Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2012 15:03:50 -0400 (EDT) From: Pwrlftrbear@aol.com Subject: Falling Into Forever Chapter 6 I woke up abruptly, wide awake as usual. I've been having nightmare for the longest time, first about the fire and later, about what I saw overseas. But this was different. This time was something about a bear. A big bear. And it was after me. It was chasing me, and for some reason, I hoped it would catch me. As my heartbeat slowed, I became aware that I wasn't alone. Now, I've spent many years in bunkhouses with lots of snoring going on, but a deep rumble was coming from right behind me. I felt the bed shift and a thick arm was thrown over me. I inhaled sharply as I felt something hard and thick press against my ass. A thick beard scratched against my nape as warm lips moved on my neck. This was wrong. Wasn't it? But it felt so good. It made me feel safe and I drifted back to sleep. "Morning, Lieutenant O'Malley " Jim said as I rolled over. It was morning and I had the weirdest dreams. At least I think most of them were dreams. Jim walked into the room in his sweat pants as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. "Please, just call me Daniel. I'm not in the military any more." "There's no such thing as a former Marine," he chided gently. "Yeah, so they say," I replied with a shy smile. "Don't know how you take it," he said, setting a mug beside the bed. "Like it black," I said, reaching for it. "How do you feel this morning?" he asked as I sipped the hot coffee. "Not too bad," I said after taking stock of myself. "Good. Let's see how it looks," he said, taking my arm in his hands. He unwrapped the bandages and removed the splint. I flexed my hand, the stiffness from yesterday gone. "Must not have been too bad," I said as I rotated my wrist. "Was bad enough," he replied softly. "How did you sleep?" "About as well as usual," I answered, trying not to blush. "Tend to have nightmares a lot." "PTSD?" he asked. "So they tell me," I said sheepishly. "But last night I kept dreaming I was being chased by a big bear." I took a deep breath before continuing. "Then I dreamed I woke up in your arms." He looked into my eyes. "Oh?" he said with a slight smile. "And?" "And what?" I said, dropping my eyes. "It made me feel...safe. I'm sorry." "Why be sorry?" he smiled, putting his hand on my leg. "There's nothing wrong with that. Besides, that might not have been a dream. I wanted to make sure you were all right." "Have you...have you ever done more than just help a friend out?" I said through a dry throat. I can't believe I just asked him that. Not sure I could defend myself in my condition. "Son," he said, beginning to grin. "I've done things you've probably never even heard of. So what are you asking?" "Do you...do you think you might do some of that with me?" I asked nervously. "Are you sure?" he asked, lifting my chin so I had to look at him. The desire in his eyes made me relax with a sigh. "Yes," I said earnestly. "I know I'm not much to look at." He searched my face, then smiled broadly. "I think you look just fine to me," he whispered. He ran his hand up my neck and pulled me into a kiss. He pulled the covers off me and gently grabbed my hardon, making me groan into his mouth. "We're home!" came a loud voice from the other room, making me jump. "That boy has the worst timing," Jim said, shaking his head. "Oh, God," I whispered, feeling panic rising. "Don't worry," he said reassuringly. "We're all quite open minded around here. Come on. I want you to meet some of the rest of the family." He swept me into his arms and carried me out the door. "But I'm naked," I hissed. "Knowing them, they'll be naked soon. We tend to like the freedom," he chuckled as he carried me down a hallway. My mind was whirling, but there was something about the house that tugged at me. It was almost familiar, but I couldn't latch onto why. He set me down at the dining room table. There was an enormous man in the kitchen, putting things into the cabinets. He had to be at least seven feet tall. The straps on his overalls hung down and a shirt lay draped over the sink, exposing his broad back, tattoos barely visible through his fur. I had thought Jim was hairy, but this guy was a walking fur ball. "Holy Sasquatch, Batman," I muttered. The big guy laughed and turned towards me. His front was somehow hairier than the back. He had meaty pecs and looked like the beginning of a beer belly. A thick black beard reached down his chest and dark, dark eyes gleamed with amusement. He was smiling as he turned to face me. "You know, I'll have to ask Grandpapa how many Big Foot sightings are actually...," he was saying. When he saw me, the smile dropped from his face and his eyes grew wide. "Danny?" he breathed. I looked at him in confusion when my attention was caught by another big guy coming through the front door carrying a welter of bags. "You going to help with all this?" he grumbled cheerfully. My mouth dropped open. I recognized him. He had been with Rick when they visited me in the hospital all those years ago. I knew he was Rick's son, just as Jim was, but it hadn't really hit me. But he looked much the same, just with longer hair and beard. "Paul?" I whispered. He looked at me in surprise, then we all turned to look at Jim. He was struggling to contain his laughter. "Oh, I'm sorry. Is it my turn? Brian?" he laughed, falling into a chair. "I'm sorry," I laughed, trying to catch my breath. "But the looks on your faces." "What the hell is going on?" Paul asked. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to contain my amusement. "Well, young Daniel here, was pulled from a burning building...what? Thirty some years ago." Daniel nodded mutely, glancing from Paul to Brian and back. "By Rick," I finished. "Chances are you were with him." "He was," Daniel said. "You came to the hospital and brought me a teddy bear. But I don't understand. You don't look any older." "You haven't told him?" Brian glared at me. "Haven't had a chance," I said evenly, returning his glare. "You kind of interrupted us." He gave a start and meekly dropped his eyes. "Sorry, Uncle Jim," he said contritely. "It's all right," I said, going up to him and lifting his chin. "You're still a young cub. Not all of us have the option you had." I gave him a quick kiss and he glanced a Daniel. "And I assume that the friend you used to visit here," I said, following his gaze, "Is Brian. Or at least as he used to be." Daniel shook his head. "What do you mean?" he asked. I pointed to the painting hanging on the wall. There were four men with a large grizzly bear hovering above them. "Up until just a few months ago, that's what Brian looked like," I said, pointing at the man in the lower left hand corner. Daniel looked back and forth between Brian and the painting. "But...," he said. "Come on, Brian," Paul said, elbowing his cub. "Let's finish getting the groceries in." "Yes, Papa," Brian replied and followed him out the door. "Wait," Daniel said. "I remember Brian's father and Paul's not him." "Never said Paul was his father. Paul is Brian's papa. Just like Rick was Paul's and mine." Daniel rubbed his temples. "Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought," he said. "Well, Daniel, it all ties together. Why Paul looks much the same as you remember. Why Brian looks so different. Even why you're still here. You see, none of us are completely human any more." "I'd say you lost me, but I don't think I've followed you at all," Daniel said plaintively. "You see," I said, kneeling before him, unwrapping the bandages on his leg. "See this mark here?" I traced the thin white scar running across his thigh. "This is where your broken femur was sticking out. Just two days ago." "How...how can that be?" "We are werebears," I told him, glancing up as Brian came back in. "What?" Daniel asked, sitting back. "We're werebears," I repeated. "We can change into bears." "Like werewolves?" Daniel asked skeptically. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Brian tense as he set his load of bags on the counter. "Similar, but different," I continued. "Like them, a human can become like us if we bite them, but it can happen through any other exchange of body fluids." Brian gave a snort as Paul nudged him. "What?" Daniel asked. "Well, Brian's change started after I first shot my load inside him," Paul chuckled. "You're gay?" Daniel asked in surprise. "What? Don't fit the stereotype?" Brian laughed. "Not the Hollywood version at least," I said with a chuckle. "They seem to think gay means effeminate." "Well, I've know a few guys who look butch as hell, but when they open their mouths, a purse falls out," Brian said. "Anybody I know?" Paul teased, reaching out to tweak his nipple. "Dunno," Brian shrugged. "You've been around so long, who knows?" "What do you mean?" Daniel asked. "Well, we've debated amongst ourselves whether we're immortal or just extremely long lived," I said. "I'd say not immortal," Brian said with a grimace. Paul pulled him into a hug. "Paul and I have both been bears for over two hundred years." "What?" Daniel exclaimed, looking at us with wide eyes. "Rick had been around for over a thousand," Paul said. "I don't think Daniel is convinced," I said, reading his skepticism. "Care to show him, Brian?" "Me?" Brian asked. "You need the practice," I smirked. "Better go outside then," Brian shrugged as he kicked his boots off. "Not sure I'd fit in here." These people are nuts! But that didn't explain Paul. And the big guy did resemble my old friend. I know I should be terrified but I reminded myself that if they had wanted me dead.... Brian undid the buttons on the side of his overalls and let them fall to the floor. "Holy shit!" I whispered. Jim's dick had been the biggest one I'd ever seen, but this guy was a whole 'nother category. He was so tall, it was hard to estimate how long he was, but...damn. "Yeah, it's real," he said sheepishly. I tore my gaze from his crotch. He was watching me shyly. "The embarrassment of riches," he said with a chuckle. "Does kind of limit who I can top." "Top?" I asked. "Well, when it comes to fucking, a bottom is the one who takes it up the ass. A top is the one who gives it to him," Jim explained. "Oh," I said, then felt my face warm. Did that mean he was...a bottom? Or that he was looking for someone to take that beast? Brian walked outside, my eyes glued to his hairy ass. "Must like what you see," Paul leered. I glanced at him. I hadn't even noticed he had stripped his clothes off, too. He was just as furry and hung as Jim, though his hair was much darker. His eyes dropped from mine and I realized I had gotten hard again. "Don't worry," he grinned as he followed Brian outside. "We take it as a compliment." "You okay?" Jim asked. I sat looking at him, my mouth opening and closing a few times. "I...I have no response to that," I said at last. "Beginning to wonder if I knocked something loose when I hit my head." "I know. It's a lot to take in at the best of times," he said sympathetically, caressing my head. "Come on," he said, helping me stand. My leg was a little sore, but with his support, we got through the door. The first thing I saw was a large bear. It was metal, I think. It was on a pedestal in the middle of a circular drive. On one side of the drive were a few vehicles, including my Jeep. Brian was standing beside it, running his hand across the top. "Nice Jeep," he said. "Afraid I just had to sacrifice mine." "What do you mean?" I asked. "Well, when I changed, had to do something so nobody would come looking for me," he said with a pained smile. "Figured an accident was...apropos." His eyes were moist as he met mine and he winced. "I'll explain later," he said as Paul gripped his shoulder. He nodded and Paul stepped back. He closed his eyes, his head falling back with a yawn. I tensed as I realized his incisors were larger than they had been. His hands flexed and his thumbs seemed to flow down to join his fingers, dark claws slowly emerging from the tips. Muscles writhed beneath his skin, soon hidden by dark fur, coarser than what had covered his body. He groaned as he rolled his shoulders forward, dropping down to all fours. He stretched his forelegs out, a stubby tail sticking up in the air. A rumbling growl rose from him. "No," Paul said with a laugh. "I don't think down facing bear is a legitimate yoga pose." He shook himself from snout to tail and pushed himself up. His blunt muzzle was almost level with Paul's face as he reached up and caressed that great head. "Whoa," I breathed. I had been stationed in Alaska when I first enlisted and had seen a number of polar bears up there. Once even saw a Kodiak. I had thought they were huge, but this bear was even bigger. I could hardly believe what I had just seen was real, but the ache in my leg convinced me I wasn't dreaming. The bear that was Brian looked at us and rumbled deep in his torso. "Your leg still bothering you?" Jim asked as he wrapped his arm around my waist. "A bit," I replied, then turned toward him. "How did you know?" "Brian's not your average werebear," he said with a chuckle. "In many ways." Paul laughed and Brian turned his dark eyes on us. A deep rumble rose from deep within his thick torso. "No," Jim said sternly to him. "This is your home." Brian grumbled, dropping his snout. "You know what he's...saying?" I asked softly. "Yes," Jim said. "And in a few months, so should you." He gave me a lop sided smile when I looked at him in surprise. "As I was saying, unlike how Paul changed Brian, I had to get my blood into your system to save your life. It let you recover, slower than you will eventually, but faster than a normal human could. But in return, it will change you." He looked at me cautiously, his flesh warm as he held me against him. It felt... good. I can't begin to explain what I felt when I looked into those warm green eyes. "Can we...can we try it their way?" I asked softly. He took my head in his hands, searching my face, then smiled. "I'd like that very much," he whispered and pressed his lips against mine. I felt it down to my toes. An electric thrill from my lips to my feet. I clutched at him, feeling his furry back as his hands wandered across my ass, pulling me close to him. "Come on," Paul said, slapping Brian's ass. "Let's get the groceries put away and give them some privacy." Brian let out a low whimper. "Yes, I'll give you more than that," he laughed. "So long as you behave." "Don't I always?" came a voice. It sounded like Brian, but deeper. I glanced at him in surprise. He had reared upright, towering over us all. His face was an odd amalgamation of man and bear. As I stared at him, he shrank down to the still huge man I had seen inside. But now he was fully erect. And all I can say is, damn. "Sorry," Brian said. "Afraid I kind of get off on pain. And shifting hurts." "At least at first," Jim assured me. "Aww," Brian pouted. "Don't worry, Cub," Paul said. "You'll always have me. Now let's get this stuff put away." "How about we eat first?" Jim chuckled. "We haven't had breakfast yet." I have to admit, I was hungry. Just wasn't sure it was for food. But Jim helped me back inside and sat me at the kitchen table. Paul started cooking while the others put things away. "Jim? Could you give me a hand getting this stuff downstairs?" Brian said. "Sure," he replied and hefted the box piled with packages of frozen meat and followed him to the basement stairs. "So what did you want to talk to me privately about?" Jim asked as I flipped the light switch with my elbow. I glanced at him as he smirked. "I keep forgetting how long you've been a papa," I chuckled as I slid my box onto one of the shelves. "I...learned some...interesting things at the funeral." "Oh?" he said, arching a brow. "You know how Paul and I decided to use his original family name?" I asked as I began shelving the canned goods. "Yes?" he said, opening the deep freeze. "I hadn't really thought about how close it was to Joe's, but his niece informed me it used to be Galliano." "Yeah," he said evenly. "His branch of the family tree changed it about a hundred and fifty years ago." "You knew?" I said, looking at him in surprise. "Well, I guessed," he replied. "While you were...indisposed after...Gene, I did some research. You had pointed out I might have real children out there. Turns out, I do. But just for shits and giggles, I decided to check out Joe. I believe I traced him to Paul." "Paul has kids?" I asked in shock. "No. Not that we know. But he had siblings." "A sister and several brothers, but he said his father and brothers had been fighting the war when he was changed," I said. "But he never knew if any of them had survived." "Well, I'm fairly certain they did. And one of them was Joe's many times grandfather." "Why didn't you say anything?" I glared at him. "Like I said," he shrugged. "When I found out, you weren't exactly yourself. Besides, I didn't want you to second guess your love for Paul." He knew me too well. "Joe has talked to us through you," he continued. "But Paul has said he not only hears him in his head, he feels him as well. Perhaps that explains why." "Perhaps. But there's more. When I saw Mary, one of my...tenants...smelled his...well, he said blood on her and her children." "Really?" Jim said, his eyebrows reaching for the sky. "Apparently wolf," I said. "Interesting?" he said, rubbing his chin. "How long ago?" "Not sure, but I got the impression it was from before they came over to this country. I don't think Vytautus ever made this far West." I could tell he was thinking hard. "Actually, would explain a lot," he said at last. "That might be why he stayed with Rick so long. The wolves tend to have more of a pack mentality than we do." He glanced at me, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Of course, so do some of the cats." "I suppose so," I chuckled in return. "So, the question is, do I tell Paul?" "I assume Joe knows," he said and I nodded. "Well, I know you don't like keeping things from your papa, so I would tell him before too long." "I'll tell him later, when we give you two some privacy," I said coyly. "Brian! I keep telling you I don't want to put you out of your own home." "Jim!" I replied mockingly. "I just think the first time should be special. I think I can keep Paul occupied for at least a couple of hours." We laughed as we broke down the boxes before heading upstairs. "I just feel like I'm in some bad soap opera," I groused as I turned the light off. "Know what I mean?" He stopped and gave me one of those looks. "I have a new cub up there who was saved by my papa and Paul and was friends with you. And you want to talk about 'coincidence'?" "I'd prefer coincidence over fate," I said with a wince. "It might have more to do with you," Jim said, nudging me with his elbow. "From the way Grandpapa talks, back in the day, most of...our kind...went both ways, if you know what I mean. If so, there must be a lot of people out there with at least a trace of were blood. From the sound of it, you have quite a bit. You might be a were-magnet." "Great," I said with a shudder at the thought of dozens of men just showing up on my doorstep. "Might be what attracted Paul to you. Hell, might even be what attract Joe to you." He paused and rubbed his beard speculatively. "And might explain why you were able to...capture his spirit." I felt Joe's touch and smiled. "Thank goodness," I said.