Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 18:49:19 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Trials of a Real Dark Knight 28 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. This story has taken on a life of its own. From its inception a year ago, I had only thought it would last ten chapters maximum. As you can see, it has grown tremendously. Mostly due to readers emailing me and telling me they've enjoyed it or have received help due to certain issues addressed. I've enjoyed writing this story but it would not have been written without men and women reading it and telling me they've enjoyed it. I do hope that you continue to enjoy each new chapter as our hero lives and grows. I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. authorjames2002@yahoo.com I also have several online messenger services, one of which is this yahoo email address. Some of you know them; however, in the recent weeks I've changed my screen name. If you want to chat with me in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you my screen name. Chapter 28 Personal Investment Lance pulled into the ER parking lot and I climbed out carrying Chris. I ran inside and the registrar saw us. "What happened?" she asked. "I need to see the psychologist or psychiatrist on duty, whichever it is." "So he isn't physically injured?" "No, the damage is much deeper than the surface." The registrar called a number and told us it would be a few minutes. I went over to a chair and sat down keeping Chris on my lap. It probably looked weird a twenty-four year-old with a seventeen year-old on his lap, but I dared not let Chris even feel he was alone. I wanted him to know someone loved him and cared about him. He seemed to have gone through too much already. I would not let him down, not like I let Hunter down. Lance came in and saw us sitting in the chair. He came over and sat down next to me. "You could put him in a chair next to you," Lance whispered. "You're getting looks." I turned to Lance with a tear coming down my cheek. "I'm not abandoning him to feel alone, not like Hunter." Lance nodded in understanding. He could tell I was determined and did not want to press the issue, especially here and now. Greg, Matt and Frankie came in and saw us sitting in the corner. The psychiatrist also came in from another doorway. "Where's the patient?" she asked. "Over here," Lance said to her. The doctor came over and knelt down in front of us. "What's going on?" Chris kept muttering, "why me? Why me? Why me?" "He has had some serious psychological damage done to him. He's internalized homophobia to the point he hates all gay people." "Many are already like that," the doctor stated very tactfully. "But the problem is, he's gay and doesn't want to be. He's caused physical harm to others and won't hesitate to do it to himself. He needs help." "Bring him up to the seventh floor. I will look at him there." The doctor stood and left going up to the arranged floor to prep a room. I looked over at Frankie, Greg, and Matt. "Is this the hospital Jesse is checked in?" Greg nodded. "You should go up and check on him." The three nodded and went to registration to find out what room Jesse was in and then proceeded to the elevators. I stood up with Chris in my arms and Lance at my side. Leaning to Chris's ear, I whispered, "It is going to be okay, Chris. You have my word." The three of us headed to the bank of elevators down the hall and soon were on our way to the seventh floor. When we exited the elevator car, the psychiatrist met us with a nurse right behind her. "We will need to take him from here." I started to put Chris down but he grabbed he tight around my neck. The scene was already crazy enough with me carrying a seventeen year old. The youth didn't want to let me go. Whatever he went through, he found someone who cared about him for him, regardless of any real or imagined flaws. "He won't let me go," I said to her. "Alright then. You can come in, too." The doctor turned to Lance. "I'm afraid you will have to wait." "Check on Jesse and the others," I said to Lance. "Sure," he replied and headed over to the nurse's station. I followed the psychiatrist and her nurse into the prepped room. I sat on the exam table and was able to get Chris to sit beside me. "How long has been like this?" "Just today he's acted this poorly. It was just today I found out his sexual orientation." "Can you think of the trigger that made him react this way?" "I know exactly what it was. His two friends came to talk to me about their sexual orientation. One was fine with the fact of being gay. The other wasn't. I told them that being gay was natural just like being heterosexual was natural. "From what they told me, Chris had a problem with it, and I could tell the night they came to me he had a problem. But afterwards, he became so angry about homosexuality." "What are your credentials?" "What do you mean?" "Why did they come to you?" "Last Christmas I received an award for most dedicated and helpful with children at the mental health conference. They thought I would help them be cured." "Oh," she said turning to her notepad. There was a slight coldness to her now. Perhaps she was upset because I won the award. She might have been in the running for it. Who knows? "I'm going to prescribe him some medication to keep him mellow. He will need to see a professional for his problem." "Okay," I replied. "Where are his parents?" "New York," a voice answered behind us. We turned to see Frankie standing in the doorway. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "My boyfriend and one of my friends need help. I want to support them both." How noble of him to be supportive of his friend who hurt his boyfriend. I don't think I would be as forgiving as Frankie. I smiled at Frankie and nodded my approval. "And you would be...?" the psychiatrist asked. "He's one of the young men who came to talk to me." "I see," she replied nodding. "Do you know how to contact them?" "Yeah," Frankie said. He gave her Chris's parents' telephone number. "I'll be right back," she replied leaving the room. Frankie came over and looked at Chris. Chris looked up at Frankie then lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispered to Frankie. "I'm so sorry." Frankie knelt down in front of Frankie. "I forgive you. I talked to Jesse just a moment ago. He forgives you, too." It broke my heart to see the display of love between friends. This was something Chris needed, forgiveness. This was just as important as anything a therapist could do. Chris was going to need the support of his friends to deal with his internalized homophobia. The door opened up and the psychiatrist walked in. "Excuse me," she said to Frankie. "Please step outside." "Sure," Frankie replied. He walked out the door and I noticed three strong men standing in the hallway. Once Frankie was clear, the three orderlies entered. One walked up to Chris and picked him up. "What are you doing?" Chris asked. "I can walk on my own." "As I'm sure you can," the psychiatrist replied. "Still..." "Still what?" I asked. Chris fought the orderly who carried him out into the hall. The other two orderlies entered and grabbed me off the exam table. "What the hell is going on?" I said angrily. "It is obvious by your interest in these boys and by your actions that you find them sexually stimulating. I, therefore, have the power to take you into custody until the proper authorities can be called." "Sexually stimulating! You think I'm a pedophile just because I care whether or not a young boy is tormented by homophobia?" "Please, don't make me sedate you." I jerked away from an orderly and backhanded him. Then I grabbed him behind the neck and pulled him forward flipping him over and causing him to land on his back. The other orderly punched me in the face hard. I felt the blood flowing down my nasal cavity to my nostrils. The psychiatrist walked up to me with a needle. "This is a mild sedative. It will help you relax and sleep. Please, we don't want to hurt you." "Any damage you could do has already been done." I swung my leg up and kicked the syringe out of the psychiatrist's hand. I swung my other leg up and kicked the orderly in the chest. He fell backwards into the wall. When I turned to the psychiatrist she looked scared, afraid I would attack her. My eyes narrowed at her in contempt and disgust and I bolted out the door. "Eric!" Frankie and Chris called. "What's going on?" "They think I'm a pedophile! Tell Lance! Please!" "We'll do all we can!" Frankie replied. I got to the stairwell and burst through the doors. Wasting no time, I leapt down the steps skipping several at a time. My worst nightmare had come true. Someone accused me of being a pedophile, of touching a child sexually. Never had that crossed my mind. I could never hurt a child. I love them way too much to do such a thing. When I got to the first floor, I exited and heard over the intercom that a sexual predator was loose in the hospital and that security should watch the stairs. Two security guards pulled out their guns and took aim. "Hold it right there!" one called out. "I didn't do anything," I called back. "Come with us and we'll discuss it." I knew that if I were to be taken into custody, my name would be ruined. Any help I could give to anyone would be marred by the fact I was an accused child molester. Can you imagine this accusation simply because I cared about someone hurting themselves? Can you imagine being labeled such just because I didn't want someone to feel unloved? I ran away avoiding as much traffic as possible. I made my way back to the house to don my bat-suit. However, when I got there, several officers were already searching the outside. I knew that at any moment, they would enter the house and possibly find the suit. I couldn't let that happen. Neither life was going to be destroyed over a false accusation. I would not allow it. I went around back and jumped to the top of the wall to the patio. Crouching down, I made my way across to the tree outside the bedroom window. Peering inside, the bedroom light was out and the door closed. 'If I could just somehow get inside.' An officer was coming around back when the sound of a car pulled into the driveway. "What's going on, officers?" Lance asked. "We're looking for Eric McCoy. He lives here, doesn't he?" "Yes," Lance answered. "Can we go inside and look for him?" "What's this about?" "The psychiatrist at Mercy General believes he's a pedophile, a sexual predator preying on young boys. We need to take him in for questioning." "He might be gay, but he isn't a pedophile," Lance said. I used my powers and softly landed on the patio. Opening the door, I went up to the spare bedroom, avoiding the windows as best as possible, and pulled on my bat-suit. Then, I went down to the basement where the motorcycle was. I had to use my powers to lift it up the stairwell and out the door. Once I was outside, I lifted the motorcycle up over the wall and, after following, the bike and I landed in the grass. I mounted it and started the engine. "What's that?" I heard the officer say. The officers ran around the house with Lance close behind. They stopped when they saw me and drew their weapons. "Those won't be necessary," I greeted. "I'm going to investigate these allegations myself." "How do you know about them?" the officer said. "I witnessed part of the events bringing everyone to this moment in time. I saw the results of the young boy's violent reaction to homosexuality. I promise you, I will bring any guilty parties to justice." That was enough for the police officers and they holstered their guns. I looked past them at Lance and lightly blinked my eyes. Then, I revved up the motorcycle and headed out towards town. The sun was setting and I knew I would have a team coming out ready to help me if I needed it. To Be Continued... Amazing what has transpired in this chapter. Eric went from helping someone deal with internal homophobia to being accused to being a pedophiliac. Instances of this have really happened. Someone who has helped a homosexual youth dealing with their sexual orientation gets arrested because the parents of the child don't believe homosexuality is right. They, then, accuse the adult of sexually molesting their child or teaching their child to be gay. A good adult's name and reputation is ruined and his or her job is lost because the place of employment doesn't want to fight for the truth. It would be too damaging. So the helping adult is left alone, accosted of the good reputation, all because he or she saw a young person suffering and reached out a helping hand. More to come!