Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 20:07:08 GMT
From: Wayne Patrick <wppsd@hotmail.com>
Subject: gay/beginning/searching for a son 5

Disclaimers:  Please see Chapter one.  You know who you are.


They drove back to the motel and carried Joey's things into the room.  They
laid on the bed, Stephen holding Joey tightly, discussing what they should
do now.  There were things that had to be done before that could begin their
new life together.  Joey still had to get his paycheck from Mr. James.  And
they had to pack everything in Stephen's car for the trip back.  They
decided to get Joey's paycheck first.  That would be the easiest.  Go in,
grab the check and get the hell out.  But when they walked into the Sandwich
Shoppe, someone was waiting for them.  This would not be easy at all.


*****

Chapter 12

Joey led the way into the store.  Two steps into the room, his feet turned
to concrete and his heart stopped.  Stephen, not anticipating Joey's brakes,
nearly ran over him.  Stephen looked past him to see an older man standing
five feet in front of Joey.  He recognized the face.  His heart broke for
Joey, and at the same time his anger surged.  He clenched his fists.  His
face darkened.  Before him stood the one person who had hurt his Joey more
than anyone else in the world.  And as much as he wanted revenge on this
stranger, he knew that what he wanted more than anything was for Joey to
feel safe.  They would get through this together, just as they had that
morning with Ruth.

"Well, well, hello Joey."

"Hi, Jim.  Stephen, this is my step father, Jim Thompson.  Jim, this is
Stephen Andrews, a friend of mine."

"How'd ya do?"  They shook hands.  "You look much older than Joey, how do
you know him?"

"We met here when I was getting a sandwich.  We became friends from there."
Stephen chose his words carefully.  After all, he now had a "son" that he
had to teach.  This was going to be their first lesson together - try not to
lie.

"Uh, huh," was the questioning reply from Thompson.  It was clearly obvious
that the animosity that had formed between Jim and Joey had solidified into
mutual hatred and distrust.  Anything that had to do with Joey would be met
with doubt from the old man.

"I was just talking to Mr. James, Joey, and he tells me that you quit
yesterday.  Is that right, boy?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, what a stupid ass thing for you to do!  But coming from you, that
doesn't surprise me."

The anger built more in Stephen.  He didn't want anyone talking to Joey that
way, but he felt he still couldn't interfere.  To do so would cause the
confrontation that had to be avoided for Joey's sake.  Joey had been through
hell once already today.  His mom had to be told.  He loved and respected
her too much, but Jim Thompson was another story.

Last night, Joey had told him stories that Stephen found incredible.  He had
told of the jealousy that went on in his relationship with Jim.  As Joey got
older, he realized that his step father resented him for having known and
loved his mother longer that he had.  He talked of times that Joey had
wanted his mother to watch some sport or school function that he was in, but
his step father had actually wanted her to not go.  Stephen was amazed that
the two had never tried to harm each other, and he wondered why Joey hadn't
left sooner.

For Joey, on the other hand, this opportunity was the light at the end of
the tunnel.  He was on his way out of town, and he was ready to burn the
bridge.

"I've had it with you.  You act like you own me - but you don't.  You hated
me from the minute you met me.  You considered me your son only when it was
convenient for you.  You've called me a brat to my face, and I'm sure worse
behind it.  You weren't there for me when I needed someone.  You only cared
about your own boys and ignored me.  But I'm through with this.  I saw Mom
this morning and told her that I had decided to move out.  I don't want to
live under your stinking roof and I sure as hell don't live by your rules.
I'm gone."

Thompson was furious.  This snot-nosed kid was not going to get away with
humiliating him in public.  Thompson reached for Joey to drag him outside
and home.  As he grabbed the collar of Joey's shirt, another hand reached
out and grabbed Thompson's wrist, twisting it away.  Stephen's pressure
forced Thompson to release Joey's shirt. With his other hand, Stephen pushed
Joey behind him.  Thompson was going to have to go through Stephen if he
wanted to get a hold of Joey.  Stephen very calmly spoke in a quiet voice,
"I think we should all step outside for some fresh air after Joey has
finished his business with Mr. James."

Stephen led Thompson outside.  He kept his body between the two men until
Thompson was facing the door and Joey was headed to the back of the store.
Then Stephen released Thompson's wrist.  They stood on the sidewalk of the
parking lot, not saying a word, waiting for Joey's return.   Each one
watched the other carefully, neither one trusting to turn their back.
Thompson finally looked to Stephen and ended whatever imagined chance of
reconciliation there might have been.

"How come you stand up for that little faggot?"

The words timed out with Joey's exit from the store.  He heard every word
clearly.  And before Stephen could even think to respond, Joey finished the
conversation in one sentence.

"It's none of your business because now I'm his `little faggot'!"  If Joey
could have, fireballs would have shot out of his eyes.  Stephen moved to
Joey's side, ready to stop any advance Joey might have made towards the
now-shocked Thompson.  "Now I know what you've been saying behind my back.
Have you ever told Mom that, I'm sure she would be interested in knowing
about it."  Joey took advantage of Thompson's blunder.  He knew that one
word to Ruth would bring hell to pay.  With that knowledge, he knew that he
didn't have to do anything.  He felt Stephen step even closer to him, the
physical contact causing him to calm down.  Joey turned to Stephen, kissing
him on the cheek for show, saying, "I'm finished here.  We can leave."

They climbed into Stephen's car as Thompson watched them walk away, too
stunned to move.  As Stephen fired the engine, he cautioned Joey, "Don't
stoop to his level.  Be better than him."

The years of frustration and pain showed, represented by the tears welling
in Joey's eyes, as Stephen backed the car out of the parking space.  As the
car pulled over of the parking spot, the passenger door drew even with
Thompson, and for the last time Joey looked at the man who had been such a
great disappointment.  They stared at each other, Joey with hatred, Thompson
with disgust.  Stephen accelerated the car, quickly turning onto the
highway.  Thompson was gone from Joey's life.


Chapter 13

They arrived back at the motel about noon.  Stephen parked the car where it
couldn't be seen from the highway.  They walked back to the room.  Stephen
opened the door for Joey.  When the door closed, Stephen grabbed his love
and brought him once again inside the safety of his arms.  Joey wrapped his
arms around Stephen lifelessly.  He didn't cry, he didn't shake, he really
didn't move at all.  He rested his head on Stephen's right shoulder, turning
his head away from him.  Only occasionally did Joey take a deep breath.  It
was impossible for Stephen to see or feel what might be going on in Joey's
head.  This had been too much for any person to endure, and the afternoon
still lay ahead.  Stephen wondered what else could happen as he did the best
he could to comfort his friend.

"The worst is over, my love.  It's just you and me now.  And I swear that I
will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for how he treated you."

Joey nodded his acknowledgment, but didn't speak.  He broke the hug, kissed
Stephen once, then pushed him away gently and sat on the bed.  He pulled his
knees up, resting his chin on them, staring straight ahead.

Stephen's heart broke as he watched Joey close his world into his thoughts.
Joey showed no emotion, leaving Stephen clueless as to what was going on in
his mind.  If Joey ever reminded Stephen of Scott, it was right now.  As
Joey curled into a ball, he seemed to become six years old.  It was as if
Joey had eaten the magic mushrooms from Alice in Wonderland, making him
shrink to the size of a little boy.

Stephen felt absolutely helpless.  It was a feeling he had felt only once
before in his life.  That horrible night two years ago when a police car
pulled up to his office, the officer asking, "Are you Stephen Andrews,
husband of Susan Andrews?"  What can you do when you feel powerless to do
anything?

After watching from across the room for a few minutes, the silence became
too much for Stephen to take.  He walked around the bed and sat next to
Joey.  He waited for a second to see if there would be any response from
him.  There wasn't.  He knew no words would save Joey from what had happened
today.  Stephen reached to Joey, running his hand through his hand, down his
left cheek to his chin.  He raised Joey's face until their eyes met, meeting
little resistance.  He leaned in and tenderly kissed the boy.  He withdrew
and searched Joey's face for a sign.  Stephen had to tell Joey how he felt,
"Thank you for choosing me.  I don't know how I could love you more."

Joey looked at Stephen.  The affection shown to him had brought him back to
life.  He threw the pillow he was clutching to the other side of the bed and
stood up, Stephen rising with him.  Joey hugged the man, asking, "Could you
take me home now?"

"Let's go.  I came here this weekend to make some decisions.  I was going to
plan what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.  I now know what I want.
You."

They stuffed Stephen's things into his suitcase and Joey packed the car
while Stephen went to front desk to check out.  When Stephen returned,
everything was packed except for the bicycle that Joey was holding by the
handlebars.

"I can't see any way to tie this to your car.  I have to have my bike for me
to get to school.  What should I do?"

For Stephen, this had all the making of a "dad" decision.  He stroked his
chin, looked at the bike, looked at the car, looked at Joey.  Stephen
remembered his promises to Joey.  "Gee, I never had to deal with this
before.  What does a dad do for his son?"  He had said it sarcasticallly,
hoping that Joey would know that it was no problem.  It didn't occur to him
that Joey always had to fend for himself, that there had never been anyone
to bail him out.  He hoped for a smile from Joey; Joey missed the joke.  He
was lost in thought, trying to think of a way to get the bike on the car.

"I know where we can put it."  Stephen smiled broadly.

"Where?"

"Put right there in the grass.  That's part of your life here and I want you
to forget you ever lived here."

"But that doesn't solve my problem.  How do I get to school?"

"When we get home, buy yourself a car."

"I can't afford that, I have to have money for school."

"Joey, for God's sake," Stephen said, getting exasperated, "I'll buy the
damn car.  I told you that I would buy anything you need.  You need a car.
I'll buy you twenty cars if I need to."

Joey ran around the car, into Stephen's arms, kissing him all over his face.
  Once again, he was overwhelmed by Stephen's kindness.  He could not
believe how his life had changed in less than 24 hours.

"I'll never be able to repay you for everything.  Thank you."

"Having you to share my life is payment enough."

As the car pulled out of the motel parking lot, the bicycle lay on the
sidewalk right where Joey had pushed it away, it's front wheel spinning in
the air.


Chapter 14

It only took an hour for the boys to get home.  They talked about what had
happened that day.  Joey took extreme delight replaying the look on Jim
Thompson's face when he had told him off.  They talked of cars and schools
and before they knew it, they were back at Stephen's apartment.

Stephen's place was as sparse as Joey's bedroom had been.  There was no room
for Joey's things in the furniture that was there.  This was an apartment
that one person lived in, one who only came home to shower and sleep.  There
was no need for CD players, big screen TVs, or exercise equipment.  As they
talked about how to solve this new problem, Stephen realized that the answer
was simple, but he still wanted to play Joey for all it was worth.

"Maybe we could just get some boxes for you to throw your clothes in.  Or
you could just keep them in your duffle bag.  Besides, I don't think you'll
be needing too much clothes around here."

Joey was shocked.  He thought he knew Stephen as a kind, gentle man.  Was he
suggesting that he wanted Joey to be something less than an equal in their
relationship?  Had Joey stepped into a trap?  Where was the front door?

"Uh, you know, I'll need to wear something to school.  I'm don't think I'm
going to Naked University."

"No, I was just thinking that clothing doesn't make the man."  He grabbed
Joey around the waist, pulling them together.  "I like this man just the way
he is.  I was kidding.  I just love the look on your face whenever I tease
you.  You are so innocent.  You make me feel like I'm 12 years old."

"That wasn't funny.  But I think that might be the nicest compliment you
could ever say to me.  I want us to be the father and son everyone wishes
they could be.  Except don't sign me up for Little League."

They both laughed.  Stephen kissed him, "My God, it's wonderful to have
laughter in this place.  I never thought I'd hear it again."

"I want our days to be filled with laughter and loving.  But before that, I
have to get moved in here.  Let's throw my stuff in the corner.  I don't
care where I keep it.  As long as it's near you."

"We'll get some furniture for you this week.  Maybe a dresser, whatever you
want.  I'll buy you a whole bedroom set if you want.  If I need to buy you a
whole house to live in, then I'll buy a house," he laughed.

Joey laughed with Stephen.  "Yeah, a whole house with a yard and everything.
  You can just walk out back and pluck a few thou off the money tree."

Stephen stopped laughing but kept smiling.  "You don't understand Joey.  I
can get you anything you need.  I received quite an insurance settlement
after the accident.  I never had a reason to spend that money, but now I do.
  I'm not rich enough to retire tomorrow, but I guarantee that I can pay
cash for any two bedroom house around here."

Joey was surprised by the statement.  Stephen would do anything for him?
How could he be so lucky?  He stopped laughing, wondering what Stephen
meant.

"Why do we need two bedrooms?"  Ah, those old insecurities.

"The other bedroom, my boy, could be a study.  Remember, you said something
about school?  As long as you live under my roof, I don't ever plan on
sleeping alone again.  The first thing I want to see in the morning will be
the last thing I see at night.  Your smiling face."

Joey had never felt more wanted by anyone.  Joey began kissing with more
passion than either one had shown before.  While running his hands over
Stephen's body, he broke from kissing long enough to ask, "You know, you
haven't given me a tour of my new home.  Why don't we start with the
shower?"

"My, my aren't we a frisky one?  I'm sorry, my boy, but around here it's
work before play, and we have too much unpacking to do to play.  Maybe
later."

"Gee, 'dad', you're no fun!"

Stephen popped Joey once on his rear.  "Get moving, there's a whole car
outside to be unpacked."

Joey unloaded the car.  He brought in the box that contained the books and
photographs he had taken from his room.  He took his most precious
possession from the box and began to search the living room for a place to
put it.  On the bookshelf, he found a shelf that held only one photograph -
that of a little boy with blonde hair, green eyes, and the most dazzling
gap-toothed smile.  Joey laid his picture down on the shelf and picked up
this new treasure.  He looked at it, and could almost feel it talking to
him.  He didn't become aware of Stephen entering the room until he was by
his side.

"I dreamed when I was little that I had a brother.  When mom remarried, I
never ever thought of Jim son's as my brothers.  They were just someone
living in the same house with me.  I lived with them for ten years, and, in
five minutes, I feel like this little guy is closer to me that those two
could ever be.  I thought about it for a long time, and I've come to think
that brother is the greatest word in the English language.  It can be used
so many different ways that any man in the world could be my brother if we
could find a single thread to bond us.  I know my bond with Scott already.
I'm only sorry that we never met."

Stephen walked over to the picture, picking up the one that Joey had laid on
the shelf.  "I know what you feel.  When I looked at this picture in your
bedroom, I had that same feeling.  Somehow, I think that these two know each
other."

Stephen set the photograph he held on the shelf.  He took the other picture
from Joey, wiping the smears off the glass, places where his tears had
fallen and dried times before.  He placed that photo next to the other one.
He set them facing each other saying,  "You'll never be alone.  A son needs
a father and a father needs a son."

Joey wasn't sure who that was meant for, but he knew the words were true.


Chapter 15

They slept well that Saturday night.  The stress of the day left them too
tired to talk that night, much less do anything more strenuous.  Joey passed
out about 8 pm, Stephen followed shortly thereafter.  They slept until late
the next morning.  They awoke the same way that they had the previous day in
the motel.  Stephen lay behind Joey, his arm draped over the boy, and his
dick pressed again Joey's ass.  They both woke up, Joey still the frisky 19
year old that he was and Stephen with a new sense of energy that he hadn't
felt in quite a while.  And once again, they had fallen asleep with their
clothes on.

"What is it with you, do you always sleep with your clothes on?" asked Joey.

"Hey, you have no room to talk."

"Well, I'm going to do something about that right now."

Joey began to pull Stephen's shirt over his head.  Stephen complied, raising
his arms over his head, and the shirt was thrown in the corner of the room.
Stephen returned the favor, Joey's shirt landing on top of Stephen's.  One
by one, pieces of clothing were removed and thrown about the room until both
of them lay in the middle of the bed in only their underwear.  For the first
time, Joey reached out and ran his hand over the pouch of Stephen's briefs,
grabbing the contents.  The stimulation caused the mound to rise.  Stephen
hadn't been touched like that in two years and he became hard so fast that
later they would joke about it almost poking Joey's eyes out.

Joey remembered back to the shower they had shared, "Remember how you said
that we looked so much alike.  I wonder how much alike we are.  Does this
little fellow like the same things my guy likes?"

He released the prisoner from his grip, and moved his hand up to the
waistband of Stephen's underwear.  One, two, three fingers went inside.  The
fingers ran under the head, along the shaft, up and down, feeling the
firmness, getting used to his new play toy.  He pinned Stephen's dick
against his stomach and began rubbing.  The contact led Stephen to let out a
loud moan.  His breathing got heavier.  It felt so good to have someone
touch him.  And unlike Susan who never really figured out how to handle one,
Joey knew what to do with it.  Stephen reached around to cup Joey's firm
butt.  "I didn't think you knew anything.  That is so good."

Joey smiled, and between kisses answered, "I may not have fooled around with
anyone, but I never said that I didn't know what to do."

Joey pulled the underwear down around Stephen's ankles.  He slid out of one
leg and flipped them with the other foot towards the bathroom.  He reached
for Joey's boxers. Joey copied Stephen movements.  They both lay naked in
the bed.  They continued the kissing and petting for a long time.  There was
no hurry.  They explored faces and necks, chests and arms, nipples and belly
buttons.  The married man and the virgin were free to do anything with
another man in bed for the first time in their lives.

After what seemed like hours, Joey slid down the bed and played, examined,
and sucked another man's penis.  He moved his face inches from the stiff
rod, studying the shape of the head, the thickness of the shaft, down to the
pattern of the veins running up and down the stalk.  He sniffed at it, the
way a dog might inspect a new bone, smiling at Stephen, then laughing.  He
stuck his tongue out, taking a lick from the base of Stephen's dick.  The
feel of skin on his tongue was thrilling.  This would be his first and he
wanted it to be perfect.  He ran his tongue up the length of the dick.  He
did this several times, each time getting Stephen to squirm.  He sampled
from different sides, from the bottom down to the balls, on top up to the
head.  Finally, he took the head of Stephen's rod in his mouth for the first
time.  He held it there, flicking his tongue around.  He became less sure of
himself, not sure what to do to please his man the best, but he knew that he
would learn.  Stephen was patient with his boy, letting him do his
exploring, his grunts and groans letting Joey know what felt right.
Finally, Joey took the big step, trying to take Stephen all the way to the
balls.  Inch by inch, Joey moved slowly down the shaft, pulling up now and
then, then resuming his descent.  His nose pressed into Stephen's pubes and
he took a deep whiff of the scent of the man he loved.  Once he had reached
the bottom, confident that he could please Stephen comfortably, he began his
work on his new love.

The excitement of Joey's curiosity thrilled both of them.  They spent the
afternoon taking turns, finding out what each one responded to and enjoyed.
Both of them seemed concerned with the other's pleasure more than with their
own.  That's not to say that when the time came, they didn't enjoy the
sensations that come with cumming.   They both did and each more than once.
Stephen was first, as Joey wanted him to be.

This first time for them to make love, they explored with their hands and
their mouths - kissing, licking, sucking, pleasing.  Both were satisfied
with the experience.  They decided not to try fucking each other, as both
being virgins in that area, they thought best to learn more about it before
trying.  Both spoke of their concerns of hurting the other, and as in all
other things, neither one wanted to ever cause their lover any harm, as they
knew that each had had enough pain in their lives.  As far as they were
concerned, they had forever to do what they wanted.  It would happen when
the time was right.

The afternoon ended with the two men wrapped in each other's arms, naked,
contented, asleep.  That evening, Stephen awoke to the warm feeling of Joey
sucking on his dick.  The afternoon matinee became an evening performance,
repeated until neither one could get it up anymore.  Only then did they take
a shower.  They were home.


*****

Stephen and Joey thank you for reading their story.  You can now claim
another cherry.  This was my first submission to Nifty and I would
appreciate any comments and criticisms.