The Professor's big chance

After Ben's mugging Professor Andrew Roberts goes to be with him, where they have a heart to heart. Finally sorting out it they are going to Ben's mum and dads together. Or end their friendship.  

* * * *

The taxi ride to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, seemed to take forever, even though in reality it wouldn’t have been more than 15 minutes or so. I’d changed quickly into a clean pair of trousers and a jumper, and packed things like soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, just in case he had to stay in overnight. 

Even at 2.15 in the morning, the accident and emergency department was simply mayhem, doctors and nurses looking tired and stressed. There were patients everywhere, people on trolleys in the corridors, every side room was full. And every chair in the waiting room had someone sitting on it. 

I walked over to the lady on reception, she was of Afro Caribbean heritage, her dark eyes looked as tired and stressed as everyone else though she seemed to be holding herself together, where other doctors and nurses were trying to make themselves heard over the general cacophony by shouting for whatever they needed. She looked up at me from her computer screen.

“ Hello sir, how may I help you”?

“ I’m looking for Ben Slocombe”.

“Are you related to him in any way”?

“No sorry, I’m just a friend, he rang me about ½ hour ago saying he’d been mugged and that he wanted to see me”.

“And your name”?

“Andrew Roberts”. I then showed her my driving license as Identification.

“Ok Mr Roberts, he’s just around the corner on a trolley there’s a paramedic with him”.

“Thankyou”. I wandered around the corner. And saw Ben lying on a trolley,a policeman was standing there talking to him, I slowly  approached them.

“Ben”.

Two people turned round at the sound of my voice. 

“Prof”? The voice sounded tired and full of emotion, completely unlike Ben's usual happy confident voice. 

“Prof”? Ben said again, “I’m glad you're here, I’ve been mugged”. Tears were welling in his eyes. I immediately felt sorry for him.

The paramedic approached me, “ I’m Preston White sir, the paramedic that has been looking after Ben, are you Professor Roberts by any chance”? 

“Yes that’s me, Ben rang, he told me he’d been mugged, I came as soon as I could”. I looked at Preston. He was a young man about Ben's age, but tall,over 6ft and well built, he fit his uniform well, his hair was blond and his eyes light blue. 

“ Ben has been asking for you, i'm glad you’re here, he’s been knocked about pretty bad as you can see, I’m confident there’s no concussion”.

The front of the trolley was up on an angle, so Ben could sit up.Ben looked at me and tears filled his eyes. He was covered in a blanket and still had his clothes on minus his socks and trainers. Which where perched on the end of the trolley, 

“ Hey,no tears now" .I said I bent down wanting to hug him, but Ben stopped me.

“I’d love a hug but I hurt all over! You’d hurt me”. Ben said, his eyes brimming with tears and his voice braking with emotion, 

“Can I hold your hand then”?

“Yes I’d like that, Thankyou”.

I held his hand as Preston looked on, then he said.

“Well I think you're in good hands Ben, I will leave you in the capable hands of the Prof, the doctors and nurses.  then shook my hand it was a firm grip but not to hard,

“Thankyou for taking care of him Preston”. I said as we shook hands. 

 “ No problem and thanks again for coming Prof”, Preston said. He patted Ben affectionately on the shoulder. And looked him directly in the eye.

“Call me if you need anything Ben, I’m here for you, bye Ben”.

Preston turned and left, striding confidently away, his snug fitting green uniform leaving little to the imagination. 

I was at a loss for something to say for a moment. I decided that the obvious questions were the best ones.

“ Have you seen a doctor yet”?

“Yes a doctor saw me virtually straight away, he wants me to have an X-ray, he’s not sure if I’ve broken a rib or if it’s cracked or just badly bruised I might have broken fingers as well”.

I stood there and held his hand in silence. I noticed he had 2 black eyes. Also what I  thought were bruises on his hands. I didn’t know whether Ben got them through fighting with his attackers or if they had been stood or stamped on. The last  thought sent a shiver down my spine. I suddenly felt overwhelmed. I looked down at Ben lying there in obvious pain feeling guilty, that I was at fault for him being there. 

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault, if I’d have been more of an adult then we wouldn’t have had that argument”. I wanted to say a silly argument but checked myself, it wasn’t the right time to say that to Ben. It might have come across as unfeeling. 

“Don’t blame yourself Prof, I’m just as much to blame, if I hadn’t have stormed off like a stroppy teenager then I wouldn’t have been in a position to be mugged”

“If anyone is to blame it’s the muggers. I hope they catch them, then they can throw the book at them”. 

“I suppose your right prof, but it could have been worse, if that passerby hadn't shown up when he did, god knows what would have happened”. He started to tell the whole story.

“After I’d left the cab I went in search of hotels where Seb and Greg might be staying. God knows what I was trying to achieve, I guess being a bit drunk was something to do with it. I checked one hotel after another, with the same result, they either said they weren’t there or they wouldn’t tell me, after a while I decided to call it a day and head for home”.

“I was about a mile or so from home, I was passing an alley, I didn’t go into it, I’m not that daft. But I heard something behind me, I felt like it was trouble, so I started to walk faster, I tried not to panic, but the next thing I knew 3 guys in hoodies were all around me”. 

“Give us what you have”. They said, 

“ Here, I don’t want any trouble”,I gave them my phone and my wallet”.

“Give us more," they said after I’d given them these things”.

“I don’t have anything else”. That’s when the beating started. They dragged me into the alley. I tried to fight back,but I’m no fighter, the next thing I knew I’d been punched a couple of times in the face, hence the black eyes, then came punches to the stomach”.

 He pulled up his jumper to show his bruises. His ribcage and stomach were a mass of them. He carried on talking.

“When they started punching me in the ribcage and stomach I doubled up in pain, that’s when the kicking started”.

“When I doubled up they kneed me in the stomach, I collapsed to the floor. One of them stood on my hand,the others were kicking me. I screamed in pain. That’s when I heard shouting, the muggers ran off, I heard a short telephone call. And a voice asking me if I was ok. After that I knew nothing till I was in the ambulance, a policeman and Preston the paramedic standing next to me. Then I rang you, and here you are”. 

His voice was tired, and full of emotion, how he held it together, I don’t know, but he did. I felt for him and I was determined to help him.

“I’d like to find out who came to your rescue. I’d like to thank him”.

“So would I, as far as I’m aware, he gave a statement to the police and then went on his way. The police have his details, I’m not sure if I could get them, maybe I should ask”?

“To be honest Ben, there’s more important things to worry about, like getting you better, and discussing our future. Also we need to cancel your cards and mobile phone, as well. Have you contacted work yet? you obviously can’t go in like that, you will need a sick note as well”. 

Ben sighed. “The doc will give me a note, I’m sure. As for work, can I borrow your phone, for obvious reasons, I don’t have mine”.

I gave him my phone. After a short google search, he found the phone number he needed and left an answer phone message, telling the school, what time it was, where he was and what had happened. And that he would get a doctor's sick note for them when he could,and that unfortunately he wouldn’t be in Thursday. 

Ben then said. “ The law requires that I’m only allowed time off during term time, only for very special reasons. Otherwise I will be fined”.

“I’m sure you will be fine, when you have the note we will  take it to your school together. Anything I can do to help just ask, oh and I fetched you a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and shampoo, in case you're kept in”.

“Cheers Prof, though I get the impression that you’re making up for lost time”.

“That's nor fair Ben, I’m trying to help a good friend, that’s all. If you think that I wouldn’t have helped you before tonight’s argument, or that I’m somehow trying to make up for lost time then you’re wrong, you’re a friend in need. A good friend helps when needed. That is all I’m doing, trying to help”. I was feeling exasperated and was tired and slowly losing my temper. Though I was trying desperately to hold on.

“You’re right Prof, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I know you’re trying to help, we're both tired”.

He closed his eyes. He dropped off to sleep. I carried on holding his hand. After all that’s what friends do right?

A nurse kindly brought me a chair to sit on, I thanked her and sat. Ben's eyes were still closed, his breathing was slow and even as he slept. It gave me time to think. After all, I didn't have anything else to do. Though I didn’t do much thinking before I nodded off as well. 

A little while later, I was woken by someone shaking me. A hospital porter had arrived to take Ben for an X-ray. 

“Sir, excuse me, sir”.

“Wha ….. what, oh, er, sorry I must have dropped off”. My neck ached as I stood up and stretched.

 I was looking at a portly, bald man about my age wearing a blue shirt and black trousers, 

“Sorry to wake you sir, I’m Terry and I’ve come to take Ben Slocombe for a couple of X-rays”.

“Oh right, erm I will wake him”. I touched his shoulder. I Whispered.

“Ben,Ben”. I shook his shoulder. “Ben wake up please”. I whispered again. He stirred.

He awoke slowly. “It’s time for your X-ray Ben”.

“Wha… Prof?, what’s up why’d you wake me. For a second he wasn’t sure where he was. Then it all came back to him, tears filled his eyes. 

“Why me prof, why me”? He wailed.the tears falling.

“Shhh Ben, I’m here, it’s ok. I touched his shoulder, I was too afraid to hold or hug him as I was too scared to hurt him, "You need to have your X-rays done”.

Terry, who had been standing by passively, came up to Ben. 

“Hey Ben, I’m Terry, I’ve come to take you for some X-rays mate,I have a wheelchair for you. Your friend can come as well. Can you stand up? 

We moved to help him, but with tears still in his eyes, he swung round and put feet on the floor. “Wait," said Terry. I watched as he knelt down and put  shoes and socks on Ben’s feet.

Ben shakily stood, Terry and I helped him to the waiting wheelchair, he sat and sighed, then Terry and I set off to the X-ray department.

I was seated outside in the corridor while Ben was having X-rays done on his ribs and hand. 

I had time to think, while I waited. Why was I reluctant to go with him to see his mum and dad? The age difference was a factor, but was there anything else? I realized that my reluctance to get out of my comfort zone didn’t help. When you get older it becomes a habit to stay where you're safe, doing what is normal to you, being in Penwortham with Ben's mum and dad, with a man who’s 27 years younger than me is definitely out of my comfort zone. Basically I was scared. That thought didn’t help me one bit. 

Ben being wheeled out of the X-ray room broke my thoughts. I Stood, Ben smiled at me, his eyes were still red and puffy but looked a bit more relaxed, he had his X-rays in a large envelope on his lap.

“How are you feeling Ben?”, I asked. 

“I still ache, but overall, ok I suppose”.

“Let’s get you back to a&e. The doctor will look at the results of your X-rays”. Terry said  in his usual polite manner.

We were mostly silent on our way back, Terry did most of the talking saying how much he and his wife were looking forward to their upcoming holiday in Benidorm. Inwardly I grimaced at the thought of anyone going to Benidorm. I said nothing, keeping my thoughts to myself. 

“Here we go Ben”. Terry said as we approached the reception desk at a&e.

“Side room 6 please Terry”, said the lady.” Dr Brown will be with you shortly Ben”.

We’d been sitting in silence for some minutes, with the curtain drawn. Ben was lying on the bed, his eyes closed. I was seated in a chair next to the bed,he opened them suddenly, he turned his head to look at me. 

“Will the doc be long”?

“No idea, when they say shortly, it could be only moments or it could be an hour, I suppose it depends on how serious they think your case is”.

“What time is it”?

I looked at my watch.

“3.20am” I answered.

“Seems like we’ve been here forever. I want to go home”.

“I know Ben, so do I but I’m not going to abandon you, so don’t even think about it, ok”.

“Thankyou prof. And Thankyou for everything you’ve done for me, it means a lot”.

“You mean a lot to me”. I replied, I decided that it was time to sort this relationship thing out once and for all. 

“I mean it when I say that Ben, you mean more to me than you can imagine. You are a beautiful young man, I’ve never hidden that fact. What I’m scared of is”. I thought for a moment before I carried on. 

“What I’m scared of is, being in a relationship with you and you meeting someone younger and better looking than me, you fall in love and leave me alone heartbroken. I’ve never been good at this thing called love, I suppose that’s why I’ve always hidden from it. I’ve always hidden from anything that I’m bad at or scared of. 

“I wouldn’t do that Prof.. you mean a lot to me.Im a teacher because of you. I’m researching things for you, because it’s you”. He winced in pain as he turned onto his side to look at me.  

“I want to be with you.I've never been one for a quick fuck  here or a quick blow job there. I want a true relationship. One built on love and trust. I don’t care about age. I care about what is in here”. He reached out and touched my head with an outstretched finger. “I wouldn’t leave you prof”.

“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep Ben. I don’t mean to be harsh or sound untrusting. But tell me truthfully that if Greg or P White wanted to date you, you wouldn’t do that just because you’re with boring old me. They're both gorgeous, both intelligent and they both fancy you, I could see their blushes as they looked at you, their smiles when you looked at them. You're a captivating young man Ben, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold on to you”.

Ben looked at me with hurt in his eyes, but I continued, with emotion filling my voice.

“I’m scared,Ben, scared of losing you forever. I like being alone but I want to be with you, that scares me. And If I go to Penwortham with you I’m completely out of my comfort zone. I’m with you and your parents in a town I hardly know with a young man who’s 27 years younger than me. I’m scared to go Ben to fucking scared ". By now my eyes were brimming with tears as I spoke.

“Neither of us know what the future holds for us both. But neither of us know what will happen if we don’t try a relationship prof, I’m willing to try, are you willing”? Ben's voice was filled with emotion, but his argument was still compelling. 

“I'm still scared of going with you to Penwortham. I know it sounds pathetic, a 52 year old man scared of going with you but still my fear is real”.

“But I will be there with you Prof, every step of the way. We don’t need to be with my parents all the time. We can go for walks, go researching in Preston. Go for a drink together. Yes ok we will have to spend time with mum and dad. But not all the time”. Say you will come, please”.

At that moment the curtain opened to reveal a doctor, he was a young man, in his early 30s at a guess with very short cropped hair, trying to hide the fact that he was going prematurely bald. He also sported short stubble, had green eyes and was fit but had the beginnings of a paunch. Newly married and in that comfortable zone of newly wedded bliss. I surmised. That saved me from having to answer Ben's question right away. 

“Ah Ben Slocombe, sorry I’m abit late, but we’ve been abit busy as you might have guessed. I’m Dr Brown. Now how are you feeling Ben”?

His mellow voice seemed to reberavate around the small cubicle.

“I’m tired, I ache all over and I want to go home”.

“Hmm”, the doc was looking at his records as Ben spoke, he took the X-rays and held 1 of them up to the light, “hmm”, he said again. Then he did the same with the other X-ray. 

“Well there’s no broken bones, so that’s good news. Lie back please and lift your shirt”, his jumper had been taken off long before as it was so stuffy in the hospital.  

“Does it hurt here?”. He started to poke and prod at Ben’s ribs  as I moved out of the way and watched, Ben winced and made a short exclamation in pain occasionally. 

“Well, said Dr Brown, there seems to be no major trauma, definitely no broken bones, just cuts and bruises. You’re a very lucky young man Ben. It could have been far worse, I will prescribe co codamol for the pain, and light exercise to keep yourself moving. And I recommend going to therapy as well, I will make an appointment for you if you want me to. I can’t see any reason to keep you in so you can go home as soon as you have your co codamol, take 3 or 4 a day or less if possible, you could get addicted to them and you will get constipated, so plenty of fiber as well. And finally make an appointment with your gp for a couple of weeks for a checkup. Ok, any questions”. 

“Yes a couple, I’m meant to be going to Penwortham to visit my mum and dad over the Easter weekend, will that still be possible, and also I’m a teacher so how long will I need to be off work for, I will need a sick note. Easter holidays finish on the 12 April”. 

“There’s no problem with going to see your mum and dad, as for work I can’t see any need to stay off longer than the Easter holidays, I will give you a sick note until then. If you feel you need longer for either the physical or mental trauma see your gp, ok”.

“I think I will be fine with the prof here to look after me, I will think about the therapy and book an appointment myself, if I think I need it”.

He opened a pad and wrote out a sick note, then smiling he hoped Ben felt better soon and left us.

“Phew, thank god that’s over I can’t wait to go home”.

“Speaking of which, would you like to sleep at mine”?

“. Oh, er, ok, thanks Prof, you’ve been good to me, thanks for being a true friend, I don’t know what I would have done without your help”. 

“You’d do the same for me, it’s no problem”. I was still thinking about his request to visit his mum and dad, the idea of using the time to research together was a compelling one. I had to admit I was considering the idea. 

It was 4.15am when we finally got back to my apartment. I think we were both too tired to think. Ben had 2 black eyes and plenty of cuts and bruises to his face, chest and hand and was feeling sore. I gave him painkillers then we washed and were both soon in my bed with Ben snuggled up to me snoring gently, fast asleep. I had to admit I liked the feeling, Ben was safe, and I was glad of that, and the fact I had been able to help him, I was soon sleeping alongside him. 

Sunlight woke me, Ben was still snuggled up to me, he literally hadn’t moved since he fell asleep. He moaned in his sleep as I turned to look at him. He looked so peaceful as he led there. It's hard to believe all the trauma he had gone through just a few hours before.

“You’re so beautiful”, I whispered, running my hand through his hair, he groaned in his sleep, I loved the idea of him being in my bed,

 “I could get used to this, waking every morning with this absolute beauty of a man, his brown hair always so neat, his blue eyes, full lips, his perfect body, you're always so confident,so happy, so full of life. And yet you choose me as a potential partner”.

I turned onto my back, why me, I’m not particularly good looking, I've a paunch, I’m a complete introvert, I'm bad tempered, and I’m loath to change. That's why I’m so scared to go to his parents with him. Then again, if I don’t, I will be on my own. I've always enjoyed being on my own though,so why  do I feel so compelled to be with him? I rubbed my eyes. “Fuck, fuck and fuck again”. I whispered to myself as I realized I’m falling for him. 

Ben groans as I get out of bed. I walk into the ensuite, do my business and shower, rubbing and scrubbing my body hoping that the actions will scrub away my thoughts before I drown in them. 

The ensuite door opening startles me, a sleepy Ben walks in.

 “Morning Prof”. he looks awful, all his bruises stand out against his perfect pale skin. His 2 black eyes, Puffy and swollen.

“. How are you feeling? " I ask into the steam.

“I ache all over, but I slept well, your bed is so comfy, thanks for letting me stay over”.

“You can stay as long as you want”. I hear myself saying. 

“Do you really mean that”. Ben's voice seems closer, then I realize why, as the shower door opens.

“I’d like to thank you properly”. Ben says, closing the door behind him. I watch him as he kneels on the shower floor. 

I feel as if I’m in a trance,my hands are on his head. As he swallows me, I feel myself harden in his mouth, as he moves in and out, back and forth. He moans in delight. His tounge works wonders for my labido. He takes his time, Ben is in no rush. 

It goes on for what feels like an eternity, in reality,no more than a few minutes elapse before I begin to reach ultimate excitement, he backs off, looks up at me and smiles. Then gets back to work, “so near” I whisper, he starts again. By now we’re both moaning, 

“Please Ben”. I hear myself say. He moans as he seemingly ignores me, bringing me to the edge a second time. Just using his mouth he brings out so much excitement in me. We’re both enjoying the ride. Both knowing where it will end. Only Ben knows when. I decided to change this. 

He doesn’t seem bothered when I clasp the back of his head and pull him onto me, he gags slightly as I  take control. He looks up at me, His blue eyes locked on mine both knowing the final destination is close. I move seemingly in a daze of overwhelming ecstasy,I’m close, so close.

As I look down at Ben,I notice Ben’s fist is moving in a blur, I push into Ben, both of us in the final throes of passion. Both moaning. We finally tip over the edge and in a crescendo of mutual ecstatic satisfaction,we reach the final destination in our journey. We cry out., both panting, on a sexual high.

Ben stands. We look into each other's eyes. He smiles and moves in for a kiss, we kiss passionately, our tongues find each other, I taste myself. 

“Wow Ben, that was some Thankyou”.

“My pleasure, Prof any time”.

We complete the shower,the only sound is Ben humming to himself.Then we both have breakfast. And head out into the day, we have things to do.

First we go to Ben’s school where he has a quick meeting with his headmaster, while I wait outside in the corridor, Ben gives her the sick note. She told him to come back when ready but she hopes it will be on the 12th. Next it’s the bank to cancel his cards and get issued with new ones which will take a week or so. Which to me is no problem, I can take care of him in the meantime. Finally at the phone shop, Ben canceled his stolen phone and got a new one. 

Outside the phone shop Ben stops, turns and looks at me.

“Well this is it then”.

“This is what, Ben”?

“Time for us to part. I need to get ready to go to mum and dads. I don’t think there will be any trains tomorrow as it’s Good Friday, so I will have to go tonight”. 

I brush his cheek,it’s a small sign of affection which startles Ben. We look at each other and smile”.

“It doesn’t need to be. I’ve realized over the last few tumultuous hours just how much you mean to me. I want to be in your life Ben, even if it’s for a short time. If you find another. Yes I will be heartbroken. But I’d sooner be jealous of another man, than never have the chance to be a part of your life”.

Ben looks up at me with a tear in his eye, his broken face is only temporary, his beautiful features and nature shine through. 

“Do you really mean that”?

I put a finger under his chin and lifted his face to mine.

“Yes, I do. Now how about I take you to your mum and dads tomorrow”?

“You mean you're coming with me”?

Our eyes locked on each other both smiling slightly.

“Yes, I’m coming with you, if you still want me to”.

“Oh Prof, of course I do”.

We embraced and our lips met as we stood in the middle of the street, both of us completely oblivious to the world around us.

End of chapter 2.