At Brad’s words, the doctor called for Lane straightaway. Not only was Lane an excellent musician, he was also an exceptional sketch artist, often working with law enforcement agencies around Atlanta. Lane popped out of his chair like he was on a spring and rushed into the room, his expression apprehensive and expectant. The doctor explained what was needed, and Lane ran to his locker to retrieve his sketchbook and pencils. Returning quickly, he pulled a stool to Brad’s bedside. The doctor left the room, giving Lane strict instructions to call him if needed. Sitting beside his buddy, Lane looked him over carefully. It hurt to see Brad in the condition he was in, but Lane managed his mischievous grin, wanting to act as if everything was alright.
“Hey, Brad, how are you?”
Brad replied with a weak, “Never better.”
“Damn, bud, you about gave us all a heart attack. Now you pull this hero shit. You set the bar pretty high for us peons. We all know you just don’t want to miss out on that hot package of Ken’s. You aren’t fooling anyone.”
Brad smiled, grateful at Lane’s attempt to lighten his spirits. What gave Lane away were the tears in his eyes, which he sought to hide by lowering his head.
Lane’s voice caught in his throat, and his words were thick with emotion as he said, “Fuck Brad, please don’t do that again. We couldn’t stand to lose you… or Ken.”
Lane pulled himself together, and once he expressed to Brad how much he meant to him, he swiped the tears from his eyes and got down to business.
“Okay, tell me what this fuckhead looks like.”
After the program, Brad, like Lane and the other ‘minds,' had perfect recall, and he described the man he saw through Ken’s eyes. Long thin face, salt and pepper hair, more salt than pepper, pulled back into a long ponytail. Goatee. Dark eyes. Wrinkles. Pointy chin, high forehead, thin lips. Thin build. Lane worked quickly and before long had a portrait of the man Brad saw, and it was spot on.
Lane was a huge Tolkien fan, and looking intently at the picture, he mumbled to himself, “Fuck me, this guy looks like Saruman.”
Standing, Lane gripped Brad’s shoulder, giving him a squeeze of comfort and saying, “Okay, buddy, your job’s done for now. Let us take over and bring Ken home. Once we get him back, you’ll both be as good as new in no time.”
Lane excitedly left Brad’s room, holding up his sketch and hollering, “Alright, doc, we’re good to go!”
Bill was waiting, and as soon as Lane came in he started flipping switches, saying, “Connections to all key government databases are now established; no secrets today, kiddos! We should have at least three to four hours before any intrusion is detected. I’ve got the kill switch ready in case we get any surprises. Lane, scan that sketch, and we’ll start with facial recognition.
“Brad also mentioned the smell of pipe tobacco. I need someone to pull up a record of all the stores in Metro Atlanta that sell tobacco and run with that search. Find the stores, customer lists, who those people bank with, and pull purchasing and credit card billing info. I know it’s a big list, but it’s a start. We might get lucky and get a hit.”
Darren called out, “On it!” and started furiously typing at the terminal he was using.
Partial hits on facial recognition started coming in after twenty minutes, but the initial pings were false-positives. After an hour and a half Bill excitedly yelled out, “We got a hit!!”
The large screen in the Operations room lit up, and a black and white photo from a newspaper appeared on the screen. The quality was horrible, but before anyone said anything, he hollered, “Yeah, yeah, I know it sucks! Working on it!”
He ran the photo through a digital enhancement algorithm, and after a few seconds the picture sharpened. The caption text under the image appeared Slavic.
“This is from the Kyiv Post online archives through the Ukrainian Embassy. The photo is from 1974. According to the caption, it’s a congratulatory piece in the paper for a Bohuslav Oleksander for earning his third Ph.D. from the University of Moscow. His degrees are in Microbiology, Chemistry, and Physics. Now we have a name, let’s see what else we can find.”
Bill paused while he continued typing, and in less than a minute continued his monologue.
“It looks like he dropped out of sight for quite a few years. Ah, sneaky devil, he moved to the United States and changed his name. Next, we see him in 1994 going by Boris Cromwell. He seems camera shy, but we have multiple hits with positive ID from encrypted DOD records.
Darren piped in, “I have records on both Visa and MasterCard under the name Boris Cromwell. He makes regular purchases of tobacco from a shop at Little Five Points.”
Bill continued, “Okay, fuc…., um gentlemen….,” as soon as Bill remembered the doctor was in the room and listening, he caught himself.
“We know the man’s name, his home address, and one distinct purchasing habit. His employment status in the Social Security database shows he’s a dog groomer at Pet World. Yeah, right.
“Usually, in a case like this, lack of evidence is evidence in and of itself. Thank goodness our remarkable government likes to repeat their mistakes. Ahhh…. Here we go. Following the money, Dr. Cromwell receives deposits from the Department of Defense into an offshore account from which he very unwisely transfers money to his Wells Fargo checking account. Following the rabbit trail, the Department of Defense leases a few top-secret properties in Atlanta. Doc, by the way, your new search engine rocks.”
A map of Atlanta appeared on the second wall screen with the properties highlighted.
“It looks like we’re in luck. We have current satellite imagery of all three addresses within the last fifteen minutes.”
High altitude images appeared and quickly zoomed-in to within a few hundred feet above the rooftops. There weren’t many cars in any of the parking lots, but one in particular had a black van.
“Okay, there’s a high probability we just found Ken.”
With a confirmed lead and direction, each man became laser-focused. Adrenaline kicked in, and everyone quickly and efficiently gathered their gear and suited up. Chatter was kept to a minimum as each of them were wrapped in their thoughts, forcing themselves to believe they would arrive in time to save Ken.
Loy drove the van, and Bill, Darren, and Lane stayed behind to run Operations remotely since Brad couldn’t be left alone. To their surprise, Dr. Thomas insisted on accompanying them, something he had never done before.
“This is not the type of war you trained for in the Navy, and my presence might be required. I will stay in the van and not venture out until you are satisfied it is safe for me to do so.”
The drive seemed to take forever, and the men sat still as stone, immersed in the mindset of the mission. There could be no mistakes, and failure was not an option.
Bill managed to pull the original blueprints of the facility before the Department of Defense repurposed it and marked the known entrances and exits, calculating the vantage points they needed to cover. The tactical information appeared on their HUDs, barely discernable to normal eyesight but clearly visible to them.
“Okay, gentlemen, since it’s already dark we won’t have to wait. Based on satellite imagery, there are eleven cars parked at the facility. I’m uploading a list of names with photos from the tag registrations. All of these people have Top-Secret security clearance, so I doubt anyone in that building is unaware of what’s going on.
“It looks like they only use the front entrance, so the other exits might be sealed off. We’ll need to cover them just in case.
“Bry, you’ll override the security codes and door locks. We need absolute silence even after we’re in the building. Chances are they have a kill switch hooked up to Ken in case of a rescue attempt. We need to be invisible and precise.
“Doc, is there anything you want to say? We have a few minutes before we’ll be on site.”
“Yes, William, thank you. As I stated before, this is not a conventional war of the type you are familiar with. I wish no bloodshed tonight. Injuries are permissible to ensure control, but unless it is unavoidable, I do not want any man or woman to lose their life this evening. The type of war waged here is an atrocity and is the first step towards something far more sinister, and something I wished to protect you from for many years yet.
“The most powerful ally we have is secrecy, and that must remain so. If our Enemy finds this facility filled with bodies, it will only draw further attention to us. I wish to send them a message that is subtler and will, at the very least, make them think twice before attempting something like this again. To use a phrase you all so often employ, I wish those who are behind this to know who they are fucking with. I want them to feel the consequences of their actions and feel fear. Once you have everyone secured, I will need a few minutes alone with them.”
None of them had ever heard the doctor curse, and his f-bomb raised a few eyebrows. The bodies heard the quiver of underlying anger in his voice, and Loy, the only empath among them, felt waves of controlled but intense emotion emanating off him.
After a brief, awkward silence, Bill continued over the Commlink, “Okayyy... You’re one click away from the facility. Loy, there’s a building to your left you can park behind.”
Loy pulled off and parked behind the indicated building. The area was pitch black, and when the back door of the van opened, Kevin, Bryan, Rick, and Pat slipped into the night, silent and invisible. They wore full assault gear; black Kevlar bodysuits, covered from head to toe. Their heads and faces were shielded with headsets for communications, HUDs, and modified night vision designed to work with their highly enhanced eyesight. Small pockets covered their suits, filled with various gadgets; ammunition, C4, detonators, emergency medical supplies, and numerous useful items. The suits were wired to monitor their vital signs and included filters to protect against gas and chemicals, and the lining masked their thermal signatures against infrared detection. The newest version of the suits even included remote activated defibrillators
It felt strange not having Ken as their leader, but aside from their anxiety over Ken and what they would find once inside, everyone felt the exhilaration of being on a mission again. Even after eighteen years, none of them had lost their edge. Almost at the same time, each man had the same thought:
These people have no idea what is about to come down on their heads. Nobody fucks with one of our own.
Utterly silent, each of them took positions to await Bryan’s signal.
It took Bryan a few minutes to avoid security cameras and get into position. Not wanting to take the time to pick the locks on the junction box, he bent the steel plate with his fingers until it opened. As soon as he spliced into the fiber optic lines from the junction box, the monitors in the van lit up and Loy’s voice came over the intercom.
“Good job, Bry. We’re in. Stay back and cover the rear entrance in case anyone tries to sneak out on us.”
Blending into the shadows, Bryan knelt down to wait.
The security cameras and door locks were now under their control. Back in the van, the doctor started hacking into and taking over their computer system.
Kevin, Rick, and Pat appeared like ghosts at the front entrance to the building. There was a bio-metric panel requiring a thumbprint in addition to a card, but the panel remained dark as Kevin swiped his smartcard. A barely audible click indicated the release of the magnetic locks.
Kevin swung the door open and moved forward cautiously. Bright fluorescent lights lit up the short hallway in front of them. Their night vision headsets instantly turned off, and the HUDs switched display format to compensate for the sudden change in brightness. Based on the blueprints, Kevin knew there was a small cubby immediately to the left around the corner, housing a desk with at least one security guard. Pat shut the door silently behind them, making sure the magnetic locks re-engaged.
Loy’s voice came over the Commlink, “The building is now sealed and under our control. Unless there’s a manual override or panic device, no one can get in or out.”
Kevin pulled out a small fiber-optic camera that looked like a short length of wire from one of his many pockets, extending it just past the corner of the hallway. A small picture-in-picture window on their HUDs showed an image of a single security guard sitting at a desk with a row of monitors in front of him, oblivious to their presence. The guard was working a Sudoku puzzle with only occasional glances at the monitors.
The guard never saw or heard anything. Kevin moved blindingly fast, knocking the man out and catching him before he started to drop. He sprayed a small aerosol can into the guard’s face to make sure he stayed unconscious.
With the first security guard out of the way, they quickly moved down the hallway. There were two women and a man in the first room who froze when Rick and Pat appeared, dressed in all black and pointing weapons at them.
Kevin stayed on lookout, just inside the door. The man fainted when Rick moved towards him, and the two women huddled together, terrified. Rick and Pat sprayed them and pulled their bodies behind the island in the middle of the room to keep them out of sight.
There was one more lab, smaller than the first, and in seconds two more technicians were unconscious and out of sight.
Kevin saw movement ahead and heard general activity. The hallway opened to a large room, which took up most of the floor plan of the building. A large glass chamber occupied the middle of the brightly lit room, and Kevin’s gut wrenched at the sight before him.
Ken was spread eagle on the table, held down by multiple large metal bands. He was naked, covered in blood and sweat, and his body twitched intermittently. Wounds covered nearly every inch of him; blackened areas that were obviously burns, pieces of skin removed, and his limbs were bent at odd angles. A tall, thin man in a white lab coat stood inside the chamber with his back to Kevin. The ponytail told Kevin it was probably Dr. Cromwell, and it took every ounce of Kevin’s self-control not to lift his rifle and end the man’s miserable existence.
Loy, the doctor, and everyone saw the scene through Kevin’s headset, including Brad and the guys in the lab.
Dr. Cromwell was taking skin grafts from Ken’s legs to freeze for future study, keeping Ken awake partially out of scientific curiosity, but mostly out of cruelty. Ken continually insulted his intelligence at every opportunity.
One of the technicians screamed when Kevin stepped out of the hallway, and fear hit Dr. Cromwell fast and hard. He realized right away what was happening and bolted towards the back of the building, pausing only long enough to lift a small acrylic casing and press the now deactivated kill switch. The armed guards started to react but lifted their rifles when they saw multiple red dots on their torsos.
In a tight voice, Kevin said, “Bry, he’s headed towards you.”
While Dr. Cromwell fled, Rick and Pat incapacitated the remaining lab technicians and guards in a matter of seconds.
<>
How dare they!
Dr. Cromwell was furious as he ran down the hallway, throwing his body against the panic bar stretched across the back door. The door flew open, and he slammed right into Bryan’s 6’, 425 lb. frame, which felt much harder than the door. Bryan grabbed the doctor by the front of his lab coat, lifting him off his feet like a rag doll.
Bryan, gentlest of all the men, was usually quiet and stoic, but one thing he would not tolerate was a friend or loved one being threatened or hurt. Pulling off his headset, Bryan drew the doctor close until their faces were inches apart, so the only part of Bryan’s face visible were his piercing green eyes. The image of Ken burned in his mind, and his rage towards the man in his grasp was nearly incapacitating. Despite his training, Bryan wanted to slowly and painfully squeeze the life out of the monster in his hands. Dr. Cromwell looked into Bryan’s eyes and saw his death, and was so terrified he lost control of his bladder and passed out. Cromwell went limp in his grasp, and a strong odor of urine followed. With a frustrated grunt, Bryan head-butted Cromwell, careful not to break his nose.
Bryan’s deep gravelly voice came across the Commlink, “I got him, Kev.”
Kevin practically shouted, “Doc, we need you! NOW!”
As soon as the image of Ken came across the video feed, the doctor told Loy to move out, and Loy was pulling up even as Kevin shouted his order.
Kevin looked down at his friend, his Captain, whose face was almost unrecognizable from the swelling and blood. Kevin had no idea how Ken could still be conscious, but he was. Patrick found the release mechanism for the shackles, and as soon as they retracted, Ken’s body began pulling into a fetal position from the pain. Kevin started removing electrodes and catheters as quickly as he could, trying to be gentle.
Tears shone in all their eyes, and they kept muttering, “Fuck,” or “Fuck me,” under their breath.
Ken’s body spasmed and twitched uncontrollably, and he kept trying to say something, but even with Kevin’s heightened hearing he couldn’t make out Ken’s words. Kevin bent over, desperately wanting to comfort his friend but afraid to touch him; bruises, lacerations, burns, lack of skin, or broken bones covered nearly every square inch of Ken’s body. None of them, in all their history of running covert missions in the Navy, had ever witnessed such a level of torture.
Kevin leaned over and said, “Ken, buddy, we’re here. You’re safe. The doc will be here any second, and we’re taking you home. You have to hang on, man, you have to!”
Ken was still trying to say something, and Kevin put his ear up to Ken’s mouth, finally grasping his words.
“K... k... kill me, Kev. Please… m… mm… make… it… stop.”
Hot tears fell down Kevin’s cheeks at Ken’s plea.
Where was the doc?!
It seemed like forever before the doctor rushed into the room, followed by Loy, who carried a collapsible stretcher and the doctor’s medical case.
The doctor saw Ken over the monitor, but seeing him in person was almost too much to bear.
“Oh, my poor boy, what have they done to you?”
The doctor’s voice choked with grief, and he only paused long enough to whisper those words before rushing to the table.
Opening his medical case, the doctor took out a syringe and plunged it into Ken’s neck. While reaching for another, Ken’s trembling stopped, and he went still.
“Kevin!”
The desperation in the doctor’s voice was evident, shouting Kevin’s name like a command and a cry for help. Kevin moved to the doctor’s side, forcing himself to stay focused for Ken’s sake.
The doctor pulled out a long black case and unzipped it. Kevin saw the label, a mix of Atropine and Epinephrine used for Cardiac Arrest. Kevin realized Ken’s heart had stopped, and he was no longer breathing.
“Kevin, I am not strong enough to get this through his chest plate. I will hold it in position, but you must push it through. On three… one… two… three!”
Gripping the syringe, Kevin pushed the needle through the dense muscle, cartilage, and connective tissues of Ken’s chest. The doctor quickly pressed the plunger, forcing the mixture directly into Ken’s heart.
Ken reacted immediately, his back arching as air sucked into his lungs, then he collapsed, unconscious but thankfully breathing once again. Forcing his hands to remain steady, the doctor administered the other syringes.
Relief flooded through them when they realized Ken was breathing again. None of them could imagine what Brad was going through, watching events over the video feed at the lab.
“Kenneth is not out of the woods yet. The serums I administered should keep him alive until we get back to the lab.”
The doctor pulled three small vials from his bag, giving one each to Kevin, Rick, and Pat.
“Take these and place an eyedropper full of the liquid under the tongue of everyone here, and be sure to leave everyone in the rooms where you found them.”
Activating his Commlink, the doctor said, “Bryan, please bring Dr. Cromwell to me.”
Bryan came down the hallway with Cromwell over his shoulder and flopped him hard on the floor. It was clear to everyone Cromwell pissed his pants and had a bloody nose.
They all looked at Cromwell and then Bryan, who shrugged, and with an innocent look on his face, said, “What?! HE ran into ME!”
Turning to Loy, the doctor asked, “Is the code uploaded to their system?”
“Yes, sir.”
The doctor sat at one of the terminals in the room and started quickly typing. A moment later the lights flickered, and the entire facility rebooted.
“Bryan, please put that monster in the first room with the others.”
Bryan grabbed Cromwell by one foot, dragging him into the other room, not caring if his head happened to knock into a few chairs or doorframes on the way.
The doctor went quickly to each room where unconscious scientists or technicians were piled on the floor. He was alone, and no one knew what he did to them.
<>
His eyes turning white, Aaron looked down on the unconscious form of Boris Cromwell, looking into his mind. He had to know if Ken’s abduction was simply someone in the government who managed to trace them, or if The Enemy was involved. He would justify his actions to his superiors if questioned, but his personal mission of saving The Order might be in jeopardy based on the source of Ken’s kidnapping.
He read Boris Cromwell’s memories, and General Burgess from Project Glass Hand was responsible. He felt no direct presence of The Enemy within Cromwell, although Aaron was sure the ‘unknown benefactor’ was from Them. There was no direct proof other than his intuition, but his instincts where The Enemy was concerned had never failed him.
How, after all these years?
He knew his age-old Enemy was responsible and wanted no direct trails back to him or his young charges. His response had to be as subtle as their interference, to protect his sons, and give them time to grow into what he needed; what the world and mankind needed.
The man before him was responsible for the horrific torture Kenneth endured, and while misguided, he wasn’t truly evil, at least not yet. Through his actions, Cromwell was teetering on the edge and near the point of no return, but he wasn’t there yet. As deep as Aaron’s anger burned over what Boris Cromwell did to Ken, and as difficult as it was, he refrained from wiping his mind.
Moving on to the others, he altered their memories and planted new ones. Once finished, he hurried back to his sons, ready to take Ken home.
<>
Hurrying back to the others, he said, “That should do the trick. Now, let us get Kenneth out of his horrible place.”
Loy extended the stretcher, and Kevin and Rick carefully transferred Ken onto it. They were as gentle as possible, knowing every movement could cause more damage to Ken, and even though he was unconscious, more pain.
After securing Ken in the van, they quickly cleaned up any evidence of their presence and gathered all the tissue samples from Ken, and left. The doctor already erased the data, along with the backups, and replaced everything with a surprise of his own.
<><><>
Terror unlike anything Brad had ever known ran through him at the sight of Ken on the monitor. Brad’s heart, linked to Ken’s, stopped beating when Ken’s did, but Ken’s death severed their connection, and Brad’s heart resumed beating.
Bill, Darren, and Lane were with him, holding and supporting him, but Ken’s temporary demise was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Even after Ken started breathing again, Brad’s face remained slack and emotionless. The breaking of their connection set Brad adrift again, and his vision spiraled as he passed out. Darren gently picked him up and moved him into one of the beds.
It took nearly half an hour in traffic to get to the lab, and the drive back was silent as everyone sat staring at Ken with tears running down their faces, their thoughts spinning at the sight of his maimed and tortured body.
At one point, the doctor asked Bill over the Commlink, “William, how is Bradford?”
“Doc, he’s unconscious. Right after you gave Ken the adrenaline shot he passed out, and we put him in a bed.”
The doctor squeezed his eyes closed and let out a heavy sigh.
“William, keep him under observation. Do NOT let him hurt himself, do you understand?”
Bill and the others panicked when they realized what the doctor meant.
“Yes, sir!”
Bill looked at Darren and Lane, and they rushed to the room where Brad lay on the bed. He was awake, his eyes open and staring at the ceiling, but completely despondent, not hearing or registering their presence.
Nervous glances passed between them. Their concern for their two buddies ran deep, and they were rattled by events. How could this be happening?
<><><>
Brad was still despondent when they arrived with Ken, moving him into the critical unit, their version of an ICU. The doctor quickly attached Ken to his computers and equipment, working swiftly and efficiently, asking whoever was closest for assistance when he needed certain things from other areas of the lab. All of the men were trained EMTs and aided him as required.
It was nearly an hour before the doctor slowed down, and when he finally emerged from Ken’s room, he faced the stares of eight anxious men desperate to know if Ken was going to be alright.
Staring back at his charges, his adoptive sons, and seeing the looks on their faces, he almost faltered. Regardless of the outcome with Ken and Brad, they were now embarking in a new direction in their lives, one he wanted to spare them from taking for many years yet. He would wait until matters were settled with Ken and Brad before deciding how best to proceed.
“What Kenneth experienced was horrific beyond words. That any human could treat another in such a way… it reminds me of darker times. I wished to spare you all exposure to such atrocities for many years to come. Kenneth is not out of the woods yet. His injuries are severe… If he survives the next twenty-four hours, his chances will improve immensely. Once we get past his physical injuries, I am concerned about his mental state. I have no idea what condition his mind will be in after his torture. I have temporarily induced a coma to let his body recover as it was designed to do, and we will have to wait and monitor his progress and cross whatever bridges we find as they arise.”
Kevin felt he had to tell the doctor about Ken’s request.
“Doc?”
“Yes, Kevin?”
“Doc, with what you just said about Ken’s mental state… When we got to him… He…”
Ken’s plea was still fresh in his mind, and Kevin started to lose it.
“He begged me to kill him.”
Bill moved to Kevin, wrapping his arms around his partner from behind, and Kevin drew strength from the embrace, taking a deep breath to pull himself together.
“I pray we were not too late, and Bradford’s sacrifice not in vain. You witnessed the depth of his torture, but Kenneth is resilient, as is Bradford, and they both have all of us to help them. We are family and must be supportive and understanding during their recovery. However, I am as fearful for Bradford as I am Kenneth. He proved far more resourceful than I imagined and put himself in extreme danger by helping Kenneth. I am not sure he is aware of what he did, or how, but he is wounded and severely drained, perhaps beyond our help.”
Everyone stood in stunned silence as the doctor’s words sank in. They all felt like they just got kicked in the nuts – twice!
“Bryan, would you and Lane clean Kenneth up while I see to Bradford? Be as gentle as you can, and let me know if you need any assistance.”
As Bryan and Lane moved by the doctor, he reached out and gripped their arms in a reassuring squeeze. Each of them covered his hand in a show of gratitude and went to Ken’s room to carry out their task. The doctor seemed older, his shoulders slumped, and his face expressed a sadness they had never seen before. On top of Ken and Brad, they were worried about him as well.
The doctor entered Brad’s room and observed him lying in bed, his eyes open but seeing nothing. The sheets were pulled up to his waist, exposing the wrap around his ribcage that covered most of his bare torso. His hands were in braces from mid-palm to mid-forearm, and his face looked haggard with dark circles under his eyes. His usually tanned complexion was almost gray, and the unkempt beard forming on his face made him look years older.
The doctor leaned over him, placing his hands on Brad’s shoulders, looking intently into his vacant eyes.
“Bradford, I know you can hear me even if it is only your unconscious mind. My boy, what you managed to do was incredibly heroic. The others do not understand yet just what it is you did. I am still not sure how you managed it on your own. You have progressed so far beyond what I expected at this time. We cannot afford to lose you, son; I cannot afford to lose you. Kenneth, especially, needs you more than ever even after all you have done for him.
“I am giving you a beacon to follow, but you must make the journey back on your own. I wish I were permitted to help you more, but for the sake of the others, I cannot. Not yet.”
The doctor’s eyes flashed white for a brief second as he looked at Brad, then he squeezed them shut with a heavy sigh. When he opened them again they were back to their normal color but reflected the sadness and pain he felt for his young charge, as well as his frustration. The only indication Brad heard any of what the doctor said was a single tear leaking from the corner of his eye.
<><>
Lane gathered clean towels, cotton balls, Q-tips, rubbing alcohol, and hot water.
Bryan still wore his Kevlar, and Lane quietly told him, “Bry, go ditch the suit. I’ll get started.”
Grateful, Bryan quickly changed, returning in a few moments, and they began the arduous task of cleaning up their brother. Even though Ken was in a coma, his body still felt pain, and they did their best to keep their touches light.
Dr. Cromwell’s cruelty became more apparent as they worked. The cuts were deeper than necessary for grafts, and jagged edges intentionally exposed raw nerves. Dozens of round cigar-shaped burns covered Ken’s body, but one area on his shoulder was burned down to the bone as if exposed to an intense flame.
It took Lane and Bryan hours to clean him up, and they couldn’t believe how many towels they used and the amount of blood. Both men cried on and off while they worked, periodically stopping to brace themselves so they could continue.
<><>
Ken made it through the first twenty-four hours, sending a sigh of relief through everyone, but remained in a coma. His unconscious mind guided and prioritized his recovery as it was designed to do, and his body quickly started showing outward signs of improvement. As long as the doctor kept his body supplied with nutrients, proteins, vitamins, and hydration, Ken would return to full physical health. The swelling in his face was gone, although some bruising was still present; outwardly, at least, he was starting to look like his ruggedly handsome self. Scars would be the last to heal, so he would continue to look rough for a while. Like Brad, Ken hadn’t shaved since his abduction and had more than a week’s worth of beard growth.
Brad, on the other hand, looked worse than ever. He hadn’t had anything substantial to eat in days, and while the doctor pumped fluids into him to prevent dehydration, he was visibly losing weight. The doctor decided to induce a coma to try and reduce his brain activity; something was going on in his mind, but the doctor was making no headway in reaching him through conventional means. There were a few times he came close to breaking his Oath and using unconventional methods, but for the sake of the other men in his care, he always backed down from that decision.
With both men in a coma, the doctor sent everyone home for the first night since Ken’s rescue.
“You have all been through your own ordeal since this started, and need to spend time with one another to take care of yourselves. I will stay with Kenneth and Bradford, and rest assured, I will contact you all immediately if there is any change.”
Reluctantly the guys agreed and left the doctor alone, going home to eat a solid meal and take comfort in each other. The realization hit them that what happened to their friends could happen to any of them, and that night when their bodies were intertwined as they made love, their love grew deeper and stronger, replenishing their hearts and minds.
<><>
Shortly after midnight, in the dark of the lab, Brad sat up. Glancing around, his face pale, he slowly divested himself of all the wires and electrodes attached to his body.
Naked, he walked to Ken’s bedside in the room adjacent to his. He stood silently, looking at his lover before placing a hand on Ken’s bare chest, taking comfort in the heat and solidity of his body. Minutes passed, and when he finally moved, he crawled into Ken’s bed.
It was difficult to get situated because the bed wasn’t designed for two big men, but he finally settled with his head on Ken’s chest, while gently stroking Ken’s body wherever he could reach. The braces restricted his hands, and he could only use his fingertips, but it was enough to make a connection. Ken was warmer than usual because of the healing process, and Brad started to sweat where their skin touched. Quietly crying, he lay with his lover while his tears fell on Ken’s chest, pooling and running across his ribs. If the doctor or any of his friends saw him, it would be unclear if Brad were comforting Ken or seeking comfort from him.
<><><>
Sally was frantic, and the company was at risk of losing clients if they didn’t cover a few jobs, so Pat, Darren, Rick, Loy, Kevin, and Bill headed to the office for at least part of the day. None of them wanted to do it, but with Ken on the mend and Brad at least stable, some of the urgency let up.
Lane and Bryan didn’t have any clients until late morning, so they went to the lab first thing, picking up an assortment of breakfast items for themselves and the doc on the way in. Being optimistic, they picked up extra for Ken and Brad. The doctor wasn’t known to be an early riser, and when they walked in the lights were off and the lab quiet, so Lane went to check on Brad and Bryan to wake up the doc.
Seconds later, Lane let out an excited shout, “Doc! Bry! Come quick! Check this out!”
The doctor shot out of bed at Lane’s outburst, which sounded more surprised than panicked, but urgent, and rushed to Ken’s room where Lane stood at the door with a shocked but happy look on his face. The sight of Brad asleep, draped across Ken, amazed and baffled the three of them.
Still half asleep, the doctor mumbled, “Oh my!”
How Brad could have gotten there on his own was a mystery. He was in an induced coma and should not have been able to move, let alone walk. Bryan moved to the bedside and immediately smelled a faint odor of sweat and wondered at it. A smirk came to his face at the thought that popped into his head.
It would be just like these studs to figure out how to have sex even in a coma.
Looking closer, he noticed the changes on Ken’s body and exclaimed, “Oh shit, doc, look!”
Bryan gently lifted Brad’s arm off Ken’s chest, and where their skin had been touching, Ken’s body seemed completely healed.
“Quickly, Bryan, take Bradford back to his bed.”
Bryan lifted Brad like a baby, cradled in his arms, and took him back to the other room. Lane and the doctor looked at the outline of Brad’s body on Ken, outwardly healthy and without scars. On closer observation, they even noted the tear trails across Ken’s chest and ribs.
“This is entirely unexpected… and fascinating!”
Whatever happened between them, Ken’s healing accelerated significantly, and the doctor stopped the induced coma, letting Ken enter a natural sleep.
Brad, however, continued to decline both physically and mentally. Whatever he managed to do, consciously or not, took its toll on him. He was now awake but extremely weak and groggy.
Brad’s voice was barely discernible, but he managed a weak, “Hi doc,” when the doctor came in.
“Bradford, thank goodness you are awake.”
The tears in the doctor’s eyes were something Brad had never seen before.
Lane and Bryan came into the room, one on either side of his bed, both grabbing him and pulling him into a tight hug.
Lane was the first to speak, and with relief in his voice, asked, “Hey, bud, you finally decided to join us?”
The doctor left to get some vials to draw blood and give them a private moment.
Bryan couldn’t hold back and said, “Fuck me, Brad, so help me God if you ever do anything like this again, I will kill you myself, you crazy bastard!”
Brad saw the smile on Bryan’s face and the wetness in his eyes and tried to smile back. Brad’s voice was thin and raspy, and Bryan and Lane were shocked at how weak he was.
“I’m hungry. Do you ladies have anything in the kitchen?”
Lane replied, “Yeah, we got extra biscuits, but I think you need something a little healthier. I’ll be back!”
Bryan gave Lane the ‘be careful’ look, and Lane nodded. They were still not supposed to travel alone, but neither one of them wanted to leave Brad by himself, and Lane would be cautious and alert.
As Lane left the room, Bryan sat on the edge of the bed and put a hand on Brad’s shoulder, giving him a squeeze.
“Hey, bud, Ken’s doing much better. I bet the doc will let us move you two into the same room if we ask. Whatever mojo you picked up worked wonders on him.”
Brad gave him a curious look but didn’t respond to his comment.
“Do you think I can see him? Can you help me in there?”
“Sure, buddy.”
Again, Bryan was shocked at how weak Brad was and practically carried him into Ken’s room.
“I need to sit down, Bry. Sorry… I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”
Bryan pulled a chair to the bedside and got Brad situated.
“Brad, you’ve got nothing to be sorry about. You’re a fuckin hero in all our eyes.”
Thinking about everything his buddies had gone through, Bryan teared up again and with a sniff pulled Brad against him, crossing his arms over Brad’s chest in a hug from behind, holding him for a minute and ruffling his hair as he let go.
Brad squeezed Bryan’s forearms, returning the hug and reclining his head against Bryan’s chest, but didn’t say anything. When Bryan released him, Brad leaned forward and took one of Ken’s hands between both of his. The braces made it awkward but as soon as their skin touched, Ken inhaled deeply and his eyes opened. For a split-second, Bryan saw terror in his eyes, and Ken tried to sit up, thinking he was still a prisoner.
Bryan quickly grabbed Ken’s shoulders, holding him down so he wouldn’t pull any wires loose.
“Whoa, Ken… You’re safe! You’re at the lab! We got you!”
Ken’s vision came into focus, and he started shaking, whispering, “Oh fuck…” as tears of relief filled his eyes.
Bryan began crying too and pulled Ken into a tight hug.
Smiling, he thought to himself: Damn, I should buy stock in Kleenex with all the crying going on around here.
Brad struggled to stand, and as soon as Ken realized he was there, grabbed him and pulled him into a fierce embrace. Brad sucked his breath in pain as Ken squeezed his broken ribs, and Ken immediately loosened his grip when he realized Brad was hurt. When he looked, Ken noted the wrappings covering most of Brad’s bare torso and the braces on his hands and wrists.
Ken was shocked at how horrible Brad looked. Just last week he was tanning up nice, but now he looked pale and pasty, with dark circles under his bloodshot eyes, and he looked like he had lost weight.
“B? What happened? Who did this to you?”
Even though Ken was weak from his own recovery, Brad felt light as a feather in his arms as he pulled Brad into his lap, facing away, hugging him from behind and being careful of his ribs. Resting his chin on Brad’s shoulder, Ken nuzzled him affectionately and held him, wanting to feel as much skin contact between them as he could manage. Neither man had shaved in over a week, and the sound and sensation of their beards rubbing together was pure bliss. Brad covered Ken’s hands with his own and pressed against him, feeling the heat from his body. They both cried while Ken rocked them back and forth, holding his lover and soaking in his presence.
At that point Bryan felt like he was intruding, and as he turned to go, he noticed even though Brad was crying, his eyes had a flat, faraway look entirely out of character.
Well, the doc said it was going to take a while. They’ve been through hell and back for each other.
Bryan prayed both his brothers would get back to their old selves as soon as possible, and went to report to the doc what just happened. The doctor was anxious but gave Ken and Brad some privacy, and by the time he went in, they were asleep with Ken spooning Brad. Ken had one arm over Brad’s chest, with their hands intertwined as much as the braces would allow, and Brad clutched their hands against his chest.
Simply being near Ken accelerated Brad’s healing. The doctor kept them in the lab a few more days for observation, and the rest of the team returned to their regular schedules at the security firm. They took turns swinging by the lab a few times a day to drop off food and check on Ken and Brad. The doc felt it was safe to return to his own home in the evenings beginning that night, pleased with the physical progress in both his charges.
That evening when the doctor left, Ken secured the lab. The same as when he was home, any remaining tension from the day flowed out of him when the seals engaged and the air pressure changed.
He went to Brad’s desk, where Brad sat on a stool working on his tablet. Putting a hand on Brad’s back, Ken leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“You know B… I love the doc and the guys, but I’m glad we’re finally alone. I want you all to myself.”
The funk Brad was in when he first woke up had lifted some, but he still wasn’t back to his old self.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. When I was little, my mom always said the best part about company is when they leave.” After a slight pause, he continued so faintly even Ken had a hard time hearing him, “It’s one of the few things I remember her saying.”
Ken stood behind Brad, rubbing his neck and shoulders and enjoying the feel of his body. Brad stopped typing and lowered his head, losing himself in the touch of Ken’s strong hands.
Such big strong hands.
Ken kept it up, knowing Brad needed his love more than ever, instinctively knowing something was still wrong. That evening was the first time since Ken’s rescue the two of them had any committed alone time, and Ken didn’t want to ruin the mood with a serious conversation. It had been nearly two weeks since they had sex, and they needed each other badly.
Brad had always been the caretaker in their relationship, but now it was Ken’s turn to take on that role, and he was more than happy to do so. What scared him was Brad had never needed to be taken care of, not like now. He was always the emotional rock of their relationship, wiser and more mature and always knowing the right thing to say, which was why Ken was worried about him. Brad seemed lost, and Ken needed to help him find his way back. He didn’t know how, but he would figure it out. He had too.
For minutes Ken rubbed Brad’s back and shoulders, kneading his stiff muscles. Sighing, Brad leaned forward so Ken could move further down his back. Reaching down, Ken grabbed the hem of Brad’s t-shirt, and Brad raised his arms as Ken lifted it off.
Ken looked down at the man he loved more than anything. He loved Brad’s back. Hell, I love everything about this man. He could tell Brad had lost weight, but his body was still solid muscle.
Once Brad’s shirt was off, Ken became aroused. The feel of Brad’s body, his smooth skin, hard muscles, and unique scent kick-started Ken’s libido. Before he lost himself in the feeling of comforting his lover, Ken reminded himself what he was doing was for Brad, so he continued his massage, gentle but firm, wanting Brad to feel how much he loved him through his touch.
He leaned over and every so often kissed the top of Brad’s head or the back of his neck and shoulders. Increasing his range, Ken ran his hands down Brad’s arms, squeezing his biceps, shoulders, and lats. Brad’s head hung forward, and he let out almost constant moans of pleasure, letting Ken know how much he enjoyed the sensations.
Touching Brad after everything they experienced tested Ken’s control, his excitement evident in the tightness of his shorts. Keeping one hand on Brad’s back, with his other hand Ken pulled down his own shorts. He wanted Brad to know how much merely touching his lover turned him on.
Brad was overwhelmed with the sensation and feeling of Ken’s presence. For a time, he had been afraid he would never feel Ken’s touch again. The anguish of feeling so isolated and alone, freezing him down to his soul, was still in him. Ken’s touch helped to fight it off, right then at that moment. Ken’s touch, the touch that could light him up like nothing else in the world. Ken’s warm hands on his bare skin, rubbing away the loneliness and filling him back up, were a balm to his injured soul.
Ken moved forward and pressed himself against Brad’s back.
“This is what you do to me, B. This is for you. I love you.”
Brad felt Ken against his back. Ken knelt behind him, pulling Brad back by his shoulders, molding their bodies together with his powerful arms. The culmination of being so lovingly cared for and feeling Ken’s love for him through his touch sent Brad over the edge. Ken’s emotions were raw and powerful and on the surface, along with his desire, and in reaction, Brad’s body shook in a powerful orgasm.
Ken felt the sudden tension in Brad when his head slumped forward, and his shoulders shook like he was crying.
Afraid something was wrong, Ken softly asked, “B? What’s wrong? Talk ‘ta me.”
It took a couple of seconds for Brad to catch his breath. He was crying, but also laughing.
“Nothing’s wrong, you douche, I’m laughing. You just made me shoot a two-week load in my shorts without even touching myself!”
Brad slowly spun around on the stool to face Ken. The wetness on his cheeks, coupled with the smile on his face, confused Ken. They both stood and Brad threw his arms around Ken, squeezing with every ounce of strength he could muster. Resting his chin in the crook of Ken’s neck and shoulder, he stood still, holding them together. The heat and urgency of Ken pressing against Brad’s stomach could not be denied any longer. Brad knew Ken was on the edge and didn’t want to leave him hanging, so he pulled back. They could cuddle after.
Brad turned them both around and put his hands on Ken’s shoulders, pushing him down onto the stool. Ken’s shorts were still around his ankles, but other than that he was naked. Brad ran his eyes quickly from head to toe, his eyes filled with lust for the Greek god sitting in front of him, his arousal pointing right at him and clearly in need of attention.
Resting his hands on Ken’s thighs, Brad lowered himself to his knees, so Ken’s crotch was at eye level. The vision of Ken from that angle, his thick chest, deep cut abs, and powerful arms, was intoxicating. Brad inhaled deeply, smelling the heat and scent of his lover, and that sensation was just as compelling as the visual.
Ken watched Brad’s eyes rake over his body and saw the lust in them. That alone was enough to send him over the edge, but when Brad touched him, every muscle in Ken’s body contracted. Just as it was a few minutes ago, everything in Brad, all the pent-up emotion and need, his love and connection to Ken, entered Ken through his touch.
Ken couldn’t say anything, and other than his heavy breathing, his chest heaving from the power of his orgasm, he didn’t make any noise. Ken’s mouth was open, his eyes shut tight, his handsome face contorted in a mask of intense pleasure. His orgasm lasted nearly a minute, and Brad did everything possible to prolong his pleasure.
Strength and fortitude rushed into Brad more powerfully than ever before when he took Ken’s load down his throat.
When his breathing returned to normal, Ken said, “Fuck, that was intense. I love you, B. Come here.”
Ken lifted him up, pulling Brad into another hug, only keeping enough distance to look into Brad’s eyes. Ken had tears in his eyes, too, and they both brushed the tears out of each other’s eyes.
With a grin, Ken said, “Man, here go the waterworks again.”
Brad smiled back and nodded. It was a good moment and started a long kiss between them.
Brad broke their kiss long enough to say, “Now that we have your hair-trigger out of the way, it’s time for some serious action. Let’s go to bed.”
Smiling at one another, their foreheads pressed together, they started bantering like their old selves.
Ken retorted, “My hair trigger? What the hell do you call shooting in your shorts without me even touching your dick?”
“That was all part of my plan. I have mad seduction skills, and you completely fell for them. You, big guy, are a pussy.”
“So, you think in that pea brain of yours, you just seduced me?”
Brad laughed and said, “Shut the fuck up, and let’s get into bed!”
Hand in hand, they moved to one of the exam rooms with a hospital bed and hopped in. Once in bed, Ken held himself up with his arms on either side of Brad’s head. Lowering his face, they kissed while Brad ran his hands over Ken’s chest and arms, feeling the strength and power in his body, and in seconds they were both hard again.
Ken broke the kiss, staring into his lover’s eyes, and with the grin he knew Brad couldn’t resist, he asked, “Hey B… do you wanna…?”
Before Ken got any further Brad said, “Yes.”
Their eyes, Ken’s emerald green and Brad’s crystal blue, turned almost white for a brief second, and they sensed the change immediately as their nervous systems linked. With huge grins on their faces, they spent the entire night making love in every conceivable position and place in the lab.
When Bryan and Lane stopped by the next morning with breakfast, the lab was an absolute wreck and reeked of sex. Immediately they knew what happened, and Lane let out a loud, “Holy Fuck! Hahahahahaha!”
Bryan took the food to the kitchen and saw two empty gallons of milk, a big jar of protein powder, and multiple empty bottles of Gator-Ade on the counter.
Looks like someone needed a recharge last night!
He laughed to himself, happy for his two buddies, and knowing what he saw meant they were on the road to recovery.
Ken and Brad woke with a start at the sound of the security system disengaging. Still naked, they quickly threw on shorts and breathed a sigh of relief when they realized it was Lane and Bryan and not the doctor. Stepping out of their room shirtless and barefoot, they were stunned at the condition of the lab. Papers were everywhere, tables cleared off, and chairs knocked over.
Wide-eyed, Ken raised his eyebrows, and Brad muttered, “Holy shit, did we do that?”
Bryan held his nose as he came back from the kitchen, squirting a can of air freshener everywhere.
“Okay, I’m officially impressed by you two fuckers. Now I know what that earthquake I felt last night was! You two managed to trash and stink up an entire building!”
Lane noticed the massive stain on Brad’s shorts and laughed again, exclaiming, “Damn, Ken, I’m disappointed! To let a load like that go to waste is criminal.”
Brad blushed a deep red, and then he and Ken burst out laughing.
Looking at his watch, Lane said, “Alright, ladies, the doc is on his way, and I figure you have about fifteen minutes before he shows up, so you’d better hurry and clean this place up. Bry, we need to hit the road if we’re going to make it to the office on time.”
As he walked by, Bryan gave Brad’s crotch a big shot of air freshener, and he and Lane were still laughing as they shut the door on their way out.
In a panic, Ken and Brad ran around like madmen trying to get the lab straightened up before the doctor arrived.
<>
As Bryan and Lane got in their Explorer, their eyes were a little glassy. Bryan reached over and pulled Lane into a hug, saying, “I feel the same way, Little Buddy. It’s good to see them both that way. For a while…”
Lane covered Bryan’s mouth with a quick kiss and then said, “Don’t say it, Bry. They’re still with us, and that’s all that matters.”
Both of them were grateful Brad and Ken were recovering and still in their lives, and their heartfelt relief was strong as Lane pulled out of the parking lot to head to the office.
Lane whispered, almost to himself, “The band is still together.”
Bryan’s usually stoic face broke into a grin at Lane’s reference.
“Fuck, yeah.”
<><><>
By the end of the week, between his enhanced physiology and the doctor’s exemplary care, Ken was physically as good as new. The strange incident on the night Brad slept in his room took weeks off of his recovery. The doctor knew what happened, but not how. It had to be an unconscious reaction on Brad’s part, but what he accomplished bordered on the metaphysical. Science alone couldn’t explain what happened, and the closest explanation the doctor had was that Brad exchanged something with Ken along the lines of his life energy, his soul. The doctor vowed to look into it, with great urgency. None of the men should be able to do that yet. Eventually, yes, but not for many years yet.
There was obviously more going on between the two men than the doctor fully realized. Ken exhibited remarkable resilience, and aside from healing faster, his mental state was much better than anticipated.
For the time being Brad seemed to be recovering as well, and the doctor knew what would happen when he started leaving them alone at night. If the smell of air freshener wasn’t enough to clue him in, they kept rearranging his papers when they cleaned up every morning.
The doctor determined he would just have to keep an eye on Brad. The long-term effects of what he did were unknown, and the doctor was apprehensive.
At the end of that week the doctor cleared Ken and Brad to go home, with the stipulation that if they left their house they went together, even if it was a quick trip to the grocery store or to get gas. The same rule was in effect for all the guys, for their protection. He did not want Brad or Ken returning to work yet, allowing more time for a full recovery.
Ken exclaimed, “That’s great, doc!”
“Yes, Kenneth, not only do I think it is time, but I am not sure the lab can take much more of your ‘recovery.’”
Ken and Brad looked at each other for a second, blushing before they broke out laughing.
It had been weeks since they were home last and would have to throw out most of the food in the pantry and fridge, so they went grocery shopping on the way.
On arriving home, they discovered someone had cleaned out their refrigerator and thrown away any spoiled food and found two steaks marinating for their dinner that night, along with a sealed bag of Bryan’s yeast rolls. The house was spotless, and Ken smelled how clean it was. The grass was mowed, the hedges trimmed, and the pool crystal clear and free of leaves. It was an unexpected but pleasant surprise and showed how much their brothers cared for them.
The couple settled back into their routines at the house, and since they couldn’t officially work, there was plenty of time to work on their tans and work out. Not only did Brad gain back the weight he lost but packed on more muscle.
For the first few weeks Ken and Brad were more physically affectionate with each other, often holding hands or making excuses to touch one another. The sex was better than ever, and Ken’s control over their link improved immensely, becoming instinctual in his efforts to start and stop it. The only precaution the doctor emphasized was not to leave it active unless they were together at their house or the lab.
A month later they were cleared to go back to work, and the final piece of the puzzle fell in place to get the entire team back and firing on all cylinders.
<><><>
A few weeks later, Ken and Brad were on the couch watching a movie after dinner. It was summer, so they wore only shorts, reclining together with Ken’s arm draped over and across Brad’s chest. Absent-mindedly, his hand moved through Brad’s chest hair while watching the movie. Periodically his hand roamed, gripping a pec more firmly, rubbing Brad’s abs, or gently tweaking a nipple. Ken was very physical in their relationship, often expressing his affections through touch, and he was almost unconscious of what he was doing; he just loved touching his partner. Not far into the movie, Ken mentioned he was hungry, so Brad got up to make them a snack. Ken paused the movie, and channel surfed while Brad was in the kitchen.
Earlier in the day Brad made a large fruit salad and brought the bowl over with a couple of forks so they could just eat out of it. Ken un-paused the movie as soon as Brad was back on the couch and they sat, shoulder to shoulder, devouring the entire bowl. When Brad resumed his earlier position, Ken noticed a slight tremble in his body.
“Are you cold, B?”
“Yeah, kind of. All that cold fruit, I guess.”
Brad snuggled back, and Ken wrapped his arms around him. Ken brought his legs around, scissoring Brad between them, wrapping his whole body up.
“Damn, you are cold.”
Unexpectedly Brad shivered hard, and Ken ran his hands up and down Brad’s arms, chafing his skin to warm him up.
Ken’s body, always warm from his increased body temperature, seemed hot, and Brad closed his eyes, snuggling against Ken and soaking up his warmth.
Grinning, Ken paused the movie and said, “I know how to warm you up.”
Brad senses heightened, and he knew Ken activated their link. He turned over, and their arms went around each other as they started a passionate kiss. Ken wrapped his legs around Brad’s waist and kept his warm hands moving up and down his back until Brad stopped trembling. They continued to kiss, occasionally pulling away to nibble on each other’s necks or ears, their excitement evident as they pressed against one another. Ken managed to pull their shorts down and muffled laughter ensued as they continued kissing while kicking their legs enough for their shorts to slide off their feet.
When they were finally naked, Ken pulled back, a little breathless but managed to say, “Now I got you where I want you, naked, and at my mercy.”
Ken was an expert at pleasuring his lover and using his hands, he went to work. With their link active, he experienced the same sensation and started thrust his hips slightly in reaction.
Brad noticed and laughed, saying, “Ken, you perv! You just wanted to get yourself off, didn’t you? You are so busted!”
Ken blushed and chuckled because he knew that’s what it looked like.
Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Ken said, “Well, that wasn’t my intent, but you gotta admit it’s kinda hot, and it kills two birds with one stone… or fist in this case.”
Brad returned the favor and started stroking Ken, and his face took on an expression of pleasure Ken loved to see.
After a minute, Brad mumbled, “Oh, fuck, that is hot.”
Ken smirked and asked, “So, who’s the perv now?”
Laughing, they started kissing again and continued making out, and even though Brad was sweating, he pulled his mouth off Ken’s and asked, “What happened to warming me up?”
<>
Twenty minutes later in a breathless pile, they collapsed on the couch. Ken didn’t want to let go and stayed on top of Brad, his big arms holding them together.
The comfort of their warm, sweaty skin and accelerated heartbeats as they caught their breath was soothing, and after a while Ken started kissing and nibbling the back of Brad’s neck and shoulders while continuing to enjoy the physical and emotional intimacy.
Each of them drifted in and out of sleep before the practical side of Brad exerted itself. With an effort, he said, “Alright, we need to get up, clean the couch and kitchen, and we both need a shower before bed.”
He peeled their bodies apart, and they laughed at the sound their skin made as they separated from each other and the leather couch.
A loud, exaggerated grunt escaped Ken as he pushed himself up, saying, “B, you are such a buzzkill sometimes.”
Totally relaxed, Ken did a massive full-bodied stretch making every muscle and vein in his body pop out for a few seconds, turning his face beet red. Even after the multiple rounds of sex they just had, the sight of Ken got Brad going again. He reached over and grabbed Ken’s hand, pulling the big man to his feet.
“Alright stud, who wants couch cleanup and who wants dish duty?”
Ken said, “Go on back’n hop in the shower. I’ll clean up out here and head back in a minute.”
Brad looked at Ken like something was wrong with him, which got him a grin, and Ken said, “Seriously, it’s the least I can do for the love of my life.”
Ken gave him a quick peck on the cheek and leaned over, swiping a hand down and scooping up their shorts.
“Here, take these back ‘ta the hamper.”
Ken moved around the coffee table and into the kitchen, bare-assed naked, to start cleaning up.
Knowing Brad was staring, he hollered over his shoulder, “Starin’ at my ass is not takin’ a shower!”
Brad smiled and made his way to the bathroom, turning on the hot water. When it was ready, he stepped in and started soaping up, scrubbing the sweat and aftermath of their lovemaking off his body and enjoying the hot water running over him. His senses were still hyped, and he closed his eyes, focusing on the sensations.
Intense, debilitating cold struck him suddenly, so unexpected and violent it took his breath away, and he couldn’t make a sound. His body jerked so hard he slipped and fell on the tiles, incapacitated for nearly a minute. Every bit of extra energy vanished, sucked out by the cold, and the memory of his isolation returned.
Oh, Fuck… no!
The cold faded as the hot water slowly warmed him back up. While Brad knew Ken was physically in the kitchen, in his mind Ken was gone forever, and the separation and loneliness were real and terrifying. The isolation faded with the cold, but the trauma left him drained and scared witless.
Brad pulled himself up and shut off the water. In a stupor, he dried off and brushed his teeth. He wanted to tell Ken what happened, but something in the back of his mind told him not to, whispering and convincing him that if he did something horrible would happen.
Brad crawled into bed and turned out the light, pretending to be asleep.
Ken wasn’t trying to be quiet when he came down the hallway, fully expecting Brad to still be in the bathroom. When he realized Brad was already in bed, he let out a quiet, “Oh shit…” and stopped making any noise. A satisfied grin crossed his face, thinking he wore his lover out.
The light from the bathroom went dark as Ken quietly pulled the door shut, and Brad heard the shower start. He lay in bed, his mind racing, pondering his reaction, the overwhelming emotions, and where they could be coming from.
Ken turned out the light in the bathroom to let his eyes adjust before moving into the bedroom. With his enhanced vision, he had no trouble navigating to the bed and carefully crawled in, trying not to wake Brad. Ken loved falling asleep holding him and wanted to snuggle some more but didn’t want to wake him, so he scooted close enough for their backs to touch, and the contact was enough to send him off into a comfortable, contented sleep.
The warmth of Ken’s body usually put Brad out like a light, but the heat of his back caused more anxiety than comfort. His emotions twisted, uncontrolled, and he couldn’t shake the feeling he was going to lose Ken forever. His mind fought back, applying logic and the awareness of Ken’s touch, but some other force overpowered his intellect, wrenching his thoughts into a belief of what he would lose forever rather than what he had.
Ken woke in the middle of the night from the death grip of Brad’s arms around his chest and ribs. Brad seemed to be having a nightmare, his body trembling and sweaty. None of them had gotten sick in the last nineteen years, so Ken wasn’t worried about that, but he didn’t like seeing Brad distraught. Extricating himself from Brad’s arms, Ken put a hand on Brad’s forehead. He didn’t seem hot or cold but was soaked in sweat. Ken turned on the light on his nightstand and then put a hand on Brad’s shoulder, gently shaking him.
He whispered, “Hey B, wake up. You’re dreamin’.”
Brad jerked awake, his eyes wide with fright, shaking violently and breathing heavy. Scrambling back, he pushed himself against the headboard and frantically kicked the sheets back like he was terrified of something.
“B! Hey, it’s okay! It’s okay!”
Brad seemed utterly panic-stricken, and Ken was at a loss.
In his panic, Brad was confused and disoriented. He thought he heard Ken’s voice but couldn’t see him, and he sounded far away.
“Brad! Snap out of it, man! Wake up!”
Breathing heavily, Brad slowly calmed down. Ken watched him intently, keeping a hand on his shoulder, not sure what to.
Brad slowly came back to himself, taking a minute before he seemed to relax and breathe normally.
Shaking his head, he rubbed his eyes with a confused look on his face and asked, “Ken? What’s going on?”
“You tell me. That must’ve been a mother of a nightmare. What was it about?”
“I… I don’t remember.”
“Hang on a sec.”
Ken hopped out of bed and came back a few minutes later with a warm washcloth and a towel. He handed the washcloth to Brad to wipe his face, and Ken used the towel to wipe the sweat off his body as best he could. Ken’s strong hands rubbing him down helped to relax and bring him back to normal.
“Thanks, man. Sorry about the scare, I don’t know where that came from.”
Trying to lighten the mood, Ken tossed the towel at Brad and said, “I didn’t do it for you. I don’t wanna sleep next to a stinky pig.”
Ken turned off the light and pulled Brad against him, wrapping an arm around Brad’s chest. Kissing him on the shoulder, Ken whispered, “G’night, B.”
As hard as he tried, Brad couldn’t go back to sleep. Usually, he slept like a baby in Ken’s arms, and Ken’s shallow, warm breath on his shoulder always helped him relax. His love for Ken welled up inside of him, but instead of comfort, all he could think of was losing that love forever. His mind raced, and he couldn’t let go of the thoughts. When the alarm went off at 0600, he was still wide awake.
<><><>
The next day Ken kept a close eye on Brad, but other than being tired he seemed fine, so Ken didn’t bring it up to the doctor.
Sometimes a bad dream is just a bad dream.
Ken asked Brad about the nightmare later in the day, and he again said he didn’t remember it. His answer bothered Ken because he knew Brad had perfect recall, but maybe dreams were different.
That night Ken took care of dinner and cleaned the kitchen so Brad could relax. Brad didn’t even stay in the kitchen with him while he cleaned up, and it worried him even more. A few hours later Brad went to bed early, saying he was still tired.
A little after 0200, Ken woke up and realized Brad wasn’t in bed with him. Getting up, he padded naked through the house and found Brad sitting on the couch in the dark.
“B? What’re you doin’?”
Startled, Brad jerked slightly in surprise and said, “Sorry, Ken, I can’t sleep, and I didn’t want to keep you awake.”
Sitting next to Brad, Ken held his hand, and it took every ounce of control to stop his trembling so Ken wouldn’t feel it.
“B, is there somethin’ goin’ on we need ‘ta talk about?”
Brad put an arm around Ken’s shoulder and leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“No, I’m good. It’s nothing. I’m just wired for some reason. Hell, I don’t know, maybe Sally switched from decaf to regular at the office.”
“Will you come back ‘ta bed and try ‘ta get some sleep?”
“I will if you make me a promise.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t go running to the doc about this. Seriously, I'm all right.”
Ken pulled Brad to his feet and led him by his hand back to the bedroom.
When they were in bed, Ken pulled Brad against him as usual and whispered in his ear, “B?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, even if you are a douche.”
Brad said it in a lighthearted tone to disarm Ken. It must have worked because Ken squeezed his hand gently in response and quickly fell back asleep. Brad stayed awake the rest of the night, his eyes open but not seeing anything while silent tears rolled down his cheeks.
God, Ken, I’m going to miss you so much.
