quick plunges back in. Abdomen and muscular globes slapping like thunder in the room. Ian reached down with his left arm and I grabbed it and pulled it against his chest with my own, “No you don’t”, I said, keeping him from stroking his cock. I didn’t want him rushing this. He was close enough. “Fuck Steve. I need to cum so badly”, he groaned, and then “Fuck, I’m cumming”! He clamped down on me like a vice as his cum shot into the side of the table and onto the floor all around. After a few more strokes, I could hold back no longer, “Fuck Ian! I’m cumming”! “Fuck Steve! Flood my ass with your cum. Oh yeah, breed my ass”, Ian cried between breaths! I emptied into him and then laid across his back catching my own breath. As our breathing steadied, I turned and began tonguing Ian’s ear. “Fuuuuck”, Ian groaned. Then I started planting kisses all over his neck and shoulder. “Fuck Steve, you’re making me hard again”, Ian moaned. I slowly pulled out of him and turned him to face me. We kissed again and then I began slowly planting kisses down his chest and abs before dropping to my knees and taking his balls in hand. I slathered up his balls, taking them each into my mouth and suckling them. Releasing them, I then licked his shaft, tasting the cum still present. After thoroughly cleaning any remaining cum from his cock, I took it into my mouth and worked it with both my lips and tongue. “Fuck that’s hot Steve”, Ian sighed. I soon felt fresh sweet precum flooding out. I lapped at it and swirled it around in my mouth relishing its flavor. I then pulled off his cock, “You need to bottle that stuff. It is so delicious”, I said grinning. He was surprised when I rose and pulled him from the side of the pool table. I smiled and said, “Ready for round two”? Ian was completely dumbfounded, “You want to play another round”? I chuckled and said, “Not exactly what I meant”, and then I bent over to the side of the pool table and licked Ian’s cum from the side. Then I leaned over the table, placed my forearms on its surface, spread my legs and arched my back slightly, “Fuck me Ian. Maybe you can reach my tonsils”. Ian looked at me in disbelief, “You won. Are you sure”? I smiled at him and my eyes watered as I said, “Ian, you complete me and whether I am in you or you are in me, we become one”. Ian applied lube to his cock and then around my hole, eventually inserting a finger, working it around before adding a second. “Ok stud. Give me that cock of yours”, I said. Ian wasted little time as he began pushing against my entrance. I winced a little as he entered me but recovered quickly. Soon I felt his pubic bush, then abdomen against my buns and then he began slowly fucking me, “You’re so hot and tight Steve. I want to slowly make love to you”. “Yeah, fuck me stud”, I replied. Ian did take it slow at first, but soon things heated up and they were frantically going at it, “Harder Ian! Ram that sweet cock of yours inside me”, I yelled. Ian’s sweat was dripping down on my back as his cock massaged my prostate and he slammed into me. I couldn’t tell whether the change was in his heavy breathing or mine, but then realized it was both as he suddenly cried out, “Fuck! I’m cumming”. “Me too”, I cried as we simultaneously came. Ian’s cum flooded into me as I felt the warm pressure surge inside me. My cum splattered against the side of the table and onto the floor to mix with Ian’s seed. Exhausted, Ian laid across my back this time as we caught our breath. I looked back into Ian’s eyes and suddenly we both began laughing uncontrollably. Ian slowly pulled out of me and I turned around and looked into his eyes. As our joyous laughter calmed, I said to him, “I love you so much Ian”. “I love you so much Steve”, he responded. We kissed briefly, but decided to clean up our mess before going up to get showers. Ian volunteered to clean up the floor while I cleaned the table. We then went up and got in the shower. I was actually able to help this time.

Once we got out of the shower, Ian made us some drinks and I put some strawberries, cherries and grapes in a bowl. We went out on the deck behind the bedroom and fed each other fruit as we watched the sun set and listened to the waves crashing below on the beach. After a few drinks and the fruit had been devoured, we went into bed, our bed.

The next morning we woke spooned together. I whispered in Ian’s ear, “We need to get up for work Ian”. “Let’s just stay in bed all day. I like the feel of you against me like this”, he replied sleepily. “I can get used to waking up like this every morning, but we have to go to work today. It’s been weeks Ian”, I coaxed. “I know. But this feels so good”, and he pushed his butt back into my crotch. My cock throbbed and I pulled back and rolled out of bed, “No you don’t”, I said laughing. He looked over grinning, “Can’t blame me for trying”, and then slowly climbed out of bed. We showered, shaved, etc. and then ate breakfast. We stopped by Ian’s house to pick up a few things he needed for work and then headed in.

As we entered, we both almost jumped out of our skin. The other employees were lined up clapping and the owner was waiting for us at the other end. “Welcome back Steve and Ian. We really missed you here”, he said. “Thank you, Sir”, I replied, “We weren’t expecting this kind of reception though”. “It’s the least we could do, and please Steve, call me George. Could the two of you follow me into my office”? “Certainly, Mr. Johnson, I mean George”. Ian hadn’t said a word the whole time. He just kept looking at me grinning.

We entered Mr. Johnson’s, um George’s office and were directed to have a seat opposite his huge desk. He sat down in his old large leather chair behind it. I felt nervous as a visit to Mr. Johnson’s office was rarely a good thing, but he had been extremely generous to me, especially since the accident and to allow Ian time off to insure I was taken care of had been an unbelievable act of kindness. We weren’t a huge company though and Mr. Johnson did try to treat everyone, including the nightly cleaning people like family. Like any head of the family though, if you disappoint him, he’d certainly be sure to let you know about it. Ian’s grin had disappeared, and he darted a glance at me. It was one of apprehension. “How’re you feeling Steve? I mean getting over an extreme loss of blood and then to get the burns on top of that must be traumatizing. Are you sure you’re feeling up to returning? I’m more than willing to give you more time if you need it”, Mr. Johnson asked? “I’m fine Mr. Johnson, uh, I mean George. I’m really glad to be back to work. These bandages will hamper me a little, but Ian’s been great so far and I’m sure I can count on his help with any issue they may cause”, I assured him. I didn’t want any more time off. I needed to get back to work, back to normalcy. Mr. Johnson smiled and looked to Ian, “Ian, how are you coming along. How’s the memory issue coming along? We can have a specialist review your case if you want”? Ian smiled, “Actually, Mr. Johnson, I’ve recovered everything I’d lost during the accident. It happened early yesterday morning. Dr. Green was very pleased when we told him yesterday”. Mr. Johnson smiled and said, “That’s fantastic. I’m happy for you and glad to hear it. Now, for the other news. Since the news of the accident has gone national or more accurately internationally and the fact that your association with the company has been known,”, I interrupted him, being shocked by the revelation, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get the company’s name embroiled in all this. I”, Mr. Johnson put his hand up to silence me, Let me finish Steve”. “Sorry Sir”, I said respectfully. “It seems our company has received some attention. Requests for our services has skyrocketed. We’ve had to turn down most of the requests and we’re now expanding exponentially to deliver others.” I glanced at Ian who was grinning at me proudly. I returned the smile, then returned my focus back to Mr. Johnson, er George. He was grinning, “So you see Steve, having a hero’s name associated with our company has created an opportunity for us to expand, but we mustn’t lose our commitment to the quality and service we’ve become known for. The other problem is that Charles, my brother and CEO was planning to retire at the end of the year. He’s a little uncomfortable with the prospect of overseeing the expansion of the company and I’m not looking for a merger. Charles needs help and an eventual successor. Steve, how is Ian coming along”, Mr. Johnson suddenly inquired? I glanced at Ian proudly and responded, “Very well Sir, uh, I mean George. He pretty much has everything we need together before we start a new project. He’s even given us some ideas on some improvements that we’ve been implementing. I’d say he’s doing surprisingly well.”, I gave Ian another quick glance and saw he was blushing. I wasn’t sure where Mr. Johnson was taking this, but what I was sure of was that Ian would be able to run his own crew whenever called on to do so. Mr. Johnson looked pleased at my answer, “I’m glad to hear that Steve. Ian, is that how you feel”? Ian looked unsure as to what to say and stammered out, “Uh, Mr. Johnson, Steve and I are a really good team and I do all I can to make sure everything’s ready for every job we start or project we have to visit. I have had some ideas on some improvements and was proud that they were implemented and were successful in cutting down time or improving product quality” Mr. Johnson began to laugh loudly stopping Ian mid-sentence. I was growing worried. Ian just stared at him with his mouth open. As Mr. Johnson’s laughter died down, he looked at Ian with a smile still on his face, “Loyalty to a fault. I like that. No wonder you were so anxious to assist Steve through his injuries. You’re a great asset to us Ian, but you didn’t answer my question. Ian, I know you are still young as is Steve, but could you take on a team by yourself and provide what you and Steve have been doing”?  I looked at Ian. I knew what his answer should be, what the honest truth was. Would he step up? “Mr. Johnson, I think I could run a team if and when you are willing to give me the opportunity”, Ian finally said. I looked at him smiling proudly and thought, ‘Ian, I am so proud of you right now’. Mr. Johnson reached out and shook Ian’s hand, “That was the answer I was hoping to hear Ian. We’re in the middle of a search for qualified people to form several new teams and we’ll also need to fill the position of one of our existing team leaders. Steve, you have a month to have Ian ready to lead your old team”, ‘WAIT! WHAT?’, by that time I hope to have some new hires on board to fill the open positions”. Ian and I glanced at each other. What was happening? “Mr. Johnson, I’m sorry, but what’s my roll in this once Ian’s ready”, I asked? “It’s George to you Steve and I’m glad you asked because that leads me to my next question. As I said, Charles, my brother is looking to retire and wasn’t expecting to take on such a huge challenge this close to his retirement. I’d like you to step in and help him with that as Assistant Executive Director of Operations. Once Charles retires, you’ll be CEO”. I’m glad I was seated. I think all the blood drained from my face. I was speechless. Mr. Johnson smiled and continued, “Steve, I know there are more senior people in this company, some of whom may have some qualifications to fill those shoes. This also has nothing to do or at least little to do with your actions over the past few weeks. What you did wasn’t a surprise to me. What you did was a reinforcement of who you’ve been since you started here. I’ve been paying attention. Don’t look at this as a reward either. It’s a challenge that I’m more than sure you’re up for Steve”, Mr. Johnson, er George concluded and shook my hand. I had the feeling this was not an offer I could refuse. “Thank you, Sir, I mean George. I’ll do my best”, I said still in shock. “I’m sure you will Steve and I’m sure your best will be more than sufficient. We’ll get your paperwork moving. Go enjoy your day and catch up on things”. As we left George’s office, we found Charles Johnson waiting outside the door, “Welcome back Steve and you too Ian”, he greeted. Thank you, Mr. Johnson”, I replied. He laughed, “It’s Charles, Steve. We’re going to be working closely together, so that’s the first formality to have to go”. The fact that he already knew caught me a little off guard, “So you already know”? “Steve, George and I have been discussing this for a while. We knew it might ruffle a few feathers, but current events made this the perfect time to make that move. You deserve this Steve. It will be an honor working with you”. “Thank you, Sir, I mean Charles. It’s going to take time getting used to this’, I said. “No problem Steve. I’ll let you get readjusted today. How about coming by my office around ten tomorrow morning. That will give you some time with Ian first, and Ian congratulations to you as well”.

Ian and I then walked back to the lab where we did most of our work. We both were in a bit of a daze. Suddenly Ian punched me in my right arm. “Ow! What was that for”, I asked him? He giggled and replied, “I just wanted to make sure this wasn’t a dream. I’m so proud of you Steve”, Ian said and then hugged me so hard I was having trouble breathing. “Well, I’ll know soon. If it’s a dream, I’ll soon wake up. If this is real, I’ll soon be dead from lack of oxygen”, I squeaked. “Sorry”, Ian said grinning sheepishly as he released me. The rest of the afternoon was spent answering a thousand questions from Ian picking my brain for any secrets or tricks he may have missed. Most of the time, he already knew the answer, he just needed validation.

We spent Monday evening quietly. We went to an Italian restaurant and he had spaghetti while I chose lasagna. When we got home, the elephant in the room was finally broached. Ian brought it up, but it was a conversation we’d need to have. We were sitting out on the deck behind the bedroom having a drink. “Steve, I’m not sure if you want to talk about this right now, but Chad’s supposed to be coming by tomorrow and he’ll need to know “. I looked at Ian, trying to gauge my reply, “So what are you going to tell him”, I asked?

End of Chapter 13