Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 17:37:43 -0400
From: Michael Raburn <mraburn@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Daniel's Love Chapter 11

THIS WORK IS FULLY PROTECTED BY U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS.  NO PORTION OF
THIS WORK MAY BE COPIED OR REDISTRIBUTED BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS CONSENT OF ITS AUTHOR.

THIS WORK DEALS WITH A FICTITIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO MEN.  IF
READING ABOUT HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS OR SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN TWO
MEN IS EITHER ILLEGAL IN YOUR AREA OR OFFENDS YOU, PLEASE DO NOT READY
ANY FURTHER.

ANY SIMILARITIES TO ANY PERSON LIVING OR DEAD ARE PURELY COINCIDENTAL.
THIS WORK IS ENTIRELY FICTITIONAL.


The saga continues...



DANIEL'S LOVE


Michael A. Raburn

Chapter 11



"Daddy, what are you doing?" Kyle asked as he wandered out to the patio
for breakfast, Jason right behind him.

"Hurry up kiddo and eat.  You've got to get out of here if you're going to get
to camp on time." Daniel said.  The kids were in a summer enrichment
program that the Avery Foundation helped Margaret Johnson launch.  I
kidded them both about it being Camp Activist because they were learning
about the civil rights movement and the call for equal rights for everyone.

"What's all the papers for?" Jason asked as he sat down to breakfast.

On my end of the glass-topped table I had spread out the architectural
drawings that Bob had dropped off the previous day.  Daniel and I were up
late last night and got up early this morning to further study the plans.

"We're going to expand the house." I replied.

"What?"

"Well guys, we decided that we can't keep throwing you out of your
bedroom every time Cornelia or someone comes to visit.  We need more
space." I explained.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Jason jumped up to hug me.

"We've already made an offer on that little house next door and Bob's trying
to figure out whether to demolish it or not." Daniel explained.

Ralph had lived in the house next door since it was built back in the forties
and had recently moved to an assisted care facility because he was having
trouble getting around by himself.  He was always my favorite of the
neighbors on Monroe Drive and I felt in many ways that he was more than
just a neighbor.  His longtime companion died the year I bought the house
and I would find him regularly in the backyard crying from his grief and
loss.  We struck up a friendship that bordered on family.

When the bomb destroyed my house he was one of the first to contact the
police and to call our shared insurance agent.  His little house only had a few
windows shattered by the blast.  Thank goodness the bedroom where the
bomb was placed was on the opposite side of my house and not closer or his
house would have been demolished as well.  When we settled back in he was
always bringing over things he had baked and could spend hours discussing
recipes with Daniel and Nina.  He loved having the boys around, saying that
they livened up the neighborhood so much.

Daniel helped him decide what furniture that he could take with him to the
home and what had to be sold or donated.  Jason and Kyle had helped move
the boxes and tagged the furniture.  It looked like the poor guy had never
thrown away anything that he acquired.  The house was filled to overflowing
with antiques, china, crystal and fine textiles.  Since they both had traveled
extensively in their younger days their treasures were extensive.  Nina called
a few of her dealer friends to look at the collection and they had bought
everything except a few of the most special pieces that would accompany
him to Shady Grove.

One afternoon a few weeks before his move date I was puttering around the
patio area trying to regain my strength when he summoned me to the rose
bushes that separated our lots.  He had been setting aside items that he
wanted to give to us before he left and also wanted to talk to me about the
property.  On the spot I offered him what I thought the house was worth and
was prepared to write him a check so no one else could get it.  Everything
was now in the hands of the attorneys and we just had to wait for their final
approval before we closed the deal.

On moving day we were all surprised by the generousness of our neighbor.
We found boxes and parcels labeled with our names waiting in the back
bedroom.  Several of the ones marked with Daniel's name contained his
extensive collection of cookbooks gathered from around the world.  Kyle
and Jason had statues and trinket from his travels.  There was one box
marked with mine and Daniel's name but we were so busy moving the
cookbooks that we never got around to opening it; we just put it into storage
with the others.


I caught Daniel around the waist and pulled him into my lap.  I nuzzled into
his neck and started nibbling his earlobe.  Bringing his hands up to rub my
newly sprouted stubble he grasped my head and tilted it back for the kiss of
a lifetime.

"Since they're so similar looking, why don't we just build something to
connect the two?" Kyle popped in.

"Huh?" Daniel asked

"Wait a minute.  That's a great idea.  That way we keep both houses, but,
ooh, I've got to call Bob." I almost dumped Daniel in the floor as I reached
for the phone.

"Don't you two have that meeting this afternoon?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah at four.  You are coming, aren't you?" Jason responded.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, kiddo." I laughed.


"It's a great idea you've got there."

"Bob, it wasn't my idea.  It was Kyle that came up with it, but it makes
perfect sense.  When could you have me the new drawings?" I asked.

"You think he wants to be an architect when he grows up?"

"Don't know, he's already studying with me.  You know, basic drawing and
color theories."

"Tell him if he has any more great ideas to call me.  I might find a place for
him on staff here." He joked.  "Give me a couple of days and I'll send over
what I come up with.  Still want the extra bedrooms?"

"Yeah, could we rip out the kitchen and..."


"Paul, how are you feeling?"  I felt more than heard Daniel ask.

I was sitting on the bed trying to summon up enough energy to get in the
shower.  It had been three months since that crazy airplane ride that got me
to the Garland's little party in the nick of time to dedicate the statue and I
had made progress in healing.  But, there were still mornings that I found it
hard to get out of bed or to hold a thought for very long.  Even with the
physical therapy and walking regime I followed I was impatient to be able to
do all the things I had done before.  I wanted to paint again but could only
manage a few minutes work before I had to sit down.  I often wondered if I
would ever get strong enough to go back fulltime.

"Answer me, are you okay?" I felt it again.

"Yes, love.  Just tired." I thought.

"I'll be there in a minute."


Daniel and I realized during the weeks that we spent with Cornelia and
Robert after the opening that what we thought were dreams were actually
something more unusual.  I could hear him in my head and he could hear
me.  I experienced all the dreams that Daniel had when I was unconscious,
even describing the beach he created for us to play on.  He understood the
dark void that I was caught in and brought those wonderful images of sun
and waves to my mind.  Again, it was his intense love that pulled me back
from the brink.

Luckily Cornelia was familiar with the islands and knew which one we were
talking about when we described it to her.  I'm not sure whether she believed
us, but she was amazed at the level of detail we could offer her.  She finally
broke down and convinced Robert to get that crazy pilot to take us over for a
week.  Daniel and I led the way from our hotel to that secluded inlet the first
afternoon we were there.

The boys loved the island and were forever climbing the rocky slopes while
Daniel and I lounged on the beach soaking up the sun.  Playing in the waves
and walking on the sand had been the beginning of my healing, my recovery
from the bullet George Tollson had put in my head.  I still limped from the
neurological damage and had to use a cane or lean on Daniel to get around.
And I probably always would, but other than that and some nagging
headaches I was improving.  The doctors were furious that I left the hospital
but could not do anything to stop me from going to Houston with Arthur
Avery.  They were equally incensed when I refused to return to Atlanta for
them to rehospitalize me, but they did not understand that I would heal
quicker away from everything except my family.

During the week we frolicked on the island, well actually they frolicked, we
saw a side of Robert Garland that no one had ever seen before.  He was more
loving, more open to conversation and more attentive to Cornelia and her
wishes.  Everyone could see how this week away from work and worry was
good for him.  Even Cornelia looked several years younger and she and
Robert played with the kids in the surf like they were teenagers.  Finally the
kids had another grandfather.  He was forever running off with them for ice
cream or some kind of non-alcoholic tropical drink.  We even caught him
one night teaching them to play poker.  Something told me that he would
never return to Houston as the big time businessman again.

On our second day at the beach Daniel encouraged me to remove the
bandages and check on the sutures in my head.  We found a local doctor that
pronounced them ready to remove.  After they were snipped and pulled out
he applied a salve that he promised would hasten the process and minimize
scaring.  When he was all done Daniel finished cutting back my overgrown
hair.  For some reason the nurses had only shaved the side of my head that
was injured so I was half bald and half shaggy.


"Daddy Bear, what can I help you do?" Daniel asked when he reached the
bedroom.  I was still seated on the bed, reminiscing about the past few
weeks.

"This leg is bothering me.  I think maybe I'm trying to do too much."

"Yeah, buddy.  I told you to take it easy, but Mr. Paul Jamison, media star,
does as he likes, right?" He snarled playfully at me.

"You got that right, cutie.  Now help me in the shower."


"Baby Bear, make love to me." I turned in the spray of the shower.  Daniel
was rinsing the shampoo from that incredible dark hair that I loved so much,
his penis at full erection from our rubbing against each other.

"Huh?"

"You heard me.  I want so much for you to make love to me, now, here in
the shower like I do you."

"Paul, I don't think I can hold you up." He laughed.

"Okay then, how about we get out of here and I can stretch out on the bed.
That way there'll be no pressure on my bad leg.  Then you just slide in.
Think you can handle that?"

"I'm not sure I can."

"Sure you can.  Just remember what I do to you and do the same thing for
me.  I can't wait to feel you inside me." I was almost pleading.

We finally got me situated, draped over a couple of pillows and Daniel lubed
his fingers and started loosening me up.  It had been years since I last
experienced this, but somehow now I needed it again.  I needed to be
possessed in the most intimate way by my soulmate, by the only person I
could imagine ever doing this to me again.

We made love slowly and gently for a long while then Daniel sped up and
finished us both off.  I knew I would be a little tender for the next day or two
but it would be a soreness I could think of fondly.  My ever-attentive lover
relaxed my muscles enough so I felt no pain only the fullness of being
completely filled with him.


"Baby, we're going to be late if we don't get a move on.  You know how
upset the kids will be if we're not right on time." I shook Daniel's shoulder.
We were curled up together on the bed resting from our lovemaking and we
had dozed off.

"I'm moving.  Do you need help?"

"No, I'm fine. Thanks for the physical therapy." I giggled.

"Anytime, my good man, anytime." He laughed back in his best British
accent.


The summer organizational meeting of the Gay Student's League was
scheduled to take place at the high school library.  Margaret Johnson had
been diligent about getting the administration and staff of the school
involved with the group and had signed everybody she could find as
volunteers and sponsors.  The Board of Education was not happy about
losing one of their best counselors but understood the importance of her
undertaking.

The crowd gathered outside the school was milling around the grassy area
near the building.  Daniel dropped me off on the sidewalk out front then
joined me a few minutes later after he parked the car.  As we made our way
towards the building I got a good look at what was quickly becoming
opposing sides.  One group, clearly the ones invited to the meeting, was
standing their ground staring down the other more vocal bunch.  A few of
the protestors had those stupid signs that you always see at rallies telling us
how evil we were and how God was going to condemn all of us to Hell.

Kyle, Jason and a few of the other kids from the camp were out in front
trying to keep the groups separated.  Walking up to the assembly, I noticed
the frantic look on Margaret's face.

"Ladies and gentlemen," I began, turning to face the hecklers, "If you would
all join us we can try to work this out."

One stubby older lady stepped forward from the group.  "We don't want to
work out nothing.  You're all going to die, God's gonna get you for being
perverts.  We won't let you change out children into faggots."