The Bon Fire

“Did you pack your Payton jersey?”  Carson couldn’t resist.  It was like asking the rabid Bear’s fan if he was bringing toothpaste.

“Pffftt.  What do you think is in that garment bag I put out here last night?  I would never forg…  Oh you bastard.  Ha ha.  Just know that you can do no wrong after this.  I still can’t believe you got these tickets! OMG!”  The big stud squealed for the umpteenth time.  “Have I mentioned how much I love you?”  Carson felt the big strong arms around him again hugging him tight, his feet dangling off the ground.

“Yes, you have.  Only about a million times since I gave you those tickets two weeks ago.  Though we are never going to get there if you do not put me down so we can finish getting the bags in the Jeep.”

Cody turned at the sound of tires on gravel as Slade’s old F-150 pulled up to a stop.  Slade and Cody jumped out.  “Hey guys.  Ready for the trip to the big city?  HOME OPENER OF THE BEARS!!!”  Slade yelled.  “Are you feeling ok Carson?  You don’t look good.  Let me feel your forehead.  Ooooo.  You are warm.  You should probably stay here.  I may as well take that ticket.  No need for it to go to waste.”

“Ha ha, you wish big fella.  Not gonna happen.  ‘Sides, I don’t think you could handle this guy.  OMG, he’s been like a kid the night before Christmas for 14 looooonnnnngggg days now.”  Carson chided dragging out the word, giving his big hot husband a huge smile and a wink.

“Grayson has already been fed this morning.  His food and measure cup are in the plastic tub behind his dish.  There is plenty of food and drink for you guys.  Help yourself to whatever you want.   We really appreciate you guys staying here and looking after things.  You really do not need to be here Monday and take off work.  If you feed Grayson in the morning, he will be fine till we get back around noon.”  Carson said while holding the growing puppy who was alternately licking his and Granger’s scruffy face.  He also noticed the exchange of looks between the two studs and the knowing smirk. 

“Oh, and one other thing Cody.”  Granger said in a serious tone, looking at the boy with a steely stare. 

“Yes?”  Cody said with a concerned look.

“I put a sheet of plastic all around your bed, so when that geyser of yours goes off, we won’t have to rip out the carpet.”  Carson and Slade doubled over in laughter, while Cody’s face turned crimson in an instant, his mouth open but no words would come out.

“Ok, you guys better get going or you’re never going to get there.  Besides my boy here already has his mouth open and I’m ready to stuff something in it.”  Choked out Slade.

“Yeah, you better leave before this bitch starts guzzling.”  The still red-faced Cody finally retorted.

“And here’s a bit of advice.  Lock the door!”  Said a laughing Carson as he climbed into the Jeep.

“Doubt we will have to with the counties two serial peeping Toms out of town.”  Slade added.

 

The tires of the Jeep hummed along as it headed East in light traffic, for the five-plus-hour drive.  “I am looking forward to being with you in the city.  Showing my hot farm boy around.”  Smiled Carson, rubbing his hand on the big stud’s muscular thigh.

“I can’t wait.  I mean the game is a crazy momentous deal, but I have never been in a big city, and it sounds exciting.  Can you believe that the football field holds over 60,000 people!  Babe, that’s more than three times the population of our county.  Even the weather is supposed to be perfect and warm.”

“Dude, you think Rockford is a big city, because it has more than one stoplight.”  Teased Carson.

“Ha ha.  Yu so funny.”  Granger mocked, making his best Chinese face and accent.  “We don’t know anybody there, what do you mean by ‘showing me around?’”

“It’s just that sometimes I feel a little uneasy when we are in town together.  Not so much our little town, everyone there knows you and you broke them in quick.  But like when we go to visit Tag and Beth and we go into Kirksville, I feel self-conscious.  I feel like we shouldn’t hold hands or certainly not kiss in public.  You know like we are not allowed to be like two people who are in love.  Maybe it is my city boy bias, but I feel like most of the towns around us are not very tolerant.  Just look at Cody and Slade.  Hiding who they are for a year now.”

“You know how I feel.  They should be damn glad my hand is only on your hand and not up under your clothes, with your hot fucking body.”  Casting Carson a lustful grin and rubbing his hand across the driver’s firm pec.

“Save it for the hotel you big horny stud.  We don’t want to crash my new Jeep.  About Cody and Slade though.  Do you think they are fucking yet.”

“Dude, I bet money that they were fucking before we even got out of the driveway.”  The two studs chuckling in agreement.

 

Carson steered the Jeep under the lighted canopy and onto the bright red carpet.  He handed the keys to the valet and the boys grabbed their bags from the back.  Carson smiled as he watched Granger turning slowly around looking up at the four-story ceiling.  “Babe, look at this.  Look at that painting and the crazy archeological detail all over the place.”

“We will have plenty of time to sightsee, but let’s get checked in.”  He reached out his hand and laced his fingers together with his lovers. 

Granger felt the warm hand in his and squeezed a little, tightening the connection.  It then hit him that the simple gesture was new.  Carson had never been the one to initiate holding hands in public, kind of underlining what he had said in the Jeep.  ‘This city stuff was going to be great.’  Thought the farm stud.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?  Dude, have you seen this?”  Granger exclaimed as he stood at the floor to ceiling window looking from their 23rd floor room out over Grant Park below.  “I have never been this high in a building before.”  He gushed.

“Wait till you see where we are going before dinner.  I’m going to grab a quick shower before we head out.”

Carson stood under the warm spray, enjoying the feel of the water on his skin.  His face pointed up, with eyes closed toward the source of the jets in the large glass walled shower.  He felt a change in the air and felt a big hand on the small of his back.  “Mmmmmm.  You going to wash my back?”

He felt two hands now moving down and grasping each of his muscled globes.  He opened his eyes slightly just as a warm mouth sucked in his flaccid cock. “Uuuunnnnnn.  That feels good.  But Bro, wait, we don’t have time for this.  We have to get going.”  The suction increased and his rebellious cock responded.  “Fuuucccckkkk.  Babe, please you have to stop.  We have reservations…Aaaahhhhhh.”

The two strong hands pulled firmly forward, and he felt the hot stud’s nose and chin dig into his body forcing his swollen cock down the sculpted jocks throat.  The warm water pouring over their athletic bodies.  The action was repeated as the hot kneeling stud used his lovers rock hard dripping cock to face fuck his own throat.  “Oh fuuuccckkk Granger.  You are going make me cum.  I’m gonna AAAAGGGGGGHHHHH.  FUCK!”  He gripped the light brown hair on the jock’s head and forcefully thrust his young hips forward, pumping his hot liquid seed deep into the gullet of the oxygen deprived Adonis.  He held the farm studs face tightly to his trimmed pubes in a trance like state as he slowly came down from his explosive orgasm. 

He felt strong hands pushing back on his hairy muscular thighs, bringing him back to a fully conscious state.  “Oh my god!”  He let go of his lover’s head and pulled his still engorged fuck muscle out of the gasping mouth.  Granger fell forward sucking in air and coughing it back out, his forehead resting on his husband’s bare foot.  “Granger are you ok?”  Carson asked trying to pull the big man to his feet.

“Holy shit bro.  You are one wild stud.  For a second there I thought it was Cody’s cock unloading in me.”  Finally getting his oxygen back up and flashing Carson a huge smile, then pulling him into a passionate tongue dueling kiss under the cascading water.

Finally breaking lip contact and trying to catch his breath Carson begged.  “Granger, we have to get going.  I have made plans for us tonight, ending with me ravaging every inch of your gorgeous body after we get back from dinner, but we really have to go.”  He pleaded.

“As long as sexual ravaging is part of the plan, I will not invade your hot tight ass with my tongue and cock right now.”

 

Carson took the tickets from the Willis Tower agent and the two boys walked toward the express elevator and boarded.  Granger was reading the brochure as they began to move.  “Dude this building is 108 stories tall.  Our room is crazy high, and it is only on the 23rd floor.  Holy shit.  You said we are going to the Skydeck then out on the Ledge?”  Another squeal of delight.  A few snickers could be heard from other riders.

The elevator rocketed skyward with the doors opening a short time later.  “Oh my god, we are above the clouds.”  As a few scattered clouds passed beneath them.  “Look, there’s Lake Michigan.”  Both boys moving from one side to the next, excitedly taking in the amazing views.

“Hey, it is our turn to go out on the Ledge.”  Granger walked right out, his mouth open in awe.  “This is so dope.  Don’t you th…  Carson, what are you doing?”  Carson was standing at the edge of the building looking down through the glass floor at the concrete street over 1,300 feet below.  His face was white as a ghost. 

“I don’t know if I want to walk out there.  It looks a little flimsy.”

“Babe, it has held hundreds of people.  You’ll be fine.  Take my hand.”  Granger put his big hand around the trembling hand of the guy not ready to plummet to his death.  “You did it.  See, look at this amazing view.  It says you can see four states from here and….”

“Ok, I’m good, said the sweaty younger stud, standing back in the safety of the building.  You ready?”  Granger chuckled and walked up to his nervous partner.  “You know I love you.” 

Carson felt warm lips cover his own and his feet leave the floor.  He felt better already.

 

“I think that was the best meal I ever had.  Our waiter said that they fly that seafood in fresh every day.  Are you sure I can’t pay for at least half?  I had more courses than you did.”  Granger stated as they walked the two blocks back to the hotel.

“Babe, this is my birthday present to you.  You carried my ass when I was in college and gave me shit when I tried to pay.  I want to do this.  Besides I love spoiling my bitch.”  He snickered.  “Speaking of our waiter, did you think he was hot?”

“Yeah, he was hot.  He is from Indiana and is taking some community college courses.  He just turned 20, almost the same birthday as me.  He said he did some modeling on the side and...”

“Whoa.  When did you get all this information from him?”

“I was taking a leak and he came up to the urinal next to me and started talking.”

“Dude, there were like eight urinals in that restroom, and he took the one right next to you?  Were all the others occupied?”

“No, it was empty.”

“He was so hitting on you Babe.  Did he check out your cock?”

“He was not hitting on me.  How did you know that he checked out my cock?”

“Oh, farm boy, you are so naïve.  It is an unwritten rule that you never take the urinal next to another unless it is all that is left.  Everyone knows that.” 

“Are you felling a little jealous?  Do you think your big man could be taken advantage of?”  Granger said with a shit eating grin. 

“You interrupted me earlier when you asked me if I thought he was hot.  He was smokin hot but compared to you he was an ogre.  I can’t explain it but it is not just your physical looks, which you have in spades.  It’s you.  When we were in high school, before the bon fire, I was drawn to you.  I had no idea why, and I still am not sure how to put it into words.  I would watch you.  Sure you were cute as hell, with your tight little skinny jeans framing that firm little ass.  My cock brain already knew I wanted you buy my head brain was not yet aware.  That is until you laid those hot luscious lips on me in the storm cellar.”  Granger bended down and kissed his boy again. 

“I digress.  I can sit and talk to you for hours.  I love hearing you talk, listening to your voice.  There are too many things about you to mention.  Your eyes have this unique shade of blue, makes all the other blue eyes pale in comparison.  The way your blond hair hangs across your dark thick eyebrows, and you flick it to the side.  Drives me wild.  The way you walk, like you raise up on your toes at the end of your stride, maybe trying to make up for your late growth spurt.  Growing old with you is going to be so epic.  You make me so happy every day that I ….mmmppphhhh.”  Carson grabbed the back of the big studs head and brought his lips down and into a passionate kiss.

“Babe, you had me at urinal.” 

They strode through the four-story lobby hands laced together, Carson resting his head on Grayson’s wide shoulder.  The elevator chimed as the 23 light went out.  The key card illuminated the green light and Granger pushed open the heavy door and lead the young stud inside the spacious room with both their hands laced together.  

He backed to the king-sized bed and sat down, his young love standing in front of him.  His large hands began to unbutton the dress shirt the young stud had worn to dinner.  He pushed it off the bare shoulders and slid his hands down the warm arms pushing the sleeves off the relaxed hands till the shirt fell to the floor. 

Next his fingers found the belt on the slim hips.  He moved to the front and unclipped the metal clasp, pulling the belt free.  He unhooked the black dress pants and the garment fell to the floor.  He leaned forward, pressing the top of his head firmly against the hard cock encased in the Jockey fabric and pulled off the left shoe and sock, while stroking the back of the boy’s firm calf.  The same was repeated for the right side.  Carson was now moaning continuously. 

Granger sat back up on the large bed, noticing the large wet spot forming on the material in front of him.  He looked up into the loving eyes of the stud looking down on him and placed his large hands on the sides of the thin waist.  His palms to the small of the city boys back he slid his fingers down under the waist band and grasped the firm muscled glutes of the hot young stud.

He pushed the damp fronted cloth down and lifted each bare foot, till the athletic hot young stud was standing naked in front of him.  He leaned forward and caught the drip of pre-cum on his tongue just as it separated from slit off the purple cock head.

Carson was breathing heavier now when thick fingers brushed across his moist lips.  He sucked two of them into his mouth, licking and sucking the familiar digits.  The fingers turned and began to lightly pull down from the back of his top teeth.  He was bent over now, his fingers fighting the buttons on the XL dress shirt as the fingers left his mouth and warm lips covered his full red lips.

He moaned into the big farm studs’ mouth as the thick fingers found their way from his taint up between his firm globes till they circled around his pink opening.  His own saliva was then pushed into his tight boy pussy lubing up the muscle while sliding in and out.

The young studs’ hands were all over the wide muscular crisp pecs as his nose was filled with the familiar scent of a stud ready to mate.  Ready to breed the object of his desire, the big cock lubing itself for the imminent insertion.  Carson felt his pussy quivering in anticipation of being spread wide and impaled by the stud ready to mount him.

“Get those pants off and fuck me with that big horse cock.”  The young city buck growled.

The sculpted farm stud shed his remaining clothes and lifted the city boy grinding their cocks together and driving his tongue down the smaller boy’s throat.  Guttural sounds were emanating from the lust filled stud as he bent his knees thrusting his powerful hips forward and up, mashing the two vertical cocks together.  His head moving forward trying to get more of his tongue past his lovers’ tonsils.  The effect of the aggressive male was pushing the younger stud backward as he tried to maintain his footing.

“Fuck Carson you hot stud.  You are driving me wild.” 

Carson felt something cold on his back, when he felt the big stud drop to his knees and spin him around.  He found himself looking out over Grant Park and pressed up against the glass, just as a hot tongue dove into his tight ass.  “AAAAAAA FUUUUUCCCCKKKK.”

He felt powerful fingers pull his muscular globes apart and the scrape of the scruffy face on the inside of his crack as the tongue dove in deeper.  The big stud was licking, sucking and chewing on his boy pussy making him cry out.  “I can’t take any more.  Stick it in me.  Stick it in me now!”  He demanded. 

Granger stood up behind the panting young stud and lined up his slimy cock head with the saliva-soaked opening.  He pushed forward and watched his big phallus slowly sink into the tight hot confines of this very familiar fuck hole.

 “Oh god.  Your cock is so big.  Fuuuucccckkk.  Come on you big tease, pump me with it.  Drive it int…. AAAAGGGGHHHH!!”  The big stud pulled out and quickly slammed back into the hilt, pressing his young stud into the glass, flattening his athletic chest and smearing the window with young cock snot, while hot ragged breath steamed up the glass.

The farm stud was thrusting in and out of the boy, keeping him pressed up against the glass, his muscular arms holding the young stud tight to his broad chest.  “Oh yeah city boy.  Take that big cock.  The whole city can see you getting fucked by your man.  They are going to watch when my balls pump you full of my seed.”  Growled the big stallion lost in sexual lust.

“Harder.  Fuck me harder.  Fucking breed me you big stud.  Fill me with your DNA.”

The room was filled with grunts and groans, the slapping of wet flesh and the squeaking noise of sweaty skin moving up and down on glass, as the young stud was shoved up with each powerful thrust.  The muscular jock’s hips driving forward with the urgent need to pass on his genes by fertilizing the young boy.

“FUUUCCCKKK.  I’M CUMMING.”  Both studs cried.  Stream after stream pumped out of the pulsating cock coating the large glass with white goo, just as the boy felt the huge cock in his ass swell and hot blasts of cum coat his insides.

 

The king-sized bed held the hot studs spooning together as they drifted toward sleep.  The big farm stud behind his smaller lover, his arms draped over the boys chest, his soft cock pressed up against the moist crack and his leg between the younger mans legs.  “I swear every time it gets better Carson.  I love you so much.”

“You don’t really think anyone could s….”

“No way anyone could see way up here.  Across from us is a park, besides it was dark out.  I knew that was bothering you.”  Snickered the big stud.

“I’ve noticed we do that a lot these days, Babe.”

“What’s that?”

“Know what the other is thinking and finish their sentence, or answer what they haven’t quite asked.  I love that about us.  I love everything about us.”

 

The game was unbelievable.  Granger was so stoked he got to wear his prize Payton jersey to an actual game.  Carson had never seen him so excited.  The teams traded touchdowns the first three quarters, keeping the crowd loud and in the game.  The score was 14 to 14 at the end of the third.  Then in the fourth Green Bay got a safety and then later a field goal.  It was Green Bay 19 and the Bears 14 with eight seconds left in the game.  The Bears had the ball on their own 22-yard line.  It was fourth down.  The quarter back threw a ‘hail Mary’ and the ball was caught and run into the end zone for the game winning touchdown.  The Bears had won 20 to 19 vs their big rival Green Bay.

The crowd erupted and the whole stadium shook.  All the fans around them were jumping and screaming and giving high fives to everyone.  “Dude, this is the greatest day of my life.  Thank you so much.”  The big farm stud yelled into Carson’s ear above the din.

The boys packed onto an “L” train and got off at a station a few blocks from the hotel.  They saw a lively looking bar and went in for a drink.  The place erupted when Granger walked in with his Payton jersey.  They enjoyed a few drinks and had a fun, spirited conversation with the guys seated on the stools next to them.  Carson marveled at how people just seemed to gravitate to Granger.  He seemed to make friends everywhere they went.  The hotel, the tower, that hot waiter, at the game and again here at the bar.  He smiled at his big hot stud, loving him even more.

The sun had already set by the time they left the bar.  Giving hugs and saying goodbye to their new friends.  The air was getting a little cooler from the warm day with the onset of darkness.  They held hands as the walked down the street toward their hotel in the distance.

“Did you hear that?”  Granger whispered.

“No, what?”

“Sounded like someone crying.  There it is again.  Sounds like it is coming from behind that dumpster.”  They walked over and saw a young girl, maybe mid-teens sitting on the ground behind the dumpster her hands locked together holding her knees up, softly crying, tears running down her dirty cheeks.

Granger crouched down.  “What’s wrong?  Are you OK?”

“I’m fine.  Just go away.”  The small girl said weakly.

“My name is Granger, and this is my husband Carson.  Why are you crying?  Are you hungry?  When did you eat last?”

“Don’t freak.  He does that to me all the time.  Just pick which question you want to answer first and go from there.”  Carson smiled warmly at the girl.

A slight smile crossed her lips.  “I am a little hungry.”

“I have a couple of energy bars if you like.”  She took the bars quickly ripping them open and wolfing them down. 

“Talk to us.  We want to help if we can.”

“I doubt you can help me.”  With that the girl stood up.  The boys both looked on with shock.  The girl had to be at least seven months pregnant.  With her small skinny frame, it looked like she had a basketball in front of her.

No filter Granger appeared without warning.  “You can’t be out here like this.  You and your baby need food and care and, wait, are you living on the street?”

“My stepfather kicked me out.  I have nowhere to go.”

“You are coming with us to the hotel.  You can then come back home with us and live with us till you get this straightened out.  Isn’t that right Carson?”

“Um, yeah.  I know you don’t know us, but we are good guys.  You can trust us.”

“You guys are crazy.  I don’t even know you and you don’t know me. You met me five minutes ago. Why would you want to help me?”

“Why wouldn’t we want to help you?”  Granger said with confusion in his voice.

“No.  I can’t go with you.  It was very nice of you to offer, but I have plans.”  Neither boy fell for her story, but knew they were losing the argument.

“Really you can trust us.  Do you have a phone?”

“Yeah.”

“If you hand it to me, I will put our contact info in it.  We are in town till tomorrow and leave in the morning if you change your mind.”  She handed Granger her phone and he began to type away as Carson continued talking to the girl.

“You know our names, what is yours?”

“Daisy.  I guess it was my dad’s favorite flower.” 

“Here’s your phone.  Our contact info is in there along with our address.  I hope you don’t mind, but I also bought you an open ended bus ticket to our hometown.  It is only if you change your mind.  All you have to do is scan it at the bus station and then the bus will take you right there.  But even if you don’t, here is some cash for you to get by.”  Carson watched as Granger took all the bills out of his wallet and handed it to the girl.  He smiled and did the same.

“Oh my god guys.  This is too much.  Thank you.”  She gave them a long tearful hug.  “I will never forget your kindness.  You just gave me hope.”

Carson thought he saw a tear run down his big strong man’s cheek as they continued on toward the hotel.  He held his hand tightly, never having been prouder of his husband than he was at this moment.

Suddenly Granger was on the ground lying motionless.  Three guys appeared from nowhere, one of them holding a baseball bat with a patch of fresh blood on it.  Carson dropped to the ground to check on Granger when a boot connected with his face, across the bridge of his nose.  He flew back and landed on his back.  “Let me help him.”  He cried.  “He’s hurt.”

“You fags be down here on our turf thinking you own the place.  We gonna teach ya what is.  Git the big one’s wallet.”

“Home, he got no cash.” 

“Give me your wallet faggot.”

“Here take it but let me help him please.  He’s bleeding.”  Carson sobbed trying to crawl closer to his unconscious husband.  A fist to his face dropped him to the ground again, splitting his bottom lip open.

“Shut the fuck up.  You got no cash either?  What the fuck you white fags doing down here with no fuckin money?  Stop your crying faggot.”  And he kicked Carson hard in the ribs, causing a muffled ‘crack’.  “Give me your phone.” 

Carson painfully handed over his phone to the thug standing in front of him.  The other two were standing to his left.  “Stick this piece of shit, then his butt buddy.  We gotta bounce.”

The big guy standing next to him grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head up, while the other stood on his legs and held his arms behind his back.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw the large switch blade flash in the night.  What happened next seemed to be in slow motion.  The black dude to the left swung his arm back and with the knife in his hand swung it forward in an arc toward the side of his rib cage.  Carson closed his eyes and waited for blade to pierce his skin and plunge into his chest.

Suddenly he felt a rush of air and opened his eyes in time to see Granger diving past the guy in front of him.  His fists out front as his body flew through the air.  He could hear the snapping of bones as the big fists connected with the two thugs faces. 

Carson was flat on the ground, with Granger on top of him when he heard the first shot ring out.  Then another and another.  He wasn’t sure how many but could tell they were getting farther away as the thugs ran off.

Granger grabbed Carson and sat him up.  “Oh my god Carson.  Are you OK?  Are you hurt?”  Granger cried, his big hands on both sides of the young mans face, his big thumbs caressing the boys’ cheeks trying to calm him. 

“I’m OK Granger.  What about you?  Are you OK?”  The question hung in the air.  Carson watched in horror as Granger’s eyes began to droop and the light faded out of them.  He quickly reached his arms around him to ease his slumping body to the ground.  Once on the ground Carson could see the blood.  It seemed like it was everywhere.  “HELP.  SOMEBODY, HELP.”  He screamed into the night holding Granger’s bloody head on his lap.

 

Carson paced back and forth in the packed emergency room.  They had taken Granger immediately upon arrival, but Carson was not bad enough to be seen yet.  All he knew was that Granger was in surgery.  He had received a blow to the head, a knife wound in the chest and two bullet wounds to his upper body.

“Carson Jenson.”  The nurse called his name.

“How is he?  Can I see him?”

“I know nothing about that.  This is for the Dr. to see you.”

“Will the Dr. know how Granger is?”

“Look, you need to be seen.  Your friend will most likely be in surgery for hours and you will know nothing till after that.  In the meantime, you may as well get fixed up.”

 

Carson found out that he had a slight concussion, two broken ribs, a broken nose, a split lip and two black eyes, his left eye was swollen shut.  They gave him a chest wrap for the ribs, some kind of tape across his nose, but the rest would just need time to heal.

“Did you come in with Granger Jenson?”  A nurse asked.

Carson jumped to his feet.  “Yes!  How is he?  Is he OK?  Can I see him?”

“No.  He is still in surgery.  I just brought you this bag of his things.  The clothes are pretty bloody.  Have you spoken to the cops yet?”

“Ah, no I haven’t.”

“Well, no one died yet, so they may take a while.”  She stated mater of fact like and walked away.

Carson stood there shaking, trying desperately to keep from breaking down.  Granger needed him to be strong.  He reached into the bag and pulled out Granger’s phone.  His fingers shaking, he began to dial.  He heard ringing.

“Granger?  Did you boys have a great time at the game?  How do you like Chicago?  Is your hotel ni…”

“Mom?”  Carson’s voice betrayed his valiant attempt to sound normal. 

“Carson?  Is that you?”

“Mom?”  No more words would leave his mouth.  His sobs came in violent bursts. 

“Carson, what’s wrong?  Where’s Granger?  Oh Carson, what happened?”  She was crying now. 

Mr. Jenson got on the phone.  “Carson, son.  Are you OK?” 

“Yes.”  Squeaked Carson.  “It’s Granger.  It’s bad.”  Was all he could choke out and he started sobbing again.

“We are on our way.  When you can, text us where you are.  It’ll be OK son.  We love you.” 

 

“It’s been over three hours.  Doesn’t anybody know how he is?”  Carson asked the stone-faced nurse sitting at the desk behind bullet proof glass.

“Look, I have told you many times already.  When they are done with surgery they will come out and talk to you.  You asking me over and over does not help anything.”  She snapped.

A heavy-set black nurse overheard the conversation, scowled at the other nurse and came out to where Carson had slumped down.  “Hi honey. I’m nurse Helen.  Can I get you anything child?  Would you like a coffee or anything?”

“No, thank you.  I just want to find out if my husband is OK.  He was shot and I haven’t heard anything in hours.  There was so much blood…”  He started sobbing again.

Helen sat down next to the distraught boy and put her arm around him.  “It’s going to be OK baby.  I have a feeling.  I know some people in the surgical area.  Let me make a call and see what I can find out.  Would that be OK?” 

“That would be so great.  Thank you so much.”

 

“I found out that he should be out of surgery soon.  The surgeon will come out here and talk to you when she is done.  Have the police talked to you yet?”

“No.  I have not talked to any police.”

“You were beat up, your husband was shot and the cops have not talked to you yet?  For the love of….”  Helen mumbled as she stomped back behind the glass.

Minutes later Carson could here Helen’s angry voice from behind the glass.

“I don’t care!  You get a damn detective down here now or I am going to drive down to that precinct myself and slap you so hard, you’ll starve to death bouncin’.  You think I’m kiddin?  You better hope I see those flashing lights in ten minutes, or I will be on my way down there.  I raised five strong boys and a pencil neck like you ain’t even gonna slow me down.”  Carson could hear the phone slam down all the way over where he was sitting.

“A detective will be here shortly to talk to you.  Don’t worry.  If the surgeon comes out while they are here, I will interrupt and get you.”

Carson got up and hugged the big women.  “Thank you, Helen.”  He whispered.

 

The detective came and took Carson’s statement but did not seem all that interested.  He told Carson that it sounded like a gang initiation.  One of the local gangs required a new recruit to kill a random person, in order to be a full-fledged gang member.  He said it happened all the time.  Tourists were a prime target.  The detective also told him that they were so far behind on all the murders in Chicago, he probably would not hear from them again, unless Granger died.

Helen saw Carson walk out of the small room where he had been interviewed by the detective.  “Did it go OK?”  She asked, knowing the answer.

“They said that unless Granger died, they probably would not look into the case.”  Carson whispered haltingly.

“Fucking useless city.  God damn politicians don’t give a shit about who’s ….  Sorry, I was about to rant.”

“Carson Jenson?”

“That’s me.”  Caron jumped and ran to the lady in surgical garb.

“He made it through surgery.  We stitched up his head wound.  He has a concussion and some swelling of his brain, but that is the least of his worries.  The knife wound was deep and punctured his liver.  We removed both slugs but there was a lot of damage, some to his heart and significant nerve damage.  He lost a tremendous amount of blood.  He’s a fighter, I’ll give you that.  It’s a miracle he is still alive.  That said his chances are still slim to none.  Do you have any questions?”  She said robotically.

“No.”  Carson said in shock as the surgeon walked away.  He lost feeling in his legs and collapsed to the floor, his shoulder on the wall kept him from going all the way down.  For the first time the thought of a life without Granger flashed through his mind.  All color was gone.  He was numb.  The world made no sense.  His life made no sense without Granger.

Helen took his hand and led him back to the waiting area.  “I’ll get you some coffee child.”

“Get the fuck out of my way!”  Carson heard a familiar voice yell as the big man pushed past the security guard and stomped up to the desk..  “I don’t give a flying fuck about visitation hours you stupid bitch.  Where’s Carson?”  Buck yelled at the nurse behind the bullet proof glass.

Helen smiled at Carson.  “Friend of yours?”

Carson ran to Buck and Cutter.  He collapsed into their arms sobbing.  “They said his chances are slim to none.”  He cried.

“Yeah, well these fuckers don’t know our Granger.”  Cutter said with confidence.

“Bro.  How are you?  Are you OK?”  Buck asked softly, his big arms around the still sobbing kid.

“How did you guys get here?  It’s like a five-and-a-half-hour drive.”

“Dude, when Mr. Jenson called this guy, we were in the truck before he hung up.  Good thing the freeway was empty, cause we were doing over a hundred almost all the way.”  Cutter stated.  

“Guys, this is Helen.  She is great.  Helen, this is Buck and Cutter.  They are Granger’s friends.  They are my friends.”

“It’s after hours and they lock this place down like Fort Knox.  I don’t even know how you got in here at this hour and I don’t want to know.  Don’t worry.”  Helen leaned in close to Buck and whispered.  “I’ll take care of the guard and that ‘stupid bitch’ behind the glass.”  Giving him a wink.

I got you a private waiting room where you can hang and not have to worry.  I had them bring in a beverage cart and some snacks.  Can I get you anything else?”

“No Helen.  You have done so much.  Thank you.  All I need to know is when I can see him.”  Carson gave her a another tight hug.  “Ouchhhh”

“Certainly not till morning.  And don’t you be hugging so tight child.  You got two broken ribs.  You boys need anything else you let me know.  Try to get some rest.”

 

Carson told the guys the whole story.   A lot of tears were shed.  He called the Jenson’s at their hotel and told them not to come till morning.  The hospital would not let them in anyway.

Word spread across the boy’s small town like wildfire. 

The next day Slade and Cody texted not to worry.  They would stay at the house and take care of things as long as needed.  Grayson was doing great, but they could tell he missed his owners.

Carson told his dad not to come.  He would be home soon and there were already more people than the hospital would allow.

Katy called totally freaked out.  She had texted him when she heard, and the thugs had replied ‘the fag’s dead.’  He assured her that he was alive, but Granger was fighting for his life.  She was another person he had to beg not to come.  There was nothing she could do.

On the third day Granger was still in an induced coma.  Mr. and Mrs. Jenson sat around with Cutter, Buck and Carson talking about times gone by.  They laughed they cried, they prayed for Granger.

Finally, the fourth day they brought Granger out of the coma.  The nurse said the first thing he said was ‘is Carson OK?’  

When Carson heard that he broke down again. 

Day 5 Helen ran into the private room.  “You can see him.”  She exclaimed with excitement.  I will take you to him.

Carson was on his feet in an instant.

Granger looked like he was sleeping.  His face was ashen and his head was wrapped in a white bandage.  He was surrounded by machines and tubes.  Carson walked slowly to his bed and placed his hand over Grangers.  His eyes overflowed with tears as he looked down at the love of his life still fighting to live.

To Be Continued….