Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 16:28:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Evan Bradely <evanbradley33@yahoo.com>
Subject: Chapter 25 of "The Crew"

The following fictional story deals with sex among males.  If you are offended
by such material, are too young, or reside in a location where it is not
allowed, please depart. Though not observed in this story, care enough about
yourself and humankind to practice safe sex.

The author retains all rights.
EvanBradley33@Yahoo.com

Chapter 25
Loving Plots and Machinations

		  The Winston Construction Company Trailer

Bobby and Angie had arrived for work together, leaving Randy and Esteban
sleeping in each other's arms, victims of jet lag.  The visitors were weary, for
none of the "getting ready to go to work" noises had awakened the two.
Bobby and Angie had tried to be as quiet as possible.  The two visitors would
need their strength:  Angie knew that after work, they would have to have a
"sit-down" to decide what to do about their parents.  As resolved as Randy was
to come out to his parents, she knew he was dreading it.  Esteban doubly so.
Whenever the subject came up, he moved somewhere else.	She wondered if he
imagined there would be physical violence.  She hoped Randy had tried to assuage
his fears.  'Oh!' she realized.  'Bobby's been through this with me.  We need to
make this as easy as possible for the guys.'  She was resolved to enlist Bobby
in the enterprise at her earliest opportunity that day.

Just then Hal and Jimmy walked through the door.  She'd given Jimmy an
extra warm greeting, which he'd eaten up, his tongue hanging out a little,
panting, looking at her with those winsome eyes.  Then he'd trotted off to his
buddy, little Hal.  Hal and Angie tiptoed over to peep in the door of Hal's
office.  Jimmy trotted up to the infant seat, looked at his little fella,
sniffed a couple of times to verify that it was Hal Robert, whimpered ever so
softly, watched him breathing, then turned in a circle and lay down, putting his
head down on his paws and closing his eyes.  Angie and Hal smiled at each other
as they backed quietly away from the door.

"Can't you just see those two when Hal Robert starts walking?" Hal asked, a wide
smile adorning his face.

Angie returned to her desk while Hal went to a counter for a cup of coffee
from an urn that was there all day for the crew.  Angie finally had the
opportunity for which she'd been waiting.  "I'm really proud of you, Hal, for
going to sit with Drew at the potluck dinner.  Care to share what you two
talked about?" Angie asked.

"I asked how our sugar maple was doing."

"Oh, I like that 'our.' Good touch.  And he said?"

"He didn't.  So I told him that I'd done a lot of thinking since my blunder the
last time we were together.  The result of all that thinking was that I wanted
him in my life because I loved him.  That he'd brought something solid and
stable to my life, more than I'd ever had.  "

"And Drew said?"

"Nothing - at first.  Then he commented that it would take deeds, not words,
to make any point I thought needed making about our future.  I said that's why
I was happy that I remembered about how crazy he was over sugar maples and
how I could show him how important he was to me.  He laughed, commenting
that no one had ever told him so nicely that he was a tree nut."

Angie smiled.  "You laughed too."

"Yeah.	It was vintage Drew.  I asked, 'So you understood?'  Then he really
sobered me up.	Told me he thought we might have a chance when he saw me
watering the sugar maple, but then I told him that Richie and Brett were the
best moments of my life."

Angie felt her heart plummet into her stomach.	"Ouch!"

"He didn't do it to be mean," Hal added.  "Just honest.  I told him not to count
me out.  To give me a chance."

"And he said?"

"It would take more than a sugar maple."

"Oi vai!"

"It was a reproach but not as bad as I'd hurt Drew in our earlier meeting - in a
lot of meetings.  If he could stand up and walk on, I have to do so as well.
Otherwise, I'm not worthy of him.  Then he said he'd never put himself in
a position again where he could be dumped on his ass by a horny user like
me."

"Oh dear!  I hope that didn't hurt you?"

"It did - at first.  But I realized that that was the worst that Drew could
throw at me.  It didn't destroy me.  In a way it was natural:  I dropped him
for Brett, then Brett drops me, so then I rebound to Drew.  It does make me look
like a user.  So I decided I'd just change his mind about that.  You see, I
knew what he was thinking.  Well, maybe I should say feeling."

"What?"

"He was surrounded by a lot of couples who were happily matched, which
made him uncomfortable.  He's thought several times since about how
uncomfortable it is to be a loner amidst a lot of couples.  I'll bet he
seriously considered ducking the entire potluck."

"So why didn't he?"

"You."

"What?"

"Angie, Drew would jump off a cliff before he'd not live up to your
expectations."

"Wrong!"

"Not wrong.  I saw how you had only to look at him to send him over to talk
to Esteban at the dinner at your home.	It was like he's your bird dog."

Angie thought Hal's comparison was ill-chosen and perhaps a little resentful,
but she wasn't going to cloud the opportunity she had with less important
issues.  "I saw that Esteban was worrying about Randy's feelings for him now
that they're on his home soil.	Drew merely helped Esteban understand that he
had no more to fear than Randy had meeting his new family in Spain."

"Just think - you two did all that without passing a word between you."

"I wish it were that easy to get you and Drew back together."

"Thank you.  You know how much I want it.  But he doesn't trust me yet.  He
thinks I'll dump him on his ass the first time a guy looking like Brett comes
along."

"Would you?"

"No."

"What do you know that Drew doesn't then?"

"What that dumbass mistake in his back yard taught me.	I think back when
Drew and I were a couple and even when Brett and I were, I was heavily into
carnality - their physical presence.  But Brett's spurning me for Gwen bowled me
over, especially when I realized that I gave up a really great guy for that
bastard Brett.	Made me go back and relive my times with Drew.	Drew IS the best
thing that has happened to me in my life.  I am way late in realizing that.  He
was so solid I NEVER worried about his betraying me, and I was so hooked
on carnal sex with the guy of the moment that I never even considered my
betraying one of them.	I just took Drew's loyalty and love for granted.
You know, of course, that I'm not proud that I betrayed him.  I can assure you
that I'll never do it again.  I want him back - forever!"

"Seems the challenge then is persuading Drew that you DO want him forever.
Do you have a plan for that?"

Hal's head drooped.  "No.  I've been thinking hard.  I know he's too tough for
me to just tell him.  As he said, I have to show him.  I just haven't come up
with the right way to do it yet."

Angie was already mulling over how the crew could help their two important
guys leap a BIG hurdle.  "Why don't you guys get Drew to rejoin you at
Murphy's Gym?  But the invitation will have to come from the other guys, not
you, Hal."

"Hm-m-m-m-m.  I think we just might be able to pull that off.  I'll talk to Max
and Ted about it."

"Tell Rich too."

Hal raised his eyebrows in surprise.  "Okay."

			Il Favore Bistro

After the potluck dinner, Rich didn't waste anytime in setting up a luncheon
meeting with Drew.  He knew not to suggest Brenden's Patio Restaurant, much as
Drew liked it.	That wily little brainiac would be on the defensive immediately.
So he suggested Il Favore, an Italian bistro restaurant that had an amazingly
large menu of really great salads.  That alone would attract Drew.  When Rich
had Drew on the phone, he knew Drew was casting about for excuses to turn Rich
down - until he reminded Drew about the salads at Il Favore.  So they had met
that noon for lunch.

After they had placed their orders, they shared observations on the potluck
dinner at the Coopers' home, on Randy and Esteban, and news gleaned from chats
with members of the crew.  Then Rich launched his gambit.  "I saw you and Hal
sitting together.  It felt so good watching you two.  Had to feel great for you
as well."

Drew was drilling Rich with a glare.  "You set this lunch up just so you could
interrogate me about Hal?"

Rich frowned.  "That isn't nice, Drew.	You and I have always had a special
relationship."

As he expected, Drew tossed his head a little, looking contrite.  "Okay, I
apologize for being suspicious of your motives," he said.  "I guess that means
all the guys have talked about it - about Hal and me sitting together, that is,"
he muttered grimly.

"Of course.  We were elated.  The sight of you two visiting, even laughing
together, put a glow on the day for us.  We've wanted to see you two back
together ever since Brett slithered into our midst.  Some of our best times
together as buddies occurred when Hal and you were together.  We still talk
about how we helped you two get together" here Rich grinned mischievously,
"even if we all had to dogpile you on Murphy's indoor track to slow you down
long enough to pay attention to what could happen with you and Hal.  So seeing
you two together there on the floor of Bobby's and Angie's living room made us
hopeful.  We felt as though you two had given us a gift."

Rich could only JUST hold in a giggle as Drew studied him intently, looking
for evidence of a scam in the making.  "Hey, here's a way you can extend that
glow for us.  Why don't you rejoin us at Murphy's Gym?	You know the guys
want you back.	They've all told you that in so many words."  Now Drew was
really raking Rich with those suspicious blue eyes that had turned steely.
"There would be no pressure on anyone.	Just buddies working out together."

"Hal might not like it."

"Drew . . . you're stalling.  Cut it out.  You know Hal would love it."  All of
a sudden, Rich started laughing.

"What?" Drew asked.  "Why are you laughing?"

"I just flashed at the look on Hal's face when you show up at Murphy's Gym.
You know, you come a half hour after we all get there.	We'll all be changed
by then and out on the floor starting our workout.  Then you come walking
toward us and Hal realizes you're rejoining us."  Even Drew couldn't help
chuckling a little.

"Yeah, I can see that look too.  Come to think of it, one doesn't get one up on
Hal that often.  It would be like payback for my finding a tree planted in my
backyard."

"You said it.  So?  Will you show up tomorrow night?"

Drew stared at Rich.  "Probably.  I'll need to think some more about it."  Rich
knew Drew would be there.  "I just don't want to give Hal the wrong idea."

"What idea?"

"That anything is going to happen between us."

"Of course something is going to happen between you.  You are going to be
buddies again.	WE'RE going to be buddies working out together again.
Whatever happened in the past, you can be a buddy to Hal now, can't you?"

"Yes," Drew said with some resignation.

"Do you think you could let him know sometime soon that you've forgiven
him for what happened that horrible night in his bedroom?"

The muscles in Drew's jaw flexed as his mouth set into a thin line.  Rich had
to choke back a laugh.	Drew was so predictable.

"So this is what this lunch is about," Drew said with a little attitude.

"This lunch is about a friend who can let himself and all his friends - not to
mention the guy he loves - quit hurting if he can just forgive.  I know:  I had
to fight the same fight with myself over Wes's treatment of me.  When Wes
and Carl were at each other's throats and Randy Travers asked for my help
and I promised to give it, I knew it had to start with my forgiving Wes for
walking away from me."	Rich had dangled bait in front of Drew.  He awaited his
reaction.

"Randy Travers, the coach of the Renegades?" Drew yelped, his eyes
registering his surprise.

"Yes.  He'd warned the guys that he'd bounce them off the team if they
couldn't get their act together and get over their differences.  He didn't have
the greatest faith that they'd be able to do that, so he asked me to help them
out."

"How'd you do that?" Drew asked.

'Got'im!' Rich congratulated himself on Drew's taking the bait.  Withholding no
details, he gave Drew a rendition of what transpired among the three men at the
fishing cabin on the Vanamee River.  Rich had to press his foot hard on top of
the toes of his other foot to keep from grinning as Drew took it all in.  He
watched as a sheen of perspiration appeared on Drew's forhead as he related
their coming together in a threesome.  He knew Drew's cock was hard.

"Damn!" Drew uttered softly.  Then the feisty Drew returned.  "How do you
know it wasn't just all about lust and sex?"

"It wasn't about sex.  Our making love together was a consummation and
celebration of what happened when we shared our feelings - at first anger,
then guilt, then love.	We all really love each other, Drew.  None if it would
have happened if I hadn't swallowed my pride and taken the big step of
forgiving Wes.	That allowed Carl to forgive me for using him to get back at
Wes.  Look what we have now."

"And it's not hard to balance three randy guys needs in a threesome?" Drew
asked, allowing his doubt to show.

"Drew, friend, it really works for us.	It might not work for everyone, but it
works for us.  Our background in and love for baseball probably made it
possible.  And we work hard.  Come to think of it, Wes had to work the
hardest.  I've just realized that he took us for granted as much as Hal took you
two for granted.  Those two guys are a lot alike.  Could have been brothers!"

"Alike?" Drew asked, more challenging Rich to convince him than to
understand what Rich had revealed.

"My taking up with Carl floored Wes.  He's so sexy, beautiful, and talented
that no one had ever dumped him before.  Couldn't imagine that I'd take up with
someone else.  Of course, when Carl and I became an item, Wes was defenseless.
You and I took being dumped better than Wes and Hal did."  Drew was motionless,
clearly mulling what Wes had said.  "But you know what else?  When they DID get
their feet back under them, they started moving forward better than you and I
did."

Drew cocked his head to the side, really studying Rich.  "You mean I'm the
one who's not moving ahead well.  You went out to the cabin and reunited
with Wes and created what appears to be a successful threesome.  I'm not
following in your footsteps?"

Rich studied Drew, realizing that he was thinking hard about everything he'd
just heard and shaping it to fit, first, his and Hal's circumstances, and
second, the crew's.  He decided to drive his point home.  "By forgiving and then
trusting, even though every fiber of my being told me I was crazy, I got what I
thought I'd never have again in this life."  Now Drew was all the more
attentive.  "I wanted to be in baseball again.	That wasn't going to happen.  So
now," Rich said, his excitement growing, his eyes beginning to shine, "I have
two guys from baseball in my life.  It's what makes our threesome work.  It's
great!	And when I attend their games, it's as though I'm out there with them.
In fact, I've learned to let go enough that it's like I'm in their skin with
them, feeling the bat strike the ball, running the bases."

"Wow," Drew said softly.  "Do they know?"

"Yeah, we've talked about it.  It makes our lives together that much better."
Rich grinned, "And the sex is hotter."

Drew laughed, punching Rich on the arm playfully.  "No talk about sex if I'm
not getting any, you dawg."

"Oh, we can't keep from making love.  They come home from the ballpark and Carl
has a pulled muscle or something.  So I tell him strip while I do the
same - just getting ready to give a backrub, you know."  Drew snorted in
derision.  "Man, before I know it, Wes is stripped, down on the floor with me.
I think your overactive little libido can play out the rest."

"No it can't.  I don't even know what sex is anymore.  Go on!"

Rich laughed.  Then he suddenly stopped smiling.  "I want that kind of love for
Hal and you, Drew.  We all do.	We know how happy you guys could be.  Happier
than you were before."

Drew had sobered as well.  "When I look back, I don't see that much happiness.
I see - no feel - a lot of tension."

"That's because Hal was fighting the Richie ghost.  You know that Drew.
You figured that out even back then.  I don't think either one of us credited
Hal with how much of an unconscious struggle he was experiencing with the
ghosts of his past.  I'm fairly certain he's told you that Richie's ghost is
gone.  It won't be back.  Right?"  Drew shook his head in the negative.

"Then give him a chance, Drew.	It will be cleansing and healing for him
because you are the one person he wants - no needs - to tell.  The final
freedom comes only when you accept it from him.  Then Drew," here Rich
paused for affect, making certain that Drew was riveted to him, "you are only
a step away from offering him a life-giving gift - forgiveness."

Rich was startled to see tears spring to Drew's eyes.  Drew looked down,
starting to finish off his salad.  'Why the tears,' Rich wondered.  Then an idea
hit him.  "You've been fighting too, haven't you Drew?"  No answer, not even
eye contact. "Okay, I'll tell YOU what you've been doing that you think no
one realizes.  You've been fighting that part of you that longs to be in Hal's
arms.  That longs to feel his kisses full of his need to give his love to you,
to protect you.  You've especially been fighting your need to hold Hal, soothe
him, comfort him for all the ugliness, not just recently, but in all his entire
life.  That's you, Drew.  That's who you are.  The healer with love.  It must
be suffocating to repress all that. "

Drew's fork clattered onto his plate, his head hanging low.  'Damn,' Rich
suddenly understood.  He'd just the same as gutted Drew - opened him up,
revealing his deepest, daily struggle that he'd thought he'd been successful in
hiding from everyone.  Rich moved his hand across the table.  "Drew, give me
your hand." Drew just sat there, hunched over as though totally defeated.  "Give
me your hand, Drew.  It's a command, not a request.  We have a special
relationship, Drew.  Do as I request."

Rich didn't think his reliance on their relationship would be successful, but
Drew sat upright, slowly moving his hand to the table.	Rich placed his hand
over Drew's, surprised at how cold it was.  "I did it, Drew, afraid as I was
that I'd be spurned again.  But I was strong enough to forgive Wes.  And Carl
was strong enough to forgive me.  It takes genuine strength to put yourself out
there where you can be hurt again.  It took me a while to work up to that point
of supreme courage.  Maybe you're not quite there yet.	So let your friends
help you.  You're as strong as I.  That's one of the reasons we've been so
close.	I promise you, Drew, you won't be hurt again.  The minute you offer
Hal those words of forgiveness, you'll know the feelings I had when I made
Wes and Carl kiss each other, then keep doing it until they were seriously
focused on each other so that we could create something new for
us. . . . You okay?"

Drew wouldn't look at Rich.  "You're afraid you'll cry if you look at me or
say anything."	Drew gave his head a defeated, slow shake.  Rich knew how
horrified Drew would be if that occurred in the bistro.  Drew hated public
spectacles.  When he saw a couple fighting or someone losing it in a bar, he
nearly writhed in discomfort.  "You need to process all this discussion?"
Again, Drew signaled an affirmative response.  "Okay, buddy.  I love you, Drew.
I'm one of several to whom you can reveal your deepest fears and lose nothing by
it except to receive an outpouring of that love you frequently offer.  You get
up and leave.  I'll take care of things here.  When you are ready, call me.  But
I'll be looking for you to show up at Murphy's Gym tomorrow night - a surprise,
just as we discussed."	Drew just shook his head, wiped his mouth with his
napkin, and stood, a little unsteadily, walking away.

(To be continued.)

Much gratitude to British friend Drew Hunt ("House on the Hill") for his
contribution of ideas for Hal and Drew in this chapter.  That Lancashire Lad
(oh, don't you think that Yorkshire man just turned the air blue with profanity
over that geographical appellation!) is the neatest guy.  (Now he's swearing
again because I'm referring to him with an Americanism.)  Thanks, Buddy!