Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 01:04:09 -0600 From: pns kid <pnskid61@hotmail.com> Subject: Sojourn Chapter 29 The story below is a work of fiction and contains erotic and/or sexually explicit behavior between consenting males. If you find this type of writing offensive, or if you are underage and it is illegal to view it, please do not read further, but exit now. The author reserves all copyright privileges. This work may not be reproduced, except for personal use, without permission of the author, and may not be linked to any pay sites. Author's note - Boy, did I get a lot of emails after the last chapter. Keep the emails coming. Here is the next chapter. Hang in there guys (and get the Kleenex ready). Dan Chapter 29 Rick had a tough day with Adam. He was more than a handful. He was not doing what he was told, was having temper tantrums, and was generally miserable. This was very unusual. Rick tried to talk to Adam about it but didn't get anywhere. So Rick was very relieved when Adam finally went to bed at 9pm. He wasn't far behind him and was in bed and asleep by 930pm. At 10pm Rick heard a loud bang. He woke from his sleep gasping, sweating but shivering with cold. The bang had been in his dream. He had a hard time catching his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He got up and went to get something to drink. He hadn't had a dream and a startle like that since the night his parents were killed. He has sure it was from the fact that Adam had worn his nerves ragged. He got back to bed and about 1045pm, he fell back to sleep. He heard ringing. Convinced he was dreaming he ignored it. The ringing kept on and he then realized it was the phone. Looking at the clock it was 1130pm. Sure this was a wrong number he grumpily answered the phone with a stern and curt "hello". "Rick, is that you?" "Yes, who the hell is this, do you know what time it is," Rick replied. "Rick, it is me, Sarah. Honey, I need you to wake up. Please listen to me. Are you awake, do you understand who this is," Sarah said into the phone. "Oh, hey Sarah. It is what, 1230 in the morning there? What are you doing up and calling me this late? Miss me that much?" Rick said while slowly gaining his senses. "Rick, listen carefully. There has been an accident. Honey, I don't know how to tell you any other way but to be straight with the facts. Ethan has been in a very bad accident. It happened at 11pm our time here. His car had flipped and was on the wrong side of I-595 when it was hit broadside by a large lorry, I mean semi-truck. They had to cut him out of the wreckage and he is in hospital here in Plantation. Rick, it is bad. It is real bad. They are doing everything then can for him right now. He has severe internal injuries, he is unconscious, and he has lost a lot of blood. I am not sure..." Sarah managed all of this before breaking down. Sarah herself was still reeling from the phone call she had received just a few minutes earlier. "Oh my God. Please tell me this isn't true," Rick said in a whisper. "Rick, honey, you need to be here, in case..." Sarah was now crying and could barely manage to get the words out. "I called Brain and A-1 should be airborne in a few minutes heading to Pensacola to pick you up." "But A-1 is too big for Pensacola, I need to get to Mobile," Rick replied. "Brian says that the runway in Pensacola can technically handle A-1 and he is sure there won't be a problem. He said that he usually wants a bit more room but he will be sure A-1 is very light. It will save you 90 minutes of driving and you don't need to be out driving after this news. Also, I called Sean right before I called you. He is on his way and will stay with Adam until, well, until we see how things go. We can call Alice after you get here," Sarah managed. Even in a time of tremendous crisis, Sarah was still taking care of things. "Sarah, is Ethan going to, ah, I mean is he, going to make it?" "Honey, I don't know. The doctors aren't hopeful. Please get down here. Ethan needs you here and so do I." Sarah replied. "OK, I will be there as soon as I can. I will wait for Sean and then I will head over to Pensacola. I should see you in a few hours. Sarah, please, if you get to see Ethan, tell him I am on my way, and tell him I love him." Rick was crying and could barely speak now. Rick hung up and began to get some things together. He felt a shiver go through when he realized that the dream he had, the loud bang, the gasping, the coldness, had all happened at the time of Ethan's accident. It was just like the night his parents died. How could this be happening to him again? Why did people he love have horrible things happen to them? It couldn't, it wouldn't happen to Ethan. Ethan was not going to die. Rick suddenly found a new strength inside him. Conviction. Determination. Sean arrived and gave Rick a hug and tried to find the right words to say but none seemed appropriate. Rick went in, woke Adam. Adam looked at his Dad with groggy and confused eyes. Rick said that he needed to go see Ethan and Sarah. It was a sudden trip and that Mister Sean would be staying with him until he got back. Adam asked if Ethan was ok. Rick told him that Ethan would be just fine. He kissed Adam, tucked him in, and told him he loved him. The drive to Pensacola from Destin went quickly since there was no traffic at this hour. It was now about 2am. He arrived at the private aircraft facility to find it closed for the evening. At about 215am, a car approached. A man got out and opened the building. Rick went in. The man explained that the airport was officially closed. He had received a call from the mayor's office to come out and open the facility and the airport tower was preparing for a special arrival and departure. With that the runway lights came on and in the distance lights appeared high up. Rick knew this was A-1. A-1 is a massive plane. It has very powerful engines and a wing design that gives it tremendous lift. It can actually be off in about 5,500 feet in the right conditions and weight. It can land and come to a full stop in about the same distance. The runway at Pensacola is 7,000 feet long. There wouldn't be much room for error. Rick watched the plane draw closer. A-1 seemed huge and Rick was worried it wouldn't make it. He heard the engines as they powered back and saw the nose flare for landing. He heard the tires squeal as they touched the runway and the engines go into full reverse. He had never heard A-1 make so much noise. The plane seemed to roll and roll and seemed determined not to stop. The reversing of the engines continued and the giant finally slowed. With a few lurching movements, A-1 finally stopped. The runway marking of 6 indicated 6,000 feet of runway lay behind. A-1 taxied quickly to the private aircraft area. The port side engine shut down, the starboard engine remaining at idle. Roll-up stairs came to the side of A-1 and Rick quickly climbed them. The door closed, the port engine came to life and they were on the taxiway. A-1 had been on the ground for 7 minutes. A-1 took position at the end of the runway. The engines revved but the plane didn't move. Rick realized that Brian had the brakes locked. The engines built up, he could feel A-1 aching to be set free, and Brian let the brakes go and A-1 actually leapt forward. Rick thought that if A-1 had been a car it would have peeled out. Rick was actually thrown back into his seat with the thrust pinning him to the seat. The engines were screaming. Rick saw the side markings pass by. The markings indicated the number of feet left on the runway. 6,5,4,3 thousand left, the engines were now clearly at their maximum thrust, the plane was shaking and shuddering, at 2,000 feet left the nose went up. At 1,000 feet A-1 took to the air and began a horrifyingly steep ascent. Shuddering, shaking, engines screaming. This was not the gentle graceful giant that Rick was used to. This was a determined single-minded girl wanting to get Rick to her Dad. Just like Rick's other girls, A-1 had come to be a member of the family. Like those closest to Ethan, fierce loyalty and love had somehow infected the girls. They were like humans. Sure, they were ships and airplanes but somehow it was though they actually cared. Nothing was going to get in A-1's way. Not tonight. The flight to Ft Lauderdale would be a short 1 hour and 20 minutes. Rick went up and spoke to Brian. Brian loved Ethan and Rick and it showed. He had taken some risk tonight but he knew that if Ethan were going to make it through he would have to have Rick at his side. And Brian didn't want anything to happen to Ethan. Ethan was the kindest most generous man Brian had the pleasure of knowing. Rick meant the world to Ethan and Brian knew it. A-1 was streaking at maximum speed, well above her normal speed, across the Gulf of Mexico. She arrived into Ft Lauderdale around 5am. A Broward County Sheriff department vehicle was waiting and took Rick to the hospital. He went in and saw Sarah sitting the waiting area in the trauma ward. They embraced. No words being spoken for a few minutes. Then Sarah said that she didn't have any more updates. They had taken Ethan up for surgery to try to stop the blood loss and to relieve some pressure on the brain. He had been in surgery now for a few hours. No news. The both sat on the hard plastic chairs oblivious to CNN playing on a TV in the corner. They sat, holding hands, both hoping the best but fearing the worst. At 730am, a doctor approached. His hospital greens soaked with sweat. Sarah and Rick met the doctor and introduced themselves their desperation for information apparent. "I am Doctor Garcia and I have been in charge of the surgery for Mr West. He is in ICU right now. We have to take things hour by hour at this point. He has extensive injuries and lost a lot of blood. His spleen ruptured and he required a lot of blood. We have removed the spleen and his internal bleeding seems to have stopped. His left lung has collapsed a result of his broken ribs puncturing the lung. He had pressure on his brain that we were able to relieve. One of his kidneys is badly damaged. All we could do was stop the bleeding. We will have to go back whenever he is stronger to finish our work on that. He has broken both of his legs in several places. His clavicles are broken and his left wrist is shattered. His blood pressure is dangerously low, his pulse is very weak. He has no signs of consciousness. He has lacerations over a good part of his body. I am not sure, but I am afraid his left eye has been badly damaged. I can't see the eye at this point due to the swelling. I won't lie to you. It doesn't look very promising at this point. The risk for infection is very high. The amount of blood loss that occurred is also very worrisome. He is being closely monitored and we are doing everything we can at this point. He needs your prayers and your strength. I will let you know as soon as there is any change or new information." Rick and Sarah were stunned. This was almost the worst news they could have received. The only thing worse was not anything either of them wanted to say out loud. Rick spoke first, "Can we see him?" Dr Garcia replied, "He is in ICU and I should tell you won't recognize him. He is attached to monitors and respirators to help him breath. He had chest tubes to try to keep his lung inflated. His cuts are very deep and you will be very disturbed if you see him. I really don't recommend it but I can permit it if you insist. But you cannot stay long." Sarah and Rick knew that no matter how bad Ethan looked, they needed to see him. To tell him they were there and to tell him they loved him. Simultaneously, they told the doctor they wanted to see him. The ICU ward was a hive of activity. Sarah and Rick put on surgical masks and walked towards Ethan's bed. The nurses stepped away advising that they could only stay a few minutes. They were told to not touch anything and were warned again about what they were going to see. Rick and Sarah took deep breaths, held each other's hand, and stepped closer to Ethan. The doctor and the nurses could not have prepared them for what they were seeing. Ethan was not recognizable. He was swollen. His face was puffy and his normal features could not be distinguished. There were monitors and tubes everywhere. There was sickening sound of gurgling and whooshing as they respirators worked. Rick felt Sarah go weak. He put his arm around Sarah to provide her support. Rick was stunned. His soulmate, the love of his life. The man that had brought such joy and happiness to his life. The man that was loved by so many. The man that was so gorgeous it made Rick weak. The man that was a passionate but tender lover. The man with tremendous wealth. Ethan was all of this but he really was just a man, a lover, a son, a friend. He was lying there, helpless. And Rick knew, he was dying. Sarah went to Ethan, touched his hand gently, and whispered in his ear. "Listen you little shit. I am going to kick your ass when you wake up. So, you know it is going to happen so wake up fast and face the music. Ethan, I love you. Pull through this man. We all need you. Of course if you remember me saying this when you wake up I will deny it. Please Ethan, don't give up." Sarah whispered. She knew that Ethan always relished their banter and didn't want to give some soppy speech at this point. She needed to reach him and touch him with something he could relate to. Something that would normally make him smile and muster a sharp response. But not tonight. There was nothing. She stepped away and quickly left the ICU ward leaving Rick with Ethan. Once in the hall, she fell to her knees crying. She also vomited. In the middle of the hall. She was coming apart from the inside. She couldn't bear what she had seen. She couldn't comprehend Ethan leaving life in this way. Rick stepped up and put his hand on top of Ethan's right hand, the one that wasn't broken. "Ethan, it is me, Rick. Babe, you have had a bad accident but the doctors are working their magic. You are going to be fine. We need you to give this one hell of a fight. Adam is home in Destin with Sean so don't you worry about him. I am going to be here with you through this. Ethan, I don't say this as much as I should. You are my life. I love you with ever fiber of my being. I want you and I need you. Please fight this babe. With all the energy and determination you can muster. I can't stay with you long right now, but I will be back as soon as they let me. In the mean time, remember I love you. And my love for you is Insatiable." Rick then left the ICU to find Sarah sitting in a chair outside ICU. She had her head between her legs and a nurse was standing close by. Rick could see in Sarah's face the fear and dread he was feeling himself. The doctor came back and told Sarah and Rick to go home and get some sleep. He didn't think there would be any change for the next few hours. They would need their rest as the next day would be critical and Ethan would need their strength. Both objected but the doctor insisted and both agreed. Sarah drove them to the apartment in Plantation. She dropped Rick off and then went home. They would meet in 4 hours, at 2pm, and go back to the hospital. Before going to bed, she called Brian and then Alice. At 1130am, A-1 lifted off for Nashville. Alice would be at her son's side by early evening. Both Sarah and Rick ended up getting a couple of hours sleep, a little something to eat, and showers. At 2pm, Sarah picked up Rick and they went back to the hospital. Sarah told Rick that A-1 was on the ground in Nashville and that it would be heading back with Alice and should be back in Ft Lauderdale by 630pm. There was no change with Ethan. He had not worsened nor had he improved. They both saw Ethan for a few minutes every 2 hours. Both talking to him as if her were awake. Alice arrived at the hospital at 715pm. Brian drove her over from the airport. Sarah and Rick updated both of them on the current situation. Alice went in to see her son. There is no pain worse for a parent then to see their child in pain and dying. Alice would give her own life, without hesitation, if it would spare her son. She sat, holding his hand, not speaking. The nurses came in and told her she would need to leave. She leaned up and whispered to Ethan that she loved him and she was there for him. As she left the room, that horrible sound you often hear on TV filled the room. The sound of a flat line. Nurses ran in, the doctor came in, a crash cart was rushed into the area where Ethan was. Alice was ushered away. She kept hearing the sound. The cry of "clear" could be heard. As she left ICU all she heard was the flat line. Rick and Sarah knew something horrible had happened. Just by looking at Alice. The color was gone from her face. She had aged 10 years in the last hour. She was shaking and crying. She told them that what had just happened. She was sure her only son was dead. Thirty minutes later, the doctor came out. He looked sombre. Everyone knew the news. "Ethan suffered cardiac failure due to a build up of fluid around his heart. We were able to restart the heart and drain the fluid. He has pulled through this. But he is very weak. He can't take much more. We are doing everything humanly possible. I will let you know if there is any change. I think you should prepare yourselves for the worst. I can say that he is not suffering any pain at this point," Doctor Garcia reported with as much softness as he could. The three sat huddled for a few minutes. They then went to the cafeteria to get some tea and coffee and a small bite to eat. At 8:30pm, Walter, the chief attorney at Compass joined them. He had an envelope addressed to Alice, Rick, and Sarah. "This letter was prepared by Ethan a few months ago. A man of his position must sometimes take a hard look at things. What happens if something happens to him, etc. He prepared this letter and instructed me it should be delivered in the case of something an event that was life threatening and he was unable to speak to each of you. I had hoped I would never have to deliver this, but I am afraid that I must," Walter explained. The three were once again stunned. Inside the envelope was three copies of the same letter. Each took a copy reading at their own speed. Dear Mom, Rick, and Sarah If you are reading this letter than I have to say we must be in a hell of a mess. I am sorry for any pain and anguish you are feeling. Please know that I love each of you and I will do everything I can do be back among you soon. But, I must take a moment to convey to you some of my wishes. This is not something that is easy for me to write and I am sure it will be very hard for you to read. The three of you are the most important people in my life. Each of you loves me in a unique way. Each of you has brought me such joy and love and I trust you and love you with all my heart. In the event that a decision must be made about continuing care and life support for me, I would like the three of you to make the decision. The three of you are empowered to make the appropriate decisions regarding such matters. Any decision must be unanimous. Mom, I am your only son and I know any decision would be especially hard for you. I want you to know that I love you and Mark. I am proud to be your son and I hope that I have made you proud of me as well. Sarah, my friend, confidant, and trusted business colleague. I need your strength for Mom and Rick. You know how I think and what I would want. You have always known that about me and I know that you will apply the same to this situation. I love you. I have grown as a person because of you. I have been able to build ENW into the company it is, because of you. I am eternally grateful to you. Rick, my partner, my soulmate. My life was not complete until I met you. Your kindness, warmth, passion, and beauty have enriched my life in ways I cannot describe. Adam has brought me such joy and I am proud to consider him my son. I love you totally and completely. I know that you will all make the appropriate decision. Please, do not allow me to suffer or to cause suffering for each of you by prolonging my life. Do know that I love you and I will do all possible to pull through whatever this situation is. But, if I should not, I have been so blessed. By each of you in countless ways. Be strong and be happy. Celebrate my life and our lives together. With all my love, your son, your friend, your partner. Ethan The three had tears streaming down their faces. Walter said that he had given an official document to the hospital indicating Ethan's wishes. He also handed Sarah a document giving her power of attorney for ENW related items. She was appointed acting CEO of ENW while Ethan was incapacitated. The next two days passed slowly. The situation was taking a physical toll on Alice, Sarah, and Rick. They weren't sleeping or eating like they should. Ethan had no change. No improvements. The fluid on his heart was still a problem. At the end of the third day, the doctor asked to meet with the three. "I am sorry to have this meeting with you. I have not seen any change in Ethan. The machines are keeping him alive. He still has active brain waves but the rest of his body is shutting down. I believe that you should consider your options and Ethan's quality of life at this point. I don't hold out hope for any improvements. We can keep him alive on the machines. Or we can remove the machines and let nature take its course. I am sorry to be so straightforward about this. But, we need to know your wishes for Ethan's care." The group asked for time until the next day. The doctor agreed. Rick, Alice, and Sarah went to the apartment in Plantation and talked for several hours. They reached a decision. At noon, with the three at Ethan's bedside, Rick holding Ethan's hand, the machines were disconnected. The gurgling and whooshing sounds stopped. The silence was deafening. The beep of the heart monitor continued. The pulse remained low but steady. Nothing changed. The three had expected something to happen. They thought that the heartbeat would slow and fade. That Ethan would pass away quietly and peacefully. But nothing happened. The heart kept beating. The pulse kept going. The breathing remained shallow. Ethan continued to live. He wasn't giving up.