Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 05:35:32 -0800 (PST) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Tales of a Real Dark Knight Chapter 28 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!! Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. Star Trek and all related characters created by Gene Roddenberry. Copyright Paramount Studios. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!! jmsotc@yahoo.com Chapter 28 A Time to Heal I slowly regained consciousness to find myself staring up at a light in the ceiling. At first I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. But when I realized the light was a fluorescent light I knew I wasn't. The Bible says Christ is the light of Heaven. Somehow I highly doubted that He was a fluorescent light. I became aware of machines beeping and whirring and pumping. Looking around I saw an I.V. in my hand. Those things always remind me of the Borg in Star Trek with the way they stick out of the body. I slowly moved my head to the left and to the right to see where exactly I was. It was a hospital room. I swallowed my saliva and found my throat to be extremely dry and painful. Reaching around I found the nurse "call" button and pressed it. Moments later a nurse came in. "Hey," she said. "How do you feel?" "Terrible," I said with a scratchy voice. "I can imagine. You've been through a lot." "Can I ...have a drink of water?" "Sure." The nurse grabbed a Styrofoam cup with a lid and straw. Her foot pressed a button and the bed slowly moved me into an upright position. She put the straw to my mouth and I took a sip. It was so cold and soothing to my throat. I tried to reach up and take the cup but my arms and hands were too weak. "Thanks," I said. "You're welcome. The doctor will be along shortly to talk with you. Until then, rest quietly. If you experience any pain or discomfort or any leaking from your rectum, don't hesitate the call button." "Rest quietly. You're roommate shouldn't be disturbed." "Roommate," I managed to mutter after she left. I looked around and for the first time noticed I wasn't alone. Lying to my right closer to the door was another patient. I couldn't tell whom because their side of the room was dark. I looked out the window and noticed it was dark outside. Was it the same night or the following night? Slowly the door opened and in walked Jessica, Garrett and Dr. Allison. I attempted a smile but was too weak to hold it. "Hey," Jessica said wiping a tear from her eyes. "Hey," I said. "How are you feeling, kiddo?" Dr. Allison asked. "Horrible." "I'm sure you do. You've been through a great ordeal. I contacted the school and they will send your homework over to the Center. If you want I could stop by after work to give it to you." "That would be fine." The doctor walked in interrupting my visitors. "Sorry to bother you, but my patient has finally woke up and I need to speak with him privately." "Okay," Jessica said right away. She turned to me. "We'll be right outside if you need us." "Thanks," I answered in my raspy voice. Dr. Allison, Garrett and Jessica left the doctor and me behind. The doctor smiled at them then turned to me. "I'm glad to see you awake and alert." "What happened?" "You had surgery. It lasted several hours." "What for?" "Your rectum was torn horribly. You were raped." The memory of the rape came flooding back and I began to sob. The doctor tried to console me. "I'm sorry to tell this to you. It's not uncommon for your conscious to forget such a traumatic experience. Whoever it was that raped you must have used several large objects and pushed rather hard into you to cause such tearing. We were in surgery with you for several hours repairing the damage." "Will I be okay?" "Sure. It will take about a week before we are ready to release you. We want to guarantee that your stitches won't tear with excessive movement." My mind immediately wandered to my nightly activities. It would have to be placed on hold for the week. I guess the Huntress will have her hands full. The doctor informed me of the same procedure the nurse did in case I needed something then left. Jessica came back in. "Eric, I'm sorry about..." "Don't do this. It wasn't your fault." "But if I would have been with you I could have prevented this." "Jessica, no one could have predicted this. It's no one's fault but the guys who did this." "I'll find them for you, Eric." "Don't get involved. It's not your place. It's my fight. Promise me you won't go after them. Besides, the doctor says I won't be able to do much for a week. You are going to have your hands full being out there by yourself." "Okay. I won't go after them." "And nothing crossed counts." She smiled at me with tears in her eyes. I smiled back. Jessica bent down, gave me a kiss on the head and left, closing the door behind her. I looked over at my roommate wondering why he or she was here, hoping it wasn't the same reason I was there. I closed my eyes and let the sound of machines put me to sleep. When I awoke the next day, I heard a television. It was my roommates. I couldn't tell who it was because his face was turned away from me. But I could tell it was a male because of his short spiky blonde hair. I rolled over and saw a beautiful vase of flowers sitting on my stand. There were red and white carnations with a single rose sitting in the midst. I pulled the card off and read it: To Eric, Hoping and praying for a quick recovery. Thinking of you often. Your friend "Who could have sent that to me?" I wondered out loud. "Probably Jessica." "You're awake finally," my roommate said. The voice sounded familiar to me. I rolled over and saw, to my amazement, Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys. "Um...Hi," I managed to say like an idiot. I enjoyed listening to the Backstreet Boys. "Shape of My Heart" was one of my four favorite songs they sang. "How are you feeling? When they brought you in the room yesterday afternoon, they talked very concerned for you. What happened?" I didn't want to tell him that four guys raped me because I am gay. I still had a hard time admitting it to myself. So I came up with the truth, but not the whole truth. "I had to have emergency surgery yesterday." "Sorry to hear that." "What are you in here for?" "Had surgery, too," was all he answered. "What time is it?" "About 5:30." "In the evening?" I couldn't believe it! "Yeah. They must have used a lot of anesthetic on you to make you sleep so long. It must have been a very delicate surgery." "Yeah," was all I muttered. I couldn't believe that I was in the hospital for two full days already and slept through both of them. I lie back on my pillow and shut my eyes. I was trying not to think of the rape but of good things that happened to me. "You going to sleep again?" Nick asked. "No. Just thinking." "Oh? About what?" "My life. Things that have happened to me, both good and bad." "Really? Would you like to share with me?" For the next twenty minutes, Nick and I shared things about our lives, siblings, parents, High School experiences, fears and phobias. It was pretty good to be able to talk. And Nick was so open about himself and accepting of me. It was all real good. The door opening interrupted our conversation. It was Dr. Allison. "Hello, Eric. How are you feeling today?" "Better. Still a little tired, but better." "Yeah, he slept all day again," Nick, said with a smile. All three of us chuckled. "I brought your books from school, Eric. Your professors wish you a speedy recovery." "They know what happened?" I said with shock. "Oh, no! I would never tell them. I just told them you were in the hospital recovery from emergency surgery." "Thanks." "Well, I must go. Have a nice evening and I will be back tomorrow." Dr. Allison left. "So you're telling your college professors you had emergency surgery, too? What really happened?" I looked over at Nick and he had a slight smile on his face. He didn't know the seriousness of the situation. I was angry about the way he looked at me but I couldn't very well blame him for not knowing. So I looked over and told him what happened. His smile faded. "I'm sorry, Eric. If I would have known I wouldn't have been so smug about it." "It's okay, Nick." After a few moments of me leafing through my books, Nick asked, "So what are you majoring in?" "Child Psychology." "I'll bet that's interesting." "It is. I get to help children deal with stuff and come out better and stronger people. The sad part is that they have gone through stuff that no child should ever have to go through. I hate that aspect of my job." "Perfectly understandable." I looked over my assignments and began reading one of the chapters Professor Israel assigned to me. It discussed mutation in people. It was a great read. We were to write a paper on the chapter and discuss the pros and cons of mutation, how it affects society and all that other wonderful stuff. I really enjoyed doing that. I love to explore issues and weigh the good and the bad. Most of the time, a little education and understanding helps to counter the bad. As I read, my eyes began to weigh down. I got really tired and decided to call it a night. I put my books beside me and fell asleep. I awoke in the middle of the night to a weird moaning sound. Maybe Nick was in some kind of pain. I rolled over quietly and saw that it wasn't a great deal of pain he was in but a great deal of pleasure, by his own hand. I tried to ignore him, to look away. It was his own business what he did. Unfortunately, it's hard to ignore a guy sleeping in the next bed pleasuring his self and moaning. I finally got my mind on what I read earlier that day. "Oh, Batman," Nick said. My eyes shot open and my jaw dropped. Fortunately for the both of us the light was out on my side and he couldn't see me. Nick Carter, singer in the group Backstreet Boys, was fantasizing about Batman! And I'm Batman! This was too unreal. "Maybe it's one of the movie stars that played Batman in the movies," I thought. I didn't want to get too much of an ego about this...situation. The thought that a celebrity was getting off imagining me...or Batman, which is me...or...whatever...was very flattering and...since I was hearing it going on, stimulating. Moments later his fantasy came to a climax and I heard him in all his...glory, I guess would be the term for it. He moved around a bit. I looked over and saw him cleaning himself off. Then he got up to go to the bathroom. His hospital gown was open in the back, as usual, and he was not wearing any underwear. It was a cute view but then I reminded myself of what happened with Justin. I felt I was not ready for a relationship. And a hook up was not my idea of fun. Plus, Nick wouldn't be interested in some young guy who is studying Child Psychology when he would rather have a mysterious hero of the night. Nick washed his hands in the bathroom and came back into the room. He lay down. I waited for about ten minutes before I stirred a little, making Nick think I was just waking up. Then, I got up and went to the bathroom where I took care of the stimulation Nick's fantasy caused me. After washing my hands, I went back to bed and fell asleep. I was standing on a building in my Bat suit when I heard someone call my name. I ran to the edge and looked down to see Nick running down the alley. I leapt off and just flew over to Nick. "Eric, I'm so glad to see you!" Nick embraced me and I felt the love he had for me. "It's okay, Nick. I'm here. Everything will be fine." "Not for long," said a familiar voice. I turned to see Turic standing ten feet away. "Turic, what are you doing here?" "I came back. I have a back-up plan. I always have a back up plan." "What are you talking about?" "Since you staked me and freed Justin, I moved on to my number two choice." He looked past me to Nick. "You'll have to go through me." "Not a problem. Of course, if you stake me, Nick will be free, as Justin was freed. Is that something you really want to go through again?" "It's either that or let you control him. He should have free choice to love whomsoever he wants." "Even at the risk of hurting you?" "Yes," I said, "even at the risk of hurting me." "Very well, then. Let's have at it." Turic leapt at me and through me against the wall. I kneed him between the legs and he fell to the ground. I pulled out a sword that was hidden under my cape and chopped off his head. As he turned to dust, I looked over at Nick. "I'm not gay! I'm not gay!" and he ran out of the alley. I was standing on a building in my Bat suit when I heard someone call my name. I ran to the edge and looked down to see Lance running down the alley. I leapt off and just flew over to Lance "Eric, I'm so glad to see you!" Lance embraced me and I felt the love he had for me. "It's okay, Lance. I'm here. Everything will be fine." "Not for long," said a familiar voice. I turned to see Turic standing ten feet away. "Turic, what are you doing here?" "I came back. I have a back-up plan. I always have a back-up plan." "What are you talking about?" "Since you staked me and freed Justin, I moved on to my number two choice." He looked past me to Lance. "You'll have to go through me." "Not a problem. Of course, if you stake me, Lance will be free, as Justin was freed. Is that something you really want to go through again?" "It's either that or let you control him. He should have free choice to love whomsoever he wants." "Even at the risk of hurting you?" "Yes," I said, "even at the risk of hurting me." "Very well, then. Let's have at it." Turic leapt at me and through me against the wall. I kneed him between the legs and he fell to the ground. I pulled out a sword that was hidden under my cape and chopped off his head. As he turned to dust, I looked over at Lance. "I'm not gay! I'm not gay!" and he ran out of the alley. I awoke with a start and sat up. My body felt very hot. I was sweating profusely and breathing heavy. It was only a dream. A horrible dream, but a dream nonetheless. I looked over and saw Nick looking at me. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Yeah," I said in between each breath. "I'm fine, thanks." "That sounded like a pretty intense dream. What was it about?" I wondered if I talked in my sleep. I've been none to respond to questions when I slept. My best friend, Matt, used to do that to me all the time. I was fortunate, though, to always wake up when he would ask me whom I liked. To this day, he doesn't know I'm gay. And I don't know if I will ever tell him. He would reject me, for sure. The plus, I guess, is that I very rarely saw him after his marriage, and since I moved out here, I haven't even heard from him. "Uh..." "It's okay if you don't want to tell me," Nick said with a smile. Then he went back to watching TV. I lay back on my pillow and looked outside. "What time is it?" "You actually woke up at a decent time. It's around 9:30." "Oh, good. I'm glad I'm starting to get back on schedule." "Listen, Eric. My friends are coming over to practice with me today, is that okay?" "Sure. That's fine." Then I realized who he said his friends were. The rest of the Backstreet Boys! I was going to meet the Backstreet Boys! To Be Continued... Hmm, I wonder who sent Eric flowers and a "Get Well" card. As always, comments and questions are encouraged!