Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2006 21:52:31 -0800 (PST)
From: hogan9944@sbcglobal.net
Subject: John Gets What He Needs / Chapter 1

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction and in no way should be
considered to be about anyone in particular. Normal disclaimers apply.
Mental Illness depicted in this story can be a touchy subject and suicide
or suicidal tendencies do exist in real life but this story doesn't
condone them. On the contrary this story shows how much better life can
be, with love and the proper help and support.

You can't always get what you want.

You can't always get what you want.

You can't always get what you want.

But if you try sometimes....

You just might find.

You get what you need....

			Mick Jaguar/Rolling Stones


		    "John Gets What He Needs" by Hogan

				Chapter One

				John Clark
			     The Gentle Giant

At age 25, John was 6 feet 8 inches, 245 lbs, and white hair, not
blonde...he was a true blonde with a muscular hairy chest you couldn't
really see until you were up close. His hair was so fine and white.

 John wasn't one of those gym rats that had to go workout 3 or 4 times a
week. He just took good care of himself, ate right, and with all those
hours of "shootin hoops" that he loved to do, he was in better shape
than most without frequent trips to the gym. Wintertime in Indiana
didn't stop him from playing ball either. Many of the aged elementary
schools would have "open gymnasium" in the evenings so a lot of guys
got together for one on one or if there were enough that showed up,
they'd play full court games.

 John was a gentle giant to all who knew him, almost goofy at times, and
radiated an eternal child at heart. Nothing penetrated his world of
easiness, and most could sense it after being in contact with him in only
a few minutes of conversation. He had always been a leader of his own
destiny; never following anything or anyone but only focused what he was
intent on doing.

Don't get me wrong, John was no push over by any means, he could hold
his ground against the best of them. He had an angry stare that would
make many back down without having to show his fighting abilities. He had
dodged many bar fights by mostly just staying calm.  His large presence
was intimidating till he spoke and gave you that big grin with those
piercing blue eyes.

He did well in school growing up, never really having to apply himself to
make good grades. John wasn't what you called very athletic, but
basketball was his passion. I swear the man played at least 5 times a
day. He's the type that would see a game being played at a local park,
just walk up and immediately be accepted into the game. I guess more of
it was because of his size than his way with people on the basketball
court. Anyone who came into contact with him would be instantly drawn to
him. I don't think he ever really met a person he didn't like, except
maybe a few tight-ass cops or some military personal.

All though he was a very large man, he was cursed to be a late bloomer as
a teenager. When he was a senior in high school he was still only at the
height of 5 feet 8 inches. . Not exactly starter material for the
basketball team at that height so he never was picked up on the team.
Barely a hair anywhere except on his head and crotch. He only started
growing hair all over his face, chest, legs, pits and arms after he
turned about 18. It wasn't till after he graduated and went into the Air
force that he went through his last growth spurt.... a big one at that.

 John served his 3 years in the Airforce but decided it wasn't the
career move he was hoping for. He'd also found a girl and married her in
Georgia while he was stationed there. The marriage didn't last much
longer than over a year and ended in divorce. John decided not to
re-enlist and moved back to his hometown in Indiana after his divorce and
discharge. After all, there wasn't anything holding him there in Georgia
since his marriage fell apart and he was no longer govt. property issue.

 His father got his job application put on the top of a pile of hopeful
applicants at the local phone company by knowing an old buddy who worked
there. In the real world this is how it worked for the most part. Luck or
being at the right place at the right time had little to do with getting
a good paying job when you hadn't gone to college. Being in the service
always seemed to help, some out of patriotic duty people felt. And to
some employers, a person coming from the military was seen as someone who
was mature and disciplined which made for a good employee to hire.

  Installing and or repairing phone lines and equipment was what he
applied for. Of course he got the job with his fathers connections. Some
of the electronics training he had received in the Air force also paid
off. After being in training for a few months learning the ropes he was
on his own and driving a company work van.

He liked his job. He drove the company van around and enjoyed the semi
freedom of not having to be in one place all the time; it was just the
opposite of being in the military and having to ask when and how to wipe
your own ass. Everyday was a new adventure or at least it was something
different and kept him interested. Sometimes he would be on call during
off hours, but normally he worked a 9 to 5 shift. During storms he'd be
busy working long hours, but never minded it much since the overtime pay
was great.

 Besides after a year working for the company, John bought a
three-bedroom fixer upper that he spent many weekends working on. He
still had years of work to do, but it was coming along to his
satisfaction. He was in no hurry and since it was just he living there
the constant messes of remodeling wasn't much of a problem. His father
was a carpenter by trade so all those many projects he helped his dad on
growing up had paid off. The extra overtime he got from time to time
helped him afford materials to keep the remodeling going.

 He spent many stormy nights out in the countryside resetting breakers or
replacing burnt out electrical boards at sub stations. Mostly caused by
lightening or some other natural disaster that came with the spring and
summer storms. Rare ice storms in the winter would also caused havoc on
the region. Most of John's service area was usually in very rural areas
outside of town. Country roads, farms, homes and cornfields dotted the
landscape.

On one particular early warm summer evening, a cold front came in from
the northeast just after dark. It produced a storm of heavy rain, wind
and of course lightening. There was defiantly a lot of repair work to do.
Parts of the county had lost their phone connections due to the high
winds and electrical storm and it was going to take all night to get
everything connected back to the grid.

 No one was seriously injured by the time the worst of the storm passed
through. Now all was that remained of the storm was wind and lots of
rain. Even though there had been light damage, mostly limited to trees
limbs and signs blown all over the place, They had dodged the bullet once
again. Occasionally John seen lawn furniture in trees and chuckled at the
odd site.

 Most had escaped another potentially disastrous storm without having a
Tornado tear up everything they owned, but people still get quite testy
when their electricity and phone service has been interrupted. After such
an event everyone employed at the phone company was working to get all
the lines up and running as soon as possible. This meant working into the
night till it was done if necessary.

John went from job to job that was being sent to him through his wireless
computer the van had; luckily the cell towers hadn't been interrupted so
he could get his work orders. Well to be honest luck didn't have much to
do with it. The phone company had back up systems and generators and was
well prepared for all too common events like this. Indiana was very
familiar with fierce late afternoon storms in the spring and summer that
would roll through.

 After about 4 am he was on his way to the last job he was assigned. It
was an old connection box along side a road that wasn't getting a signal
and left everyone down the old country road just off the State Road 18
without phone and computer service. John serviced this site a few times
before. This particular piece of equipment was old and always causing
trouble. Seemed to go off grid even when a horse farted while moseying by
pulling an Amish buggy. It was equipment that needed upgraded and was
scheduled to be replaced with newer equipment later in the summer, but
for now a quick fix would do till then. As he drove up to the connection
that stuck out of the ground about 4 ft. He could see the State Road
close by, flashing lights were coming down 18 as he stopped the van at
the edge of the country road so he knew all the govt. agencies and
utility companies were busy that night after the storm.

`Man just this last quick job and I can go home and crash for 8 hours
since its Friday and I'll have the rest of the weekend off'. John
thought as he gathered the tools he needed and pulled back on his rain
gear since the rain still hadn't let up much.

John hesitantly got out of the warm and dry comforts of the company van
only to be pummeled by the cold wind and rain. He began his short trek
walking down into the dark ditch next to the road where the phone
connection box was located. It didn't take him long to replace a
connection that had been fried from the lightening. He ran a few tests on
the connection to see if it was working properly. All was fine so he
started heading back up out of the ditch to his van when the beam of his
flashlight caught something that attracted his attention.

 "What the FUU," john stammered.

`I hope that's not what I think...Shit it is, its a body...oh crap'

 The rain continued coming down at a steady pace, the wind howled in
gusts making the rain feel even colder. The flashlight beaming through
the rain had shinned to light a very dirty and wet body lying lifeless in
the ditch face down half covered with debris. He wasn't sure how he
missed it when he first came down. John observed the persons clothes were
all dirty and cut up.

 He hesitantly walked up closer to the motionless form and went to move
some debris that was covering the head of the person. As soon as he
uncovered the lifeless being he noticed it was a guy, dark hair. Maybe
around his age or younger, it was hard to tell at this point. John tried
to check for a pulse or any sign of breathing. He was no expert but the
guy sure looked dead to him and was very cold to his touch. He could see
cuts and bruises on his face.

 `John wondered if he had got caught up in one of those tornadoes and it
spit him out in this ditch from far away.' Twisters were notorious for
appearing for brief periods out in the countryside without warning during
a storm, then to dissipate a brief moment later without anyone knowing
the wiser. John ran back to his van and called his dispatcher to tell her
what he had found.

John picked up the radio and began signaling the dispatcher. "Ruby this
is John in van #24...come in".

"John, Ruby here, are you finished for the night?"

" Ruby...no... shit you aint gonna believe this but ...but... I found a
body." Ruby was one of the company dispatchers from the main office in
town.



"I'm at the last repair job on 550 south County road near 18. I'm
pretty sure he's dead," John said breathing heavily as almost in shock
of what he had witness.

"John what you mean...a body?" Ruby loudly questioned.

"Ruby it looks like someone was caught outside in the storm or was hit
by a car and thrown into the ditch or something. I don't really know
what happened to him but he looks pretty banged up. I checked for a pulse
and breathing but he looks like he's gone, I'm not even sure how long
he's been here." John replied back into the mic.

 "John are sure he is dead," Ruby asked

"Geez Ruby I think so...but I sure aint gonna go back and see, damn I'm
kinda freaking out here.... send me some help." John yelled back

"Ok just give me a minute."

The pause seemed like an eternity to John but finally after only a couple
of minutes Ruby's reassuring voice could be heard once again.

"OK John...Stay there and wait for the sheriff, we've notified them and
they said a patrol car was close by on 18. It'll be easy for him to find
your location out there in the dark since your van has flashing yellow
lights." Ruby relayed back to John trying to calm him.

 After about 2 minutes John saw the emergency lights of the sheriffs car
approaching. He didn't like being here alone with a dead body...gave him
the willies.

 He left the comforts of the van once again and shook hands with Andy.
Andy was one of the county officers he had worked with before at a couple
roadside accidents that had knocked down some lines. He'd also seen him
about paroling the countryside before. John being the likable guy he was,
chatted briefly with Andy many times. He seemed like a nice guy, not
cocky like most officers he had meet on his job before. You know the
type, they think they are all powerful ready to put handcuffs on anyone
that don't jump high enough around them when they speak, `real butt
wagers' he thought to himself.

"Man Andy I'm sure glad to see you, I haven't seen a dead body
before." John said nervously.

"Hey no worries John being a sheriff you get use to it after seeing so
many car accidents on the highways." Andy stated trying to reassure
John. "Actually the only thing that usually gets to me these days is
when kids are involved. Those are the ones you have a hard time
forgetting about and try not to bring home with you." Andy said with
reverence.

John didn't say anything to that but only motioned Andy to his `find'.
They approached the man in the ditch and the sheriff leaned down to check
if he was alive. He couldn't find a pulse either and called on his
radio.

 "Dispatch we have a fatality, male, around early 20s, cause of death
unknown, send a wagon please."

The radio repeated Andy's call and acknowledged his command.

 As the officer tried to pull the twisted body over to get a better look
at him to see if he could find any identification in his pockets the body
began to move with just a slight twinge. Both he and John jumped a foot
back startled, immediately the officer called back over his radio,

" Requesting an ambulance at present location, possible severe injuries,
victim has a pulse." Andy Bellowed back into his radio

Again the radio repeated Andy's command and acknowledged him.

 The local hospital was also notified for the ER to be ready to receive
him, as he would be transported as soon as the ambulance arrived. Andy
hurried back to his car and got a blanket to put over the guy till the
ambulance arrived. The sheriff proceeded to see if he could determine any
injuries the man had. John helped him the best he could trying to be
careful and not move the man any more than they needed to hoping not to
further injure him. There was so much mud on him that it was hard to
tell, but it did look like he had been through the ringer a few times,
his clothes were in shambles.

 The guy's eyes opened as they were trying to find a wallet in the young
mans pants. He looked right into Johns blue eyes with a look of terror
and shock

"Hey everything is going to be ok...Help is on the way... your gonna be ok
you hear me... just hang in there guy, ok?" John said trying to calm and
reassure the guy as much as himself. " Hey my names John what's
yours...?"

 No sooner than John had let out the sentence the man started pawing at
the ground trying to get up and crawl away from them as he was scared or
something They both tried to calm him and hold him still but the more
they tried the more he continued clawing at the ground trying to break
free and escape.

 "He must be in shock from his ordeal." Andy offered to a wide-eyed
John

 John couldn't get over the terror he saw in those blue eyes, and the
contrast to them from the rest of his dirty body. They were so bright and
big and almost child like. It wasn't like they were looking at him but
through him, like he wasn't registering that John was there. The man
never made a sound the whole time he was trying to free himself.

Finally the ambulance got there and the paramedics started examining him
trying to determine his extent of injuries. They didn't find anything
they could see that looked too serious, maybe a badly broken leg and some
bruised ribs, minor cuts and bruises but it was hard to tell from all the
muddy and torn up clothes. They were concerned about internal injuries.
The paramedics didn't waste anytime preparing him to be transported back
into town. The man calmed down a bit but just kept staring into John's
eyes.

 John held his hand the whole time as paramedics did their jobs quickly
with skill and concern. They then began to place him onto a gurney to get
him into the ambulance. The man wouldn't release John's hand. John's
big hand was starting to ache from the little mans grip. Finally the
strangers hand had gone limp as the man went unconscious again, just as
he was when John first found him.

As the ambulance headed towards town with their patient with the lights
and the sirens blaring, Andy was using his flashlight to look through the
guy's wallet he had fished out of the pants pocket.

Andy showed John that there wasn't much there. "Looks like we have a
John Doe until this guy can tell us who he is, He doesn't have any
identification".

"Only a two dollar bill, which is odd since you don't see those very
often. A business card to a mental wellness center in Toledo, and a photo
of a German Shepard with the name Jacob on the backside."

 "The card has an appointment date written on it from 3 weeks ago."
Andy included



"Here John, use these antiseptic wipes on your hands when you get back
to your van. Make sure you don't have any cuts and if you do stop off at
the ER and have them take a look. You can't be too careful about
catching diseases from perps and victims who have injuries." Andy said

"Thanks Andy I will." John patted Andy on the shoulder for thinking of
his safety.

"So Andy how are you going to find out who he is?"

" Maybe he'll be able to fill us in as to who he is and what he was
doing out here in the countryside. We are a good 200 miles from Toledo if
that is where he's from. If he can't speak or able to tell us anything
I guess well try missing persons in Ohio and see what we find after he
gets treated for his injuries." Andy looks up at John." Well that is...
if he makes it." Andy shuts his trunk lid of the cruiser.

John looked back at Andy and felt bad for the guy and a little worried
that maybe Andy didn't think he was going to pull through his ordeal.
Andy sure had more experience in seeing stuff like this than he had.

"Andy thanked John for his help and they both left towards town in their
separate vehicles. During Johns drive back he couldn't believe what a
night it had been and he was starting to feel the tiredness of the day
hit him after the adrenalin was escaping his body. His thoughts on the
drive back were of wonder about the guy they found.

`What happened to him, why did he look so petrified? He looked like he
was scared to death. Was it from the storm or did something happen to him
on the road?'

`Was he crazy'? John pondered

 He did have a mental illness apt card in his wallet. He couldn't help
but think about the poor guy. `How did he get to this place and point in
his life?' John wondered

 John couldn't get over those blues eyes either. Even with the terrified
look in them he could still see they were the brightest blue eyes he'd
ever seen, almost glowing in the darkness. He couldn't tell much about
what he looked like except he thought he had black hair; it was really
hard to tell cause it was so caked with mud and debris. He was a smaller
looking fellow, kind of skinny too, but then again everyone looked small
to him since he was so tall. John chuckled too himself.

 He also thought it was strange the man never said a word, or even a moan
or any noise the whole time, maybe it was just the rain and wind that he
couldn't hear anything, he wasn't sure. He was sure beat though from
working all night after working an 8-hour shift that day also. All he
wanted to do now was get home, have a hot shower and then pass out in his
bed. As he got into town he had to pass the hospital on his way home.
John didn't know why since he was so tired and his hands were fine and
free of cuts, but he thought he'd stop and see how the (john doe) was
doing so far and if they had found out anything from him yet.

 He noticed Andy's patrol car was at the ER entrance so he decided to
stop, half curious half nosey he thought. John saw Andy at the ER desk
and came up too him to see if he found out anything yet

"Any news on how he's doin?"

 "No nothing defiantly, just got here myself about 20 minutes ago, they
are still working on him. Nurses have been filling me in on what they
know so far."

" Doesn't look too serious but his right leg is broken badly, that they
know for sure the way it was twisted so. I'm sure the x-rays will tell
all when they come back soon. Some lab work has already confirmed he is
severally malnourished and dehydrated. They are pumping him full of IV's
right now."

 John strolled down the hallway with Andy to check out to see how the
patient was doing now that the hospital staff was working on him, One of
the nurses was cutting the guys remaining clothes off cause they were so
ripped up and dirty. It was impossible to see how badly hurt he was until
they could actually find some skin. The little guy was still unconscious
while they were working on him, and guessing that was probably a good
thing, `at least he didn't feel any pain.' John thought to himself.

John figured that the hospital staff was going to be busy working on him
for a while. So he asked Andy "You think it would be alright if I
checked on him tomorrow... err I mean later today after I got some sleep
and come back and see how he is doing." It was now going on 6AM.

"Yeah I'll make sure you're on the list to be able to visit him, since
it doesn't look like he'd have any family around here." Andy expected
he was just traveling through drifting till the storm got him.

"Hey thanks a lot Andy and thanks for being there, I owe yeah." John
smiled at Andy

Andy smiled back at John but didn't say anything.

"Hey catch you later Andy and if you find out anything please let me
know. Kind of curious as to what's this guys story is."

 Andy said no problem, that he was just as curious himself. And was
hoping he wasn't any danger to himself or to anyone else pointing to the
mental heath apt card and giving John a slight frown.

 They said their good byes and John was off to his house for that long
awaited shower. He was dead tired and hungry, but too tired to eat till
after he got some well needed sleep.

As soon as John got home he was shucking off those wet clothes the entire
stretch to the bathroom from the front door. Time he got there he was
down to his boxers and turned the water on in the shower to let it warm
up. After he got the water temperature adjusted. John pulled his boxers
down and slipped into the hot steamy shower and felt the water cascade
down his back and chest.

 Tucking his head under the showerhead to get his hair wet, He put his
hands out and leaned against the tiles while the hot water warming his
big frame. John stayed under the showerhead for what seamed like 10
minutes, warming his body slowly back up from that cold windy rain the
storm had brought through. While John soaped up his body slowly he began
thinking about that poor guy again.

 For some reason his eyes haunted him. `Was it shock or down right
terror in his eyes? What happen to him? Why didn't he speak, or even cry
out in pain? Why did his eyes seem to stare at him like an innocent child
did when he didn't understand something?' John wondered

` Maybe he was just mentally ill and was out of it?' John didn't have
answers for any of his questions, but was hoping the guy was going to be
ok. He had never been around someone that he knew of that was mentally
ill and didn't quite know what to think or expect.

`I defiantly will check and see how he's doing later today when I get
up from a long nap to recharge myself.' John thought convincing himself.

John finished his shower, even managed to stroke one out before the water
turned cold. He massaged one of his hairy nipples while he used his other
hand to slowly stroke his 7 inches of hard slippery cock sliding through
his fingers with the help of plenty of shower gel. He usually would have
his ex in his thoughts when he was stroking himself, but now and again
he'd think about the last hot babe he had encountered and that would
always help him along. He shot a nice load onto the newly tiled shower he
did himself, and watched his cum slowly run down and get washed away from
the water splashing in downward cascades.

 It relaxed John and would help him sleep better that he released some
tension.

 John dried off and climbed into bed nude and was out in seconds. He was
so exhausted that he was in a deep sleep with in minutes, He dreamed
about the little guy and didn't remember much about the dream when he
awoke about 5 hours later. Hungry pains hit him as soon as he opened his
eyes. John got up and got dressed and went into the kitchen to make some
coffee to wake him up. He looked at the clock and it was almost 1PM. He
was glad he didn't sleep any longer cause he would be screwed trying to
sleep again tonight.

John got his coffee started and dressed while it brewed. He looked over
at the string of clothes on the floor he had taken off early that morning
and chuckled too himself. `Damn lucky your divorced, or an argument with
the ex would have been transpiring about now'. John quickly took all the
wet clothes and put them into the hamper to be washed later today.

He decided after his coffee he would pick himself up a Jimmy Johns sub
sandwich on the way to the hospital to check on the little guy. He
didn't much feel like cooking today.

John wondered if Andy had found out any details concerning their new
little wondering friend. He picked up his phone and dialed Andy's cell
number while sipping his fresh brew. He had given it too him a couple of
months back Andy handed him his personal sheriffs card when they were at
an accident scene. A car had hit a telephone pole and snapped it in half.
He had written on the back his home number also.

 The cell began to ring and Andy picked it up on the 6th ring. A very
Groggy "Hello" came from the other end. Andy had still been asleep.

"Hey Andy this is John, guess you were still asleep sorry man for waking
you up, I forgot you had and early morning too." John said
apologetically

"Hey no problem I needed to get up anyways. Can't sleep all day, still
have to check out the Ohio data banks for missing persons."

"So you think he's missing then, he didn't tell you anything last
night?"

 "No he was out of it most of the time, but when he did wake up he
didn't talk or answer any of my questions. The Dr.s aren't sure why
he's not speaking. They did say he had a really high tolerance to pain.
He barely registered that he was an any pain at all, especially
considering he was pretty banged up."

 "After they got him cleaned up and examined they found he had two
broken ribs and a broken leg. The leg was broken in two places."

" The really odd thing is that the ribs have been broke for a while
though, they estimated maybe a couple of weeks or more. The x-rays showed
they had already started healing. But the leg was recently broken last
night in the storm. Also after they got him cleaned up from all the dirt
and mud they noticed he has bruises and cuts all over his body."

`Yeah I noticed he had several on his face last night."

" Some old, some new. He looked like he has been in several fights. And
that's not including the one with Mother Nature last night." Andy
chuckled at his own joke

 "Some also are expected to be... well they aren't sure yet, but they
look like might be self-inflicted."

"What do you mean Andy?"

" They have seen similar cuts on patents before. That's another reason
why they are going to do a physiological evaluation on him. Well that...
and the card we found in his wallet."

 They are going to have a shrink visit him tonight sometime after some of
the drugs wear off. He will be more coherent then too."

" He's also in restraints until we find out more about him just to be
safe. You can go check on him at the hospital if you want, but I'm sure
he'll be asleep probably for a while."

"He's still in ICU for the rest of the day to keep a close eye on him
then moving him to a single bed room till we find out his story."

 He will be in room C204 by the evening if you still want to go visit
him."

"Yeah I sure do Andy, seems this guys needs us looking out for him for a
while." John smirks

"I told the nurses it was ok for you to see him. If you still wanted to
pay a visit. But be careful and watch yourself we don't know anything
about him yet ok?"

" John I know you're a big guy and can take care of yourself, but
without knowing anything about him lets be safe till we know more."

" No problem Andy just wanted to have a look, kinda curious about this
little guy, not everyday you find a body in a ditch yeah know." John
said laughing out loud.

"Well that's true John."

"Well... hey Andy... I'll let you go and thanks a lot for the 411."

"Anytime John, Ill catch you around soon I'm sure... later." Andy
closes his cell and lays in the bed and stares at the ceiling with a
morning hard on yelling for both attention and release. It was past noon,
but his cock didn't know that. Andy thinks about going back to sleep for
a while to see if he could continue his hot dream he was having before
John called him out of it. `Damn...just when it was getting interesting
too' Andy frowned. He doesn't go back to sleep but instead slowly
strokes his 6-inch cock while he has a hot fantasy in his head. It's the
same one he's been re-running in his head for the past couple of months.



John arrived at the Hospital and went up to the nurse's station at the
ICU ward. He looked at the nurse's nametag, which said Lindsey; he
smiled at her and asked which room (John Doe) was in calling her by name.
She took a look at John and gave him back a smile and that flustered look
he gets a lot from women. She asked for his name and checked the list to
see if he was on it.

She looked back up from the chart and told him which room and what
direction to go then threw him another seductive smile. Johns was use to
women coming on too him a lot. He wasn't conceited about it, more like
he got embarrassed than anything. `It was the blonde hair and being tall
they all seem to like.' John told the nurse thanks and gave her back a
grin and then left down the hall.

 John found the little guys room and slowly ventured in. He was asleep so
John tried to be quiet as he approached the bed to get a better look at
the mystery fellow. He could see the IV's in his arms. The restraints on
his wrists were visible and a cast cocooned his left leg.

He was right, the guy did have black hair and it hung down his forehead
to one side. He looked like he was about Johns age maybe a year younger.
It was hard to tell with a black eye and the small cuts on his face to be
sure. John could see the cuts on his arms that Andy was talking about
earlier on the phone.  There were several short cuts side by side as if a
large animal clawed him. There were several sets of them up and down his
arms, some newer, some older, some almost faintly visible. His ribs were
covered up so he couldn't see if they were bandaged or not. John imaged
they were since they were broken. He observed the guy sleeping and was
wondering what his name could possible be. He had seen on his chart at
the end of the bed they had him listed as John Doe.

 The nurse came in from behind John and checked on the IV's, John asked
if he was still unconscious, she said no just sleeping cause of the pain
medication.

" He wakes up every now and then but can't stay awake for long before
he goes out again." She explained.

 John asked if he has spoken yet, and the nurse replied no. She said that
he didn't respond to people when he was awake. He seems to be totally
shut off from the world.

As the nurse was talking to John seen him start too stir and open his
eyes slowly, he looked around the room blankly till he gazed over at my
direction. His eyes got bigger and more open as if had recognized me. His
hand grabbed mine cause it was close to where his restraints were and
held onto my hand tight. The nurse noted this and said it may be a good
sign since he was the first person he has even acknowledged

 His grip was strong, but his hand was so much smaller than Johns. It
really didn't bother him much so he let him hold on to his hand. His
eyes never left John.

Hi...do you remember me? My names John."

"I'm the one that found you last night."

He didn't respond or even make any movements; he just continued to hold
onto his hand and stared at John. He noticed that even with all these
cuts and bruises he was a nice looking guy, wondered why he had it so
rough and who would do such a thing to him or to himself for that matter.

"What's your name?"

There was no response to the question, he just drifted off too sleep
again. The nurse said that was at least more than he had done before. She
said she thinks that for some reason he either trusted John or just
remembers it was he that found him. Finally his grip left his hand as the
guy went to sleep but John continued to hold onto his hand for a while
longer.

John decided he'd better go and let him sleep. He would return later
tonight and check on him again, or maybe tomorrow after his pain
medication wore off some.



On the short drive back home John was hungry again so he picked up a
pizza to eat for dinner. He still didn't feel like cooking today and
making a mess in the kitchen to be forced to clean up. He was still tired
from working the long double shift and was intent on taking it easy the
rest of the day.

`Maybe shoot some hoops later in the driveway then catch up on his
weekend chores,' John thought.

Besides the weird circumstances he was wondering why he couldn't get
this little dude out of his mind, maybe he just felt sorry for him, but
after thinking about it more and more John realized after seeing him
cleaned up, he could actually see what he looked like.

John realized he reminded him of his high school buddy Evan. He missed
him too when he thought how close they were, then drifted apart as their
lives went in separate directions. John in the Air force and Evan had
moved to California. John hadn't heard from him since High school till
one day last year. He didn't even see him at graduation. Someone told
him later that he had graduated early and didn't attend the ceremony
with the rest of the class.

 John thought that was kind of weird cause after all those years of being
in school, you'd think he'd want to have the graduation ceremony. Evan
was kind of weird like that, didn't have many friends, not that he
wasn't likeable, but he was really a shy person if he didn't know yeah.

John sat on the couch drinking a beer just looking into space remembering
what all had happen in the last years before he'd grown up be life got
all complicated.

John

Evan and I had a blast hanging out together, especially in the
summertime. We would go camping, canoeing, skinny-dipping. The first time
I seen a girl naked was with Evan and Melissa, a girl we both knew from
school and she lived a few houses down from Evan. One day we were skinny
dipping, getting away from the heat of the summer at the local reservoir.
You were not supposed to swim there. But we did anyways. Got caught one
time by the DNR, but he just told us to leave. All three of us were bare
assed naked around 16 and checking each other out as we swam around.

Evan was the first to get his license and a car in our neighborhood so he
was the one that picked us all up in the morning to go to school. We all
hated riding the bus. We thought we were big shit being able to ride in a
car and come and go when we wanted to. Evan and I hung out everyday
almost; slept over at each other's houses and I shot hoops all the time.
Evan never did, he would sit in the shade and watch me and others play
for hours never complaining that he was bored. Just quiet as usual when
others were around, but when it was just he and I, he babbled non stop
sometimes.

One day when I was 17, the summer before my senior year I'd finally got
lucky and got laid. I managed to lose my virginity to a girl from school
that was baby-sitting a kid; it gave us a place to do the deed.

I told Evan all about it and he seemed kind of surprised at the whole
thing. Heck I thought he and Melissa had done it long ago. He was just
the kind of person not too go around telling everyone. So I guess I just
didn't ask him. After that, things got kind of weird, he withdrew and
didn't come around as much and when we did see each other he was acting
different. I started hanging out with another bud I had, named Tom, and
we just drifted apart. I'd see him in the halls at school during the
first semester of our senior year, we'd briefly speak but it was awkward
now. He started acting nervous around me like he always was with everyone
else.

Sometimes when I had a free period, I would go to one of his art studios
to pop in and say hi and see what his last masterpiece was. The dude was
talented. He could paint, sketch and even do sculpture. I on the other
hand was not gifted in art at all but I still knew he had a lot of
talent. I was always amazed while watching him use his hands in almost a
trance like state when he was painting or sketching something. It was
like he wasn't even there. I swear sometimes when he was sketching
something for a class project. He would be examining the object that the
class was all drawing and wouldn't even be looking at his canvas for
long periods of time. It was like he was sketching more from his eyes
than his hands; his hands automatically mimicked what he was looking at.

After winter break was over and the second semester had started I didn't
see Evan any more at school. First I thought maybe his classes just were
on opposing sides of the school. It was a large high school. It would be
easy to not run into someone. I finally decided to ask Mr. Biscking if
Evan was in his class this semester since he taught all the advanced art
studies.

He told me that Evan graduated early since he had enough credits to do so
and he was already 18. He was allowed to skip the last semester. I was
actually shocked that Evan would miss at least the art classes he could
take and so was Mr. biscking. He knew Evan and I were friends cause heed
let me come in and watch him during class when I'd have a free period.
He was surprised I didn't know he had left school. He knew Evan wasn't
acting the same the last semester, he was more withdrawn and his art was
defiantly changing in tone and in what he turned in. Not that it wasn't
its same brilliant work, but he seemed to show more of a dark cast to his
paintings and sketches. Mr. biscking thought for a moment then asked if I
ever seen his last drawing he worked on. I told him no I hadn't seen him
in a while. Evan never bothered to pick back up before he left. I said
sure id love to see his work.

Mr. biscking showed me a charcoal sketch of a nude he had done of a guy.
And I swear my mouth gaped open as I first laid my eyes on it. It was
me...I was fucking nude from the back looking around to the left in the
pencil drawing. I told Mr. biscking that looked like me and Mr. biscking
knew I looked shocked and confused as how Evan could of drawn me naked.
He told me that he thought Evan had drawn it from his memory and just
filled in the rest.

 Everyone knew Mr. Biscking was gay but he was cool and most students
really liked him. He didn't try to hide it, nor flaunt it either. He was
actually very normal acting for an Art teacher. Evan said he had taught
him a lot was grateful to him for helping him improve.

The sketch was wonderfully done except the expression on my face. I was
sad looking almost like I was crying. I thought that was damn odd since
he never saw me cry or even upset. I'm the happy lucky go guy.  He was
the somber one most of the time unless we were having a good time, which
we mostly did. After thinking about it, I wasn't surprised that Evan
would have been able to drawn me from memory, especially since he watched
me for hours play basketball while he set in the shade many times.

I asked what he was going to do with the drawing. He turned it around so
I could see the back of the canvas and in the left bottom corner it read

EVAN'S    DAVID... I didn't know what it meant. Mr. Biscking thought he
was trying to say that this was his David, like Michelangelo's David was
to him. I didn't really get it but I wasn't into art much, now
basketball I knew all about, but the art stuff I didn't know much. He
said he hated to part with the sketch since it was so well done, but that
he thought Evan would be pleased if I had it. I agreed to take it home
because I wanted something of Evans work. But mostly I just didn't want
everyone that went to art class to see me butt assed naked.

 He put it in cardboard protector, which I was glad. I didn't want to
walk through the halls with my ass out on display for everyone to see. I
quickly took it to my car and brought it home, I think it is still in
attic with some of my other stuff that's boxed up. I never did show it
to anyone. Not sure why. Maybe I was shy about it being a nude, or maybe
I was kinda weirded out about Evan thinking of me being nude when he had
drawn it. I tried not to think about it.

Anyways I hadn't seen Evan for about 6 years. Last id seen him was
before winter break senior year. Then a year ago I ran into him at of all
places, Soupleys liquor store. He was buying some vodka and I was inline
behind him buying beer. He turned around to leave after paying for his
poison and almost ran into me. He looked exactly the same as he did
before, same height 5'8 150 lbs, didn't age much at all he would have
been 24 then.

 He didn't even recognize me and I didn't know he was back in town.
Last I knew he was still in California somewhere. He looked up at me and
said oh sorry man I didn't see you there. Then his eyes darted back to
the ground. Same ole Evan I thought still shy as ever.

 There was no recognition on his face at all that he even knew me and
then proceeded to walked around me and stopped before I even had a chance
to say anything. He turned around and gave me this weird look that was
kind of shock and puzzlement. I almost forgot I was now a foot taller and
was much larger than when we hung out in high school so I wasn't really
too surprised when he didn't recognize me.

 He started to try to say something and I then piped in and said "hey
Evan shit don't you know who I am, its John...John Clark." He just kinda
looked at me for a sec and said. "Hi, how are you?"

We exchanged shakes and made brief conversation, said he moved back six
months ago from California. I told him I was home also from the Air force
for three years now. He didn't know I was even in the military he'd
said.

During most of the brief conversation Evan and I had, his eyes were on
the ground and only in brief quick glimpses did he ever look up at me. He
looked the same as I remembered him, but there was something odd...even
more so for Evan I mean I couldn't put my finger on it just yet, but he
was defiantly different.

 He said," well... I gotta get going, I'm running late." And we said
"good-bye," and he was gone before I could say much else. I wanted to
exchange info so we could get together sometime but I didn't have a
chance to ask. It was weird for Evan not to recognize me. I mean I still
looked the same I thought, just bigger. He seemed like he was in a hurry
to get away from me for some reason I thought.

Actually I hadn't even thought about Evan much since then until I seen
that dude in the hospital. It made me wonder what Evan was up to and why
I didn't see him around town, or did he still live here? I had made up
my mind to ask a mutual friend we had in school to see she could give the
scoop on what Evan has been up to the last 7 years.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------



John finally got up off the couch and got some laundry and chores done
around the house, then decided to take a break and make some calls. He
had a message on his machine from his mom, she wanted to know he got in
from work ok since she knew he had to work all night after the storm.
John chuckled too himself like he always does and thought it was funny,
he's 25 and his mom still worries like he's a kid. He called her and
apologized for not calling back sooner. They talked for a while and said
there normal love you's and byes.

 He knew a nurse that worked at the Hospital on the ICU ward and decided
to see if she knew how the patient was doing. They never dated but knew
each other well through one of his buddies he played ball with.

John explained how he knew (John Doe) and asked how he was doing. She
told him there had been some developments. The guy can talk they found
out, but he had never talked to them when he was awake. John didn't
understand and asked her to explain.

 She said he was apparently was having a nightmare of some kind cause he
was talking in his sleep. She also mentioned that he kept saying Johns
name over and over in his sleep like he was trying to find him. She said
he must have remembered John telling him his name when he was at the
hospital. He was groggy and it stuck in his mind.

 She also said that when he was awake he wouldn't talk or acknowledge
their presence or answer any questions. Sometimes he acted scared of them
like they were going to hurt him and he was easily startled...maybe still
in shock she said. They were trying to get him to say his name but he
just stared out the window till he fell back asleep.

John told her he'd come in tomorrow. John hung up and wondered about
him, too many questions and no answers, maybe tomorrow some of them would
get answered.



  John

Well I got most of my chores done for the day, Tom Delong, a buddy of
mine I've known since high school came over and shot hoops with me for a
couple hours in the driveway.

Yeah first thing I did when I bought this house was put up a goal in
front of the garage. Tom and I had been friends a long time but started
hanging out more regularly after Evan and I had a falling out. If that's
what you'd call it.

 I remember back in high school... here I was barely hitting puberty and
Tom already had a full thick beard and chest hair. Tom had dark Brown
hair and was my height about 5'9" in school with average weight. Tom
was a good guy but also kinda quiet, not really shy like Evan. He just
didn't have a lot to say. Most of the time, it was due to the fact that
he was constantly high when we were teenagers. I never really was into
weed much. Yeah I wasn't a Saint or anything, Id smoked a bowl once in a
while, but never really enjoyed it. Evan never really enjoyed it either.
Drinking a few beers were more fun, I didn't much like the way it made
me paranoid all the time when I was stoned.

 Evan liked to drink also, but he didn't drink too often because he had
a tendency to get really plastered when he did drink. He would be sick
for two days afterwards. Id drink beer but Evan would always drink shots
of Vodka or To-kill-yeah (tequila) as he'd say it

Evan was actually, now that I think about it, really a blast when he was
drinking. His great personality that he so often hid from everyone else,
but me, would flow out and be the life of the party. That is till he got
so drunk id have to carry him to bed and let him sleep it off at my
house.

 Evan had a lot of nightmares when he slept, more so than most people it
seemed to me. They were so bad they would wake me up in the bed and he'd
never actually wake up from them but you could tell he was having them.
I'd pull him up to me and hold him tight so he wouldn't fall out of bed.

 Usually with me holding on too him with my arm around him, he settle
back down and id fall back to sleep. Id ask him many times if he'd
remember having a bad dream but he'd always say he didn't remember it. I
wasn't always sure he was telling the truth cause sometimes you could see
him mulling it over in his eyes. I never really pressed him on it, I
figured if he didn't want to talk about it. I shouldn't make him upset by
rehashing it all over again.

 I never minded holding him up against my chest and keeping him safe from
whatever demons that were gnawing on him at the time. I always felt just
that much closer to him. Almost like a brother I never had I'd tell
myself. Sometimes I would hold him up to my chest with one arm and just
toss and stroke his hair away from his face. This seemed to calm him down
till he was sleeping quietly again. Sometimes I would keep stroking his
hair and watch over him while he slept even though the nightmare was over
now. Guess it was my way of protecting my best bud the only way I knew
how too.

 He never objected to me holding him either, even when he'd wake up in
my arms. One time my mom came in my room one morning and saw us snuggled
together. I was just gotten awake and she quietly asked if anything was
wrong. I whispered to her what was happening sometimes about his
nightmares and she smiled at me and told me I was a good friend.

 She did say she was a little startled at first to see us like that. For
a moment she thought maybe we were, well as she put it, intimate. I kind
of quietly chuckled and called her a perv. She laughed quietly too and
then left the room. I have a great mom; she was always easy to talk too
and seemed to understand when many parents wouldn't. Evan thought she
was great too.

One reason Evan stayed with us so much was he adored my mom. She was a
great listener and talker, her and Evan talked for hours while I watched
sports (basketball) on TV. She treated him like a son, shed even get into
his shit when he'd fuck up just as if it were I. I think he felt at home
at my house. I never stayed over much at his house cause his parents were
so strict.  His parents were very religious and didn't tolerate
drinking, especially underage drinking. My mom didn't allow me to drink
either but she was realistic enough to know that boys were gonna be boys.

 Evan spent a lot of time staying over at my house and sharing my bed
with me like normal teenagers did at that age. I never stayed over much
at his house cause his parents were so uptight.

Tom never really liked Evan much, said he was a weirdo, or he'd say he
was one of those strange artists. Id always defend Evan and said he was a
cool guy if you got to know him. But for some reason Tom never liked him.
Tom to my knowledge never miss treated him, but then again their lives
didn't cross a lot either. They both lived in different worlds and I
thought the only reason they knew each other was from school and through
me.

I told Tom what had happened last night and filled him in all the details
about finding the guy in the ditch while working to clean up after the
storm. Tom said that was one of the wildest things he's heard about in a
while.

 "Hey Tom, you ever run into Evan around town or heard anything about
what he was up to."

 I'm not sure why id be asking Tom but I thought there at least might be
a time they had ran into each other, After all this isn't really that
big of a town, maybe 60,000 at the most. Tom gave me a weird look when I
asked him about Evan. He didn't speak right off and I wasn't sure if he
looked like he was thinking about what he was going to say before he said
it. Mull it over in his mind before he spoke to make it come out exactly
as he wanted to, or if he was trying to remember who Evan was. Well
shit... he did smoke a lot of weed back then I thought to myself.

I reminded him, "You remember Evan right?"

 "Wow haven't thought about that turd in a long time, I thought he quit
school and moved away to California to be do his gay artwork. Hadn't
seen the weirdo since high school."

I just gave him a stare letting him know I wasn't pleased with the
comments.

Tom faced me and went to say, " Hey I'm sorry I shouldn't have said it
like that, fuck I hardly knew him. I just couldn't understand why you
two were ever buds...I mean you never had anything in common except living
a few blocks from him. Hell... he couldn't shoot a basketball if his life
depended on it."

"Well shit Tom there's more to a friendship than common likes of
sports, not like I was ever a big pot head like you when we hung out."

Tom chuckled at that and hit Johns arm.

 "I ran into him a year ago."

 I recalled the story to him. Tom didn't say much except," Sounds like
the same ole Evan to me."

 I just let it go, it was an old argument I didn't feel like getting
into again with Tom. I asked him to let me know if and when he'd heard
anything from anyone about Evan.

"Hey no problem, maybe you should ask Chris, she may know something. I
think they are almost related or something."

"Yeah maybe I'll look her up in the book and ask her what he's up to
or how I can get a hold of him."

"Well don't forget her last name isn't Hendricks any longer since
she's married and got a kid now. She married that dude in a local band
about 5 years ago. His name is Scott Huggins. They don't love each any
more but still live together sleeping in different rooms. It's a strange
arrangement they have going, but it seems to work for them. I got their
number if you want it?"

"Sure...and why the hell do you have their number and know their life
story?"

"Who you think I get my weed from goober." Tom chuckles.

"Dang dude when you gonna grow out of that shit Beavis?" John retorts
back.

"Just as soon as you realize your not good enough to play Pro Basketball
...oh Tall Dim Witted One."

"Can still kick your wheezing ass all over the court." John smirks and
hits Tom in the shoulder almost knocking him over.

Tom steadies himself and exclaims, "Oh shit I gotta jet. I've got a
date tonight, thanks for the game bro." Tom proudly smiles." You gonna
take out Sherry again anytime soon?"

"Naw... I doubt it, I don't think we really hit it off that well,
besides its hard not to compare her to my ex. Maybe its still to soon to
be dating, it doesn't go well when I do. I don't think I'm ready to
start something up again just yet."

"Not really looking for a bar fly that's for sure. " John chuckles.

Tom understandingly says, "I hear yeah, you'll know when your ready,
Butt shit dude it has been almost 3 years since you got a divorce...I sure
hope your using lotion or your hand caused its gonna get chapped... Catch
you later oh tall goofy one."

"Later Beavis and don't worry I'm sure you'll always lend me a hand
when I need a rest." John smirks

"In your dreams...Sasquatch." Tom quips back walking to his car.

John goes back into his house and grabs some sunny delight, his favorite,
from the fridge. Sits at the table and swigs his drink down and starts
thinking of Becky his ex.

 I seem to compare every girl I date with my ex wife without even knowing
it, it still hurts she divorced me. Well even after she went out on me
with another Air force dude, I tried to make it work, but she wanted out
so we got a divorce. Guess I'm still not over it.

Kinda funny, John thought. She would get mad at me cause id never argue
with her when I knew that's what she wanted to do. Even when she had an
affair I still wanted to make it work, I can't help it I don't get
angry and want to hurt people. It's just not my nature. She said if I
cared for her, id kick the dude's ass. That it showed I didn't even
care enough to get angry about it. Which was bullshit I was so fucking
pissed my eyes hurt, I just didn't fill the need to hurt him for what
she did also willingly. What would it resolve me hurting him bad? And
there was know doubt I could of hurt him really bad with my size and
strength, but it's just not my nature to deal with stuff with violence.
Besides I never did tell her my little umm ...conversation with him the
next day when I found out. I guess people are right

`I'm just a big ole "Gentle Giant" just as everyone keeps calling me.
There are definitely worse things to be called I guess.'

 `Besides I hope the bitch gets a fucking venereal disease and suffers...
Sorry God, but you know the tramp deserves it.' John chuckles to himself

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------



The phone rings while Johns in thought and answers it. Andy is on the
other end.

Hey Andy how's it going?" John says

"Just thought I would take a break and let you know what I found out so
far about John Doe." Andy says in the receiver.

"Anything good?" John says hopeful.

"Well there wasn't a missing person fitting our guy's description from
Toledo, where the card was from. Actually nothing for all of Ohio and
Indiana with missing persons. I can't talk to a live person at the
Wellness Center in Toledo till Monday, but I have left a message with
them on their voice mail."

"Looks like you got a good start so far Andy for a Saturday."

 "Nothing off his fingerprints in our data bases either, so at least we
can assume he hadn't been in trouble with the law."

"That's good news I guess."

 "Maybe the shrink can get something out of him, he is expected to see
him tonight sometime since he's on-call at the hospital. They wanted
time for the pain shots to diminish before he talked to him."

 The nurse told him that I was there and he seem to respond a bit too me,
I told him maybe he just thought he saw a big giant towering over him and
he got afraid and that's why his eyes focused on me, Andy laughed, Told
him I was gonna go back later tonight to see him, but think ill wait till
tomorrow when he's less doped up. Besides I was a bit tired from the
hoops session with Tom.

"Hey one more thing before I let you go John."

"Sure what's up?"

"You know where we found him right? I mean you can find the exact spot
in the daylight cant you?"

"Yeah no problem Andy, I've been there many times, there's a box there
that gives me shit from time to time... why?"

"Well I'm a little embarrassed to say but I forgot to mark the spot on
the road for further investigation. Thought maybe you could go back and
see if you can find any of his personal effects in the daytime. It might
help us find more about him". Andy said. "Hell I'm not sure what good
it would of done to try to paint a mark on the street anyways with all
that rain and wind."

"No problem Andy will be glad to do it, will drive out that way on
Monday and see if I can find anything else."

After hanging up with Andy, John thought maybe he would ask him over for
a beer and some hoops sometime, He seem to be in really good shape and he
was a nice guy for a cop, not arrogant like most I have met. He may turn
out to be a good friend and it's always good to have a friend on the
police force. Can come in handy in a fix.

`Mental note to myself keep Tom and Andy away from each other,' John
chuckles


 End chapter one



Thanks for reading the first chapter. I know there wasn't any hot steamy
sex scenes in this one, but I promise you that will come soon. This
chapter was very important to write so the ones that follow will make
more sense.

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