Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 08:56:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Tales of a Real Dark Knight Chapter 45

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!!!

Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter you are commenting on.
Thanks.

jmsotc@yahoo.com

Chapter 45 Sensitive Moments

	"What's the problem?" Garrett asked.
	"Do you know who Lord Bortos is?"
	"Sounds familiar, but I will have to do some research.  Why do you
ask?"
	"Because Batman and I just battled a group of Kailiff who are
working for a Lord Bortos.  He supposedly has been around for a while and
dislikes humanity a bunch."
	"Let's go to the library and find out."  As we walked down his
hallway, Garrett said, "By the way, Eric, Lance is looking for you.  He did
not say what it was about.  Perhaps you should call him."
	"I don't know how well that would go over with his friends."
	"Why do you say that?" the Huntress asked.
	"Because JC told Justin about everything.  And Justin, who came to
me as a patient, got very angry at me."
	"Do you blame him?"
	"No, I don't."
	We arrived in the library and Garrett immediately went to his far
wall, which contained most of his very old books.  He skimmed the bindings
until he came across one and pulled it out.  He flipped through the pages
and stopped, beginning to read an excerpt out loud.
	"And the darkness of evil grew to covered the earth, threatening to
devour all mankind.  Bortos, Lord of all that which is unholy, slaughtered
hundreds....I guess we found our man."
	"What is he?" Jessica asked.
	"It doesn't say."
	"Is there a picture of him?"
	"No."
	"Great!  We don't know what he looks like, what he is, or anything!
This is going to be a challenge!  I guess next time out we follow the bad
guys."
	"Looks like it."  Garrett returned his book to the shelf.  "I'll
continue researching.  Perhaps there is another volume that contains in
detail more of what he had done in the past.  There may be some reference
to what he is and how to stop him."
	"Let's hope so."
	"I don't know about you two, but I'm anxious to get home," I said.
	"And talk to Lance."  Jessica smiled.
	"I really need to get a shower."
	I turned and headed toward the door.  Jessica was not too far
behind me.
	"Eric, what's up?  Don't you like Lance?  Don't you think he's
cute?"
	"Lance is wonderful!  He's gorgeous and sweet.  I could not want
anything more in a guy.  But I'm not quite ready yet to date.  I've been
through much, as you well know.  And I know the dangers of getting too
involved with someone right now.  I'm not saying that Lance and I don't
have a future.  It's a good possibility.  But right now, all I need are
friends."
	With that I left.  I couldn't say anything else.  True I was over
what I had with Justin.  And I was on the mend with the rape.  I still had
a little bit of fear due to Aaron and his idea of love, the jerk.  And I
didn't want my insecurity to drive Lance, or anyone else, away.  I still
had some healing to do.  And I knew that I would.
	I returned home and went to bed.

	In the morning, I went straight into work.  When I got there, I
found David waiting for me.  He was in tears.
	"David!  What's wrong?"
	"Mike is in the hospital!  He had to be rushed there early this
morning!"
	I turned to my assistant.  "Debbie.  Have Dr. Allison get down here
right away, please."
	"Sure."
	"Let's go in my office, David."  I took him in and he sat down on
the couch.  "What happened?"
	"We were...having sex...and he started to have trouble
breathing.  When he started to get cold and turn blue, I freaked.  He was
still conscious, but very cold.  I called 9-1-1 and the ambulance came and
rushed us to the hospital."
	"Is he there now?"
	"Yeah."
	"Okay.  I'll come with you to see him."
	"Thanks, Eric."
	My intercom buzzed.  "Eric?"
	I went over and pressed the button.  "Yes, Debbie?"
	"Dr. Allison is here."
	"I'll be right out."  I turned to David.  "I'll be right back."
	He nodded.
	I went out to meet Dr. Allison.  "Hello, Doctor.  I have a patient
who is very stressed out about a lover being in the hospital.  I would like
to go with him to the hospital to help him adjust if I can."
	"All right.  Who is on your morning schedule?"  I turned to Debbie.
She immediately knew what I wanted, pulled out the schedule and handed it
to Dr. Allison.  He looked over it.  "They are all people who have seen the
other doctors as well.  There won't be a problem."
	"Thanks, Doctor."
	I went back into my office.
	"Let's go, David.  I freed up my morning."
	"Thanks, Eric."
	We left and got to the hospital not too much later.  I followed
David to Michael's room.  David took a deep breath at the sight of Michael
with all kinds of equipment hooked up to him.  He gave his sly smile that
would melt anyone's heart.  I did what I could to hold back my own tears.
	"Hi, Mike."
	He attempted to say hi but it came out raspy.  David went over to
him and stood next to Mike's bed.  His hand grabbed Mike's and my heart
took a picture.  This would make a good advertisement for gays.  Lust would
not act this compassionate.  Love would.  Lust would not be so humble and
emotional.  Love would.  Too bad that we live in a society where we have to
come up with the best scene possible to advertise that we are just like
straight people in our love.
	I sat with David and Mike as the doctors came in and checked Mike
out.  I talked with David about anything and everything except what he was
feeling.  It wasn't so much that he needed my professional opinion for this
situation.  I think just the fact someone he trusted was present to support
him through it was what he needed.
	When 11:00 came around, a nurse came in to inform Mike that lunch
was coming around 12:00 and asked if David and I would be staying.
	"No, I don't think I can stay.  I have classes to go to.  But I
will come back later tonight to see them."
	David looked at me.  I could tell he didn't want me to leave.  I
smiled at him to say, "It will be okay".  The nurse left.
	"I will see you gentlemen later.  I must go."
	Mike waved bye to me and David said goodbye.  I stepped out of the
room and, not too much later, David joined me.
	"I don't think I can do this, Eric.  It's too much.  I can't deal.
This is too hard for me."
	"Everything will be fine, David.  You and Mike need some time to
talk, to be with each other.  I will be back later to check on you.
Everything will be fine."
	I grabbed David and brought him close hugging him tight as if the
tighter I hugged him the more of my strength would be given to him.  I
released him and headed off to college reluctantly.
	When I arrived on campus, I found George and Hailey walking to
class.  I said hi to them but nothing more.  Everyone was still dealing
with everything that had happened: Hunter's suicide, Dr. Israel's actions
that brought about Hunter's suicide.  It was all on everyone's mind.
	Classes went by without incident, but students were still quiet.
The debate from the day before kind of put everyone on edge.  The issue was
a split issue.  And everyone was afraid to speak because no one could trust
his or her words would not offend anyone.  As much as there were those who
had deep beliefs, they were also surprisingly considerate in that they
didn't want to offend.  The silence was refreshing.
	When classes were over, Alan met up with me.
	"Eric, can I talk with you?"
	"Sure, Alan.  About what?"
	"About what happened with Hunter.  It's still kind of bothering me
and I was wondering if I could bend your ear for a little while."
	I remembered David and Mike in the hospital, but Alan was a friend
and needed to talk.  "Of course you can bend my ear.  Where would you like
to talk?"
	"Anywhere is fine."
	Alan and I went to a coffee shop and sat at a little table in the
corner.
	"I'm worried."
	"About what, Alan?"
	"I don't know.  Everything.  It seems that I've gone through a lot
more stuff than I cared to go through.  I didn't want Hunter to take his
life.  I wish I would have known.  Maybe I could have helped him."
	"Don't do this to yourself.  There's no use going over all the
'what ifs'.  It will only bother you all the more.  It will only hurt you.
Hunter didn't do this to hurt us, as much as it does.  His intentions were
to be free of the pain that Dr. Israel was causing.  No doubt he had a lot
of self-hatred.  Being told you are evil because of something you are born
with does nothing good for your self-esteem."
	"Do you believe all that Dr. Israel said?  You know, about
homosexuality being a choice or that someone can be changed?"
	"No.  One cannot control whom they are attracted to.  And as far as
being changed, genetic manipulation is the only way, and that has not been
perfected.  It's not safe to mess with DNA and gene sequencing.  It's very
delicate and tricky work.  Not recommended."
	"Still.  Dr. Israel spouting off those platitudes kind of makes you
wonder why people are allowed to say such stuff when it's not possible.
Isn't that like lying?"
	"It seems like it.  But if you truly believe something, even though
a majority of others do not, does that mean your belief is false?"
	Alan hesitated a moment.  "I guess not.  Because what you believe
is real to you."
	"That's right.  People have an argument or experience.  I know for
me, personally, that I've had experiences with things that others don't
believe exist."
	"Like what?"
	"Well, I have always had a great love for God since I was little.
And my family was never seriously into God.  My parents never took me to
church.  They never mentioned God.  It was only when there was trouble that
they would pray, and then it was when they were alone.  But I've always had
an intense love for God.  All I can say is He must have put it in me."
	Alan sat quiet for a moment.  I was hoping that was enough of an
example without me going into anything else.  I could mention my
experiences in dealing with demons, which many people don't believe exist,
but that would get into rocky territory, territory I was not ready to
explore with him, or anyone else.  It would lead to things I'd rather not
mention.
	"Do you think committing suicide is wrong?"
	A question I wasn't ready to answer to anyone.  Suicide is such a
tricky subject.
	"Suicide is like running from your problems, at least in my eyes.
I wouldn't want to commit suicide.  For me it's wrong to do.  As much of
the coward that I am, doing myself in is something I could never do.
People have their own reasons and beliefs concerning suicide."
	"When are you going to say something that will make me feel better
about what happened to Hunter?"
	I looked into his eyes.  He was seriously searching for something
that would give some kind of relief.  My heart went out for him.
	"The only good thing for Hunter right now is that the trauma he
suffered from Dr. Israel's treatments and counseling is over.  He can never
be hurt by Dr. Israel or anyone else who hates homosexuals.  It doesn't
lessen our pain of missing him.  And it ends any chance of him changing the
future for the better.  Now it falls to us, his friends, to make sure his
death isn't in vain."
	"How can we do that?  We are supposed to carry what he put in us.
But I can't show any kind of mercy or love right now.  All I feel is anger
and hate.  I feel nothing good.  What can I do?"
	"Let your grief run its course."
	Alan wiped a tear from his eye.  I put my hand out and he looked at
it, then at me.  Finally he took it and I squeezed.
	"Everything will work out, Alan.  It will take time, and we will
never be the same, but life will work out."
	Alan and I just sat there letting our strength flow to each other,
being a support for each other.

	An hour later, I was on my way to the hospital to see David and
Michael.  When I arrived David and Mike were eating.
	"Hey," David said, his face lighting up at my presence.
	"Hi, Eric," Michael replied.
	"Hi, guys.  How goes it?"
	"Okay," David said with relief.  "Mike can come home tomorrow."
	"Good.  I'm glad to hear it."
	"Me, too," Mike said.
	A knock came at the door and it slowly opened.
	"Lance!" David said with surprise.
	I turned around and it was all I could do to keep my jaw from
dropping.
	"Hi, David."
	"Lance, this is Michael Cuccione.  He's my boyfriend."
	"Nice to meet you, Michael.  I watch your show sometimes.  It's
funny."
	"Thanks," Michael replied.
	Lance turned to me.  "Can I talk to you, Eric?"
	"Sure."  I turned to David and Michael.  "I'll be right back,
guys."  I followed Lance out into the hall.
	"Let's walk," he said, so we walked down the hall.  "I've been
trying to talk to you since you left the hotel."
	"Yeah?"
	"Yeah.  I wanted to tell you that the guys are not mad about what
happened, you know, you not telling Justin about everything.  Well, let me
rephrase that.  They are mad, but they are not holding a grudge.  They hope
that you will be more honest with them upfront instead of waiting for a
while.  And that disappearing stuff where you don't come around for a
couple months.  We want that to stop, too."
	"Okay," I said in as unemotional voice as I could.  I was trying so
hard not to be emotional at the moment.  I'm sure you are wondering why.
It's because I knew how Lance felt and I was not ready for a relationship
with anyone, even if I wanted to be in one, I could not do it.  Not yet.
	"Is something wrong, Eric?"
	"No.  Nothing is wrong."
	"Then why are you acting like this?"
	"Like what?"
	"Like you don't care one lick about us."
	"Us?" I asked.  Was he referring to him and I?
	"About us guys, you know the band.  You were such a great help to
us, so open and trustworthy.  You saved our lives from a bloodthirsty
vampire who would not have hesitated to drink from all of us.  Now you are
acting as if it's something you deal with everyday, like saving someone's
life is ordinary.  Worse yet, you are treating us like people you don't
know.  What's up with that?"

To Be Continued...

Am I bad or what?  I'm sure some of you are frustrated about me ending this
chapter here.  I know, I'm bad!  Ha, ha, ha!  Don't worry, there will be
more.  Lots more.  I'm going to try and devote the next chapter to nothing
but Lance and Eric talking, beginning a friendship.  And don't worry, you
haven't seen the last of the X-MEN.  Even a favorite will be showing up
soon.