Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:04:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: T. Chase McPhee <survivalgame@yahoo.com>
Subject: Adventures In Nature 16

The story below is a work of fiction, set in the
format of reality. Any resemblances to real people,
alive or in the hereafter, is entirely coincidental in
nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon
persons, in towns, cities, countries, nor governmental
areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene
involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then
you should not read this story. Additionally, if you
are under 18 years of age, in most state and
countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by
law. Check with your local laws regarding such. %
Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction.
In real life, use protection.

%

Adventures In Nature 16
wriTten by T. Chase McPhee

%

"I got here as soon as I could!"

"Oh thank God!" Tom says out loud, immediately closing
in on the comfort of Ethan's embrace.

"What all happened with Kev?" Ethan asks, already
clued in by Tom's face, the red eyes, tear stains on
his face.

"I feel like a total fuckin' idiot for blaming him on
not being at work."

It didn't at all occur to Tom it wasn't closing time
for Barr's & Bridges. Even so, Ethan tells him, "I
made a call to Chad. He ran right over to the store."

Like he never said, Tom tells him, "Ethan, Kev is
really a mess. He.. he's.... fuck, I don't know what
I'm gonna do if he doesn't make it out of surgery."

"Surgery?" Ethan asks, trying to piece together the
little information he received on the phone and the
bits exposed now.

"Yeah. The beating he received might have created
internal injuries as well. Ethan, I'm scared. Kev is
like all the family I have."

Ethan had hoped he could be included in the numbers,
but for now, Tom inviting him into his life at a time
like now could be a step in that direction. He threw
in a hint, "You got me." He didn't know what the
implications were, but for now he was satisfied he was
being loved back as their arms tackled each other.

"Excuse me. Mr. Letterli?"

In walked Detective Crew, by himself.

"Yes?" Tom answered, but Ethan showed more interest.

"Detective Crew. We met at the crime scene?"

Sideswiping the second round of introductions, Ethan's
alpha male shows through as he sticks out his hand,
shaking the detectives, offering, "Ethan Keratis."

"Family?" Crew questioned him as if an interrogation.

"Friend," Ethan replied, but added, "but things could
change."

But Tom was not so jovial, stating, "You have
something for us?"

Ethan caught the plural.

"Could very well be," Crew replied.

Ethan suggested taking this to the hospital cafeteria,
but Tom insisted on staying as close to the surgical
wing as possible.

Crew delved in, telling them, "Kevin is a very lucky
boy. Others have not met with such a favorable
outcome." Before either Tom or Ethan could ask what he
was talking about, Josh says, "Seems we have a string
of crimes setting a pattern as to how we found Kevin."

"This has happened before?" Tom asks, sinking down
into his chair, Ethan squatting next to him.

"Undoubtedly. Not around here, but there is a trail of
rape victims, leading from the coast up into the
interior of the state, Kevin being the latest victim.
Only variation here, is Kevin lived."

"So far," Tom adds, before  breaking down, tears
filling his eyes.

Ethan informs Detective Crew, "I think we should hold
off on the questioning for now."

It wasn't a request, but more like a dictated order.
Something which gave Crew a tingling sensation in his
loins.

"Sure. We can talk about it tomorrow," then trailing
off, "or whenever.... yes, well I better get going
back over to the environmental center. We're still
looking for clues."

Rising up, Ethan bid the detective farewell, adding a
cordial smile, nothing too cheery asking, "Got a
card?"

Digging into his jacket pocket, Crew hands it to Ethan
saying, "Thanks you for your time, Mr. Keratis."

%

"Excuse me, but is Mr. Keratis still around?"

Being off for nearly two weeks on vacation, Chad
hadn't realized the changes, until an employee had
asked a question. Fortunately, this young guy had been
one of the employees sure to never forget their ID
badge.

"He had to leave in a hurry."

Alert, Jake noticed Chad eyeing up the left side of
his chest. "We haven't met. I'm Jake Kallis."

Chad couldn't help but smile and accept the hand of
the cordial young man. "Mr. Barr," he responded.

"Oh, so there really is a Mr. Barr?" Looking confused,
Jake adds, "Is there a Mr. Bridges?"

He knew Jake wasn't being nosy. "My partner," Chad
reveals.

Still in the closet, Jake wasn't sure he wanted to
ask, so just hinted in an assuming manner, "Like in
business partners."

"Um, in more ways than one," Chad simply stated it.

Getting the message, Jake looks around before saying,
"I'm gay too, but one of those guys still in the
closet."

Not wanting to embarrass the kid, Chad smiled, even
though he wanted to laugh his ass off. "Well you're
secret is safe with me, Jake. Now is there a reason
you wanted to see Mr. Keratis?"

"He would understand, but I'm kind of embarrased to
tell you."

If Chad looked confused before, now he looked doubly
so. "Is it something about being gay you want to ask
me about. I'm open for debate, if...."

"No. Nothing like that Mr. Barr. You see, the other
night after Ethan... I mean Mr. Keratis locked up, he
was ready to leave. Instead he backed up and found me
standing outside my car. I had locked my keys inside.
He was nice enough to help me get into my car."

There was still something missing. Chad stood there,
waiting for the final cadence.

"I'm so stupid. I locked them in my car again!"

As Chad walked Jake to the back of the store, headed
for the stockroom to find something to jimmy the door
open, he responded to Jake, "I hardly think you are
dumb. After all you are working for Barr's & Bridges.
Um, just where do you work?"

"Cashier. I'm good at math and computers. I'm like a
loser when it comes to lifting weight," Jake filled
Chad in in almost one breath.

Then, off onto some small chat, Chad asks, "You're in
high school?"

"Yeah. I'm a junior. I got one more year then I'm off
to experience life as I want to."

Rummaging through a junk draw, Chad asks, "And what's
keeping you from living life the way you want to now?"

"Being gay and having parents who think it's a sin."

"Oh," is all Chad replied, hearing the same
predicament regurgitated over and over. "I suppose
you're just busting to be out there in the gay world
and yet confined to the thoughts and desires of
someone else, because they're holding your room and
board over your head?"

"That's the gist of it. But when I get to college I'm
going to break loose. Start life all over again. Being
the person I want to be."

"Sounds like a plan," Chad said, working a twisted up
coat hanger out of the draw, saying, "I don't know
what this is doing here."

Giggling, Jake replies, "It's the same coat hanger
Ethan.... I mean Mr. Keratis used the last time this
happened to me."

"Did Mr. Keratis say it was alright for you to address
him as Ethan?"

"I suppose. I think maybe he meant if I ever wanted to
talk to him about home life and stuff. I feel funny
calling him Ethan around the store," Jake logically
presented, pressing his glasses up onto his nose.

"Same goes for me. The name's Chad," Chad reintroduced
himself, adding, "Now let's go see if I'm as talented
with a coat hanger as Mr. Keratis!"

%

©2008 T. Chase McPhee
This story may not be sold, nor made part of any
collection, without prior consent from the author.

Other stories by T. Chase McPhee

TOUGHING IT OUT   'NEW'!
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ROAD TRIP
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FOR SALE BY OWNER
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FRIENDLY PERSUASION
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DOWNSIDE UP
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MUSCLE JOCKS FOR DOMINATION
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5b & 6c
nifty/gay/beginnings/5b-6c/
FOR THE LOVE OF MICHAEL
nifty/gay/highschool/for-the-love-of-michael/
SENIOR CUT DAY
nifty/gay/highschool/senior-cut-day/
STRIPEs
nifty/gay/adult-youth/stripes/
iCONS
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OLD-FASHIONED GOOD WILL
nifty/gay/beginnings/old-fashioned-good-will/
TIDELIGHT ZONE
nifty/gay/adult-friends/tidelight-zone/
BUFFALO BOYS
nifty/gay/authoritarian/buffalo-boys/
OUT IN THE WILD, WILD WEST
nifty/gay/celebrity/out-in-the-wild-wild-west/
CHRONICLES OF MARK SASSOON
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