Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 11:15:46 -0700
From: Steve Thomas <s4d@hotmail.com>
Subject: Chris-Crossed 31

I have been informed that it would be a good idea to state a few warning
comments.  There may be graphic sexual scenes between men in this story, so
please, if this offends you, or it is illegal or you are underaged to read
such, stop here and hit your "back" button.  If it is okay with you, read on
and enjoy.

Okay, I have received so much mail from all of you, complaining or otherwise
wishing I would not stop here - even for awhile - even my own whiney-butt
lover, Chris!  So here is the next chapter.  Hey, what can I say?  I'm just
the wimpy-assed writer who has a soft heart - and head!

>From Chapter 30:

I looked up at his beautiful face to see he was fast asleep.  I climbed up
and kissed him again.  He woke up enough to tell me he loved me and to turn
around so I could spoon behind him.

The first day couldn't have been more perfect.  Each day after was equally
nice with different activities, like learning to surf, snorkeling, seeing
the Polynesian Cultural Center, hiking in a dense tropical forest that is
within minutes of Waikiki.  It was far too soon that we were packed up
waiting for the airport shuttle.  It was a perfect beginning to our life of
love and challenges together.

Chapter 31

Memoirs from our honeymoon:

The Polynesian women are incredibly beautiful.  The Polynesian men are -
incredibly beautiful!  That first day, we met a native Hawaiian in the Asian
Market.  He was a little older than we were, maybe 21, and
uncharacteristically small.  But was he ever cute!  Wonderfully curly black
hair.  Gorgeous dark blue, almost violet eyes.  He noticed we were gay.  We
didn't flaunt it, but we didn't hide it as much as we would have back home,
either.  His name was as long as the alphabet, but he said to call him Luke.

We made fast friends with him.  He became our guide.  I felt so bad for him.
  He wanted so much to find a guy for himself, but though he was okay
initiating a conversation with us, he was too shy to talk to some single
guy.  He had been to bars, and felt intimidated by the ogling and outward
gestures that were thrown at him so brazenly.  This was not the kind of
person he was looking for.

So he attached himself to us.  I suspicioned at first that he was living on
the streets, but he did have a little flat up in the hills just up from
Waikiki, in Manoa.  He told us he would take us to a wonderful place the
next day, close to where he lived.  Something about him made us trust him.

We had rented a Chevy convertible, and we picked him up at his flat, which
was really a room in someone's home that they put an exterior door in.
>From there, we drove no more than five minutes to a deserted parking lot.
He said it used to be a tourist trap, somewhat like the Polynesian Cultural
Center, but on a much smaller scale, called Paradise Park.  When the
Polynesian Cultural Center opened, it gradually went out of business.

We parked and started  walking toward the defunct park, but then passed by
it and walked left directly into a thickly treed tropical forest - within 10
minutes of Waikiki Beach!  And No tourists knew about it!  He led us on a
walk up and down and around and through all kinds of palm, Banyan and bamboo
groves, all run together.  The bamboo was so thick in places, it was
impossible to pass through it.  He told us that bamboo was really grass -
very large grass!

As we neared one valley, through which ran Manoa creek, he ran ahead and
climbed a Banyan tree and told us to follow.  We were all dressed in shorts,
tees and tennies.  "Climbed" may not be very descriptive.  We more or less
walked up into the tree.  When we were there, Craig noticed that there were
great long strands hanging out of the trees.  Luke said they were actually
roots which when they reached the ground, added to the tree.  "They look
like what Tarzan would have swung on."  Craig said.

"That's exactly what they ARE! You wanna swing?"  Luke asked.

"Can we?"  I mused, "Won't they break?"

"Did they ever break with Tarzan on them?"  He quipped.  "No they are very
strong!"  He ran down to a vine and jumped with enough force to take him way
out over the steep valley.  Probably there was at least a 30 foot drop, if
the vine broke.  When he came back, he walked up further on the hill and
handed the vine to me.  I looked at it suspiciously, shaking my head.

Craig grabbed it from me and shouted, "Ka-wa-bun-ga!"  as he flew out over
the creek bed.  When he came back, I grabbed him and shook him!

"You scared the shit out of me!" I said.

"Aw, c'mon, pussy boy, take a ride!  Take a risk!"  He chided.  It did look
like fun!  I grabbed it and pulled it really hard - to test it.  It wasn't
budging.  I then swung myself out and over the creek.  I was not expecting
my weight to be so much, and I slid down a couple feet, which really did
scare Craig.  He said he was sweating bullets for a moment, having dared me
to go in the first place.

After the initial ride, we all had to do it a few more times.  When we had
had our fill of that, Luke led us almost all the way out and then we took
another trial.  I looked at one tree and the bark looked odd.  I touched it
and it was very soft.  I was able to make an indentation about 3/4 of an
inch deep!  The next trail was strewn with all kinds of roots, so we had to
be constantly looking down so we wouldn't trip.  Obviously no tourist came
here!

As we walked, we were made aware of a faint at first, but increasingly loud
sound of water falling.  Finally we saw it.  Out here in the middle of the
forest, in the middle of the city, was a beautiful, very high cascading
fall, into a clear pool below.

"C'mon!"  Was all Luke said.  He stripped his  clothes off and dove into the
water.  Both Craig and I looked all around.  "There's ain't no one anywhere
near this place!"  Luke said.  "Dive in!"  So we shed our clothes and
followed his example.  We were having such fun, dunking and splashing like
three nude little boys when seemingly out of nowhere, there was a guy with a
girl.

"I'm sorry!"  I yelled.  And I headed for my clothes.

"Not to worry!"  He said as he stripped and beckoned her to do so also.  He
was a tall native boy, maybe 17, almost black skin and shiny, almost blue
hair.  His eyes too were dark blue, and large, and gorgeous!.  And his
friend was as blond as they come, and quite pretty.  It was obvious they
were not long acquainted, by their conversation.

She was on a grad trip from San Fernando, CA, and had met him at the Hard
Rock Café which is just across the canal from Waikiki.  She was so firm!
Nicely shaped hips and nice perky, firm breasts!  She was eyeing us, too,
especially Craig!  We resumed our antics while he showed off for her with a
little diving stunt where he stayed underwater forever!  I'm sure by the
time we left there, she had no doubt about our sexual preference, as we
played grab-ass with each other.

When we took Luke back and thanked him profusely for the great day, he
invited us in.  We felt a little intimidated, but we went in.  His place was
spotless!  He had pictures covering the walls, mostly of his family, on the
big island of Hawaii.  He had a nephew he doted on.  He had to describe each
picture of his nephew.

As we left, he said, "Where do we go tomorrow?"

Neither Craig nor I had planned to do another day with him, but he was so
nice, and we had to admit, he wasn't in it for the money!  "Where would you
suggest?"  I asked.

"You mean you have nothing planned?"

"Nope!"  Craig said.  "Total free-fall!"

"I know lots of places!"  he retorted.  "They are not all free, but they are
the best of the best here on Oahu!"

"So," Craig said, "Not to be too redundant, but, Where do we go tomorrow?"

"How about snorkeling?  You like to snorkel?"

"Yeah," I said, "We have done some."

"Well, I bet it was nothing like snorkeling in Hawaii!"

The next morning we were in the parking lot at a boat harbor.  We boarded a
boat that said "Bob's Picnic Sail".  The captain and our "tour guide" for
the day was named Cap'n Toby.  He headed out into Kaneohe Bay.  There was a
full boatload of about 25 people.  We paid Luke's way.  We stopped about in
the middle of the bay, where they supplied us all with mask, snorkel and
swim fins to teach us how it's done.  Many had never done it before.  After
that they set up a volleyball net on a sand bar.  The water was about 3 feet
deep.  We played volleyball while the crew cooked grilled hamburgersand
beans for us for lunch.

After lunch, we went out to the reef at near the outer limit of the bay, and
we got back into our snorkeling gear and dove down to and around the Coral
reef.  Cap'n Toby said to be very careful not to disturb the coral.  It was
dying at a fast rate because people did not respect it, and broke a lot of
it.  Coral is not just a rock formation.  It is a living organism.  Even if
it weren't a living organism, why would anyone carelessly destroy it?

The coral was only the beginning of the beauty we found there.  There were
so any colorful fish!  Bright blues, yellows, greens and reds, and stripes
of all colors!  Having grown up in Southern California, I was snorkeling
before I was walking almost.  So I was a little more daring than Craig, but
he followed me wherever I went, except once when I dove deep into a black
abyss on the far side of the coral, outside the bay.  It was quite dark
there, as the sun was behind the reef.  I found a small squid there, with
tentacles no longer than my arms, so I brought it back to the boat.  One of
the crew received it from me and most of the other people wanted to touch
it.  He asked me to return it to where I found it.

When we were all done playing in the water, we all climbed back in and set
sail for home.  We had powered out to our snorkeling spot, but they unfurled
the sail and took advantage of the prevailing afternoon east wind to blow us
back to the harbor.  Cap'n Toby played the guitar and sang to us.  He asked
if there were any honeymooners.  No one made a reply.  "What, no
honeymooners.  I think this is a first!  I am afraid there will be a curse
on us!  Can't someone pretend to be honeymooners!?"

Finally Luke said, "Well, there ARE SOME honeymooners!"  Both Craig and
flinched and I turned bright red.

"All right who are you?" said Cap'n Toby.  "Fess up!"

Craig grabbed my hand and gingerly raised it just to shoulder level.
Everyone applauded, except this one old guy who looked like he was going to
barf.  Cap'n Toby looked at him and said, "You look a little upset, sir.
Did you want to kiss the bride?"  This got a laugh out of everyone else.
Then Cap'n Toby turned to us and said, "Uh - which one IS the bride,
anyway?"

We were quick.  We both pointed at the other and said, "She is!"  Everyone
roared even louder at that!  I knew some were laughing at us not with us,
but I didn't care!

"Okay, I have a special song for the newlyweds!  You have to dance to this
song!"  He started strumming slowly.  We started dancing - all by ourselves
again.  I'm glad we were initiated to this at our reception!  Then he
started to sing.

This is the moment

I've waited for.

I can hear my heart singing.

Soon bells will be ringing.

This is the moment

Of sweet aloha.

Promise me that you will leave me never!

I will love you longer than forever.

Here and now, dear.

All my love I vow dear.

I will love you longer than forever.

Promise me that you will leave me never!

Now that we are one

Clouds won't hide the sun

Blue skies of Hawaii smile

On this, our wedding day

I do - love you

with all my heart.

We were both crying by the time he was finished, along with most of the
women on the boat!  Then Cap'n Toby said, "You may now kiss the bride!"

And we did!  More applause! Little Luke looked so envious.  We pulled him in
between us and hugged him tight!  Everyone laughed and Luke was beaming!

When we delivered Luke home, I looked at Craig and he nodded.  "So, Luke,
where are we going tomorrow?" I said.  Luke again beamed.

"How about we take a drive around the island?"  he said.  "I can show you
the pineapple fields, and the windward side where the surf is always up."

"We brought our surf boards!"  Craig said.

"You're pretty good at it?"  Luke said.

"We've never surfed!"  I answered.

"Then we will not be learning there!  It is not for beginners.  But bring
your boards anyway, we will stop somewhere else."

"Hey!  Do you want to join us for dinner, Luke?"  I said.

"I'd love to, but I am expected at work in 1/2 hour!"

"So you DO work!"

"Duh! So, do you want to pick me up at 9:00 AM tomorrow?"

"We'll be there!"  I said.  And we drove off toward a restaurant in the
Royal Hawaiian, for a royal supper.

"Man, Chris!  Didn't you just want to eat him up?"

"Wha-at?"

"He is so damned cute!"

"Oh.  Yeah.  I guess he is.  Um - are you THAT interested in him?"

"No!  But I have eyes!"

"Well, he isn't half as hot as you are!  The thought wouldn't have entered
my mind."

"Oh, get a life, man!  Don't tell me you didn't lust after him in that
little Speedo today!"

"I was kind of surprised he wore that.  Kind of didn't match our surfer
shorts, huh?"  I didn't know what to think about this.  I had never seen
this side of Craig.  He was always so - so - I guess paranoid at home.
Here, he seemed to let loose a little.  Well, so did I, but I certainly
didn't lust after Luke - or anyone else besides Craig.

We changed clothes at our condo, then walked over to the Royal Hawaiian, and
to the restaurant that was on the beach.  We got there in time for the
sunset.  We were told of the gorgeous sunsets on Waikiki.

"Man, look at that sunset, Chris!  It is really all and more than we were
told about!" Craig said as the waiter set our salad down in front of us.
"Maybe we should take one of those sunset dinner cruises!"  he said.  "I
love the feeling of being on a boat, don't you?"

"Mmm?"  I said. "Yeah, I guess."

"WOW!  Look at that!" He said.  "The sun is behind the water now and the sky
is bright yellow and orange, and yet the water is black enough that the
boats lights are all bobbing below the sunset."  Then he turned to me.
"Chris, where are you?"

"Huh?"

"You're so quiet.  You're not here.  What's - what's up?"

I looked at him, his features blurred by my tears.  "Craig, are you - I
mean, am I -"  I choked up.

"What, Baby?  What's wrong"

"Am I going to be - enough - for you?"

"Whaddaya mean?  Of course you -"

"It hurt my feelings when you seemed so - so - taken with - with Luke!"

"Oh, Chris!  I didn't - I mean I wouldn't - Chris, you are my lover - my
everything, I -"

"So you would not ever want to - to - play - or anything with another - guy
- Luke, for example?"

"Chris - that's not a fair question.  Of course I - I - wonder what - what
it would be like to - er - don't you?"

"No.  I really don't."

"You told me that Colin and Jake -"

"Yeah, they fooled around with a threesome, and Colin even got amorous with
his brother once, while he and Jake were - together.  Jake even was
supposedly okay with it.  It was Colin who had the problem with it.  But his
brother really pushed him and he let it happen, and Jake caught them.  That
was when Jake off the deep end, went out, got drunk, and picked up the
disease."

"But that's not ever going to happen with us!"

"Craig, would you be open to a threesome with Luke?"

"Well, we hardly know him.  We don't know if he is - safe - or -"

"But what if we DID know he was safe?"

"I don't know - I want to say no - never - because that's what I think you
want to hear.  Is that what you want to hear?"

I was quiet for a time - really too long.  Finally Craig said, "Are you -
are you interested in - that?"

Finally when I did look up, I looked at him through teared eyes.  "I thought
I knew you.  I really did."

"I was trying to be honest -"

"And I appreciate that.  I - I just don't - I can't - I hope that we didn't
rush this too much."

"Oh my god.  OH MY GOD, Chris!"  He yelled.  "How can you - I can't believe
that -"  Tears were now flowing freely down Craig's face.  "I - just - don't
- know - how to tell you - how much I love you.  Or how to assuage your
fears - whatever they are."

After that there was silence - again for too long.  At length, Craig reached
over the table and gently took my hand.  I squeezed his back.  Our eyes met,
but not a word was spoken.  We just let it drop.  After a Royal Hawaiian
dessert, we walked along the moonlit beach, stopped a couple times and just
held each other, kissing once, where there was a relatively dark spot.

We then walked up to our condo, undressed and went to bed, making a
desperate kind of love that only troubled lovers can understand - for the
first time.  It wouldn't be the last.  We just put that night's conversation
away.  But it was not buried deep enough for me.  It haunted me.

_______________________________________________________________

We picked Luke up at 9:00 AM sharp.  He wasn't quite ready, so he invited us
in.  He apologized  and disappeared into the bathroom for a shower.

"Craig, would you mind getting my towel out of the laundry basket and
bringing it to me?"  Luke hollered out the bathroom door.

Craig looked around, spotted the basket and grabbed the towel.  When he
approached the door, it opened and Luke was standing there, his perfect
small frame looking like something out of a body building magazine, and he
was half erect.  When the door swung open, Craig stopped dead in his tracks
for a second too long.  I could see his head bob, as his eyes took in the
entirety of this diminutive hunk.  I even think I heard him whistle low - I
don't think I was supposed to hear it.  But when Craig turned back to me he
was uncomfortably - and unsuccessfully trying to hide his own growing tent.
I immediately looked away and pretended not to notice.

When we got to the car, Luke saw that the only place big enough for the
surfboards was in the front passenger seat.  Luke added his own, then
offered to drive, and I stupidly said it was all right - I would drive as
planned, and the two of them got into the back seat.  Because this was a
convertible, the back seat was barely large enough for two adults, with the
top mechanism taking part of the shoulder space.

Craig and Luke had to sit cramped together, shoulder to shoulder.  They
looked very uncomfortable back there.  And don't think I was not glancing
into my rear view mirror as often as I legally should!  Finally Craig
"relented", and put his arm on the top of Luke's seat, thereby allowing Luke
to lean on his chest.  I kept telling myself that it was nothing, and that I
had a chance to prevent it.  In my peripheral vision, I could see Luke's
hand on Craig's knee.  Then I saw Craig's hand on top of Luke's.  I think
Craig saw me looking, as he lifted Luke's hand up and off his leg.

I tried to tell myself it was nothing.  It was my overactive imagination.  I
was not very convincing.  I stopped at a convenience store, for some cool
drinks, and when we got to the car, I said, "You know, I think I'll take you
up on your offer to drive, Luke."

"Cool!  I know where to go, anyway.  This way I won't have to backseat
drive!"  Again, my imagination was telling me he looked - disappointed.  And
that his answer was a bit tinged with regret.  Well, he WAS lonely -
obviously - but his reaction was not the one I was really interested in.

We went clockwise around the island.  As we went northwest, from Waikiki, we
went through Honolulu first.  The traffic was equally as bad as Los Angeles
on it's worst day.  There was a lot of new freeway construction going on, so
I suppose that made it worse.  Of course the air was not the yellowish gray
of L.A.  Whatever smog was generated here was quickly blown out to sea and
dissipated. The traffic thinned a little as we continued toward Pearl City
and saw the naval boats and ships in Pearl Harbor.  Somewhere out there were
the sunken hulks from the 1941 attack by Japan.

We continued on northerly to the pineapple fields and several towns that
obviously existed primarily as a place for tourists to stop and refresh
themselves and drop some money into the local area.  But it was okay.  Luke
knew everyone in every shop!  We stopped for lunch at one place where there
was a buffet in what looked like an old plantation complex.  Part of it was
a cafeteria, part a hospital, and part was taken for shops.

After we left there, we headed northeast to Sunset Beach, where the big
waves are.  There were not as many out there on the waves as I had imagined,
but there were some.  We stopped and watched for quite awhile.  I had to go
the rest room to pee, so I excused my self.  I was the only one in the
bathroom.  There were no stalls, only a long, open trough to pee in and two
toilets sitting on the cement.  When I got back, Craig and Luke both had to
go at once. I wondered if Craig had any idea how nervous this made me - and
if he cared.  Craig came back alone.

"Everything come out all right?"  I tried to sound light.

"I only had to pee.  Luke had something more serious in mind."

"What!?"  I reacted way too much.

"He had to take a dump!"

"Oh."  If Craig noticed my discomfort, he covered it well.

When we got to Laie, Luke showed us the BYU Hawaii campus.  Right nearby was
the Mormon Temple, and the Polynesian Cultural Center.  Luke said this was a
day's activity by itself.  This was built and maintained by the LDS Church,
as a way to help natives finance their education, as well as to preserve
some of the south sea island cultures.  It is known world wide as one of the
most entertaining places as well as a cultural gold mine.

>From there, we went a few short miles to Kahana Bay, to try surfing.  Luke
said if the surf was too high there, we would move on to another beach, but
it turned out to be "perfect" for beginners.  We were already in our surfer
shorts, and Luke shed his for his little Speedo.

We had to paddle about a mile out to get to the surf.  It was perfect for me
to get some of the stress and aggression out that I was feeling.  The surf
was light, breaking into a coral reef.  There seemed to be a pattern of four
small waves and then a fifth much larger one.  The fifth often came almost
on top of the fourth.

I was surprised at how easily I took to it.  I had done a LOT of body
surfing, so I guess it was not all that foreign to me.  But Craig had never
surfed anywhere, and was really struggling.  He was getting frustrated, too,
because normally he was better than I at almost anything we did.  I was sure
that in no time he would be wiping me out, as he caught on.

But it seemed the more he tried, the more frustrated he got.  I was riding
almost anything I wanted.  I looked over once and Craig was finally standing
up for the first time.  I hollered and hurrahed just as I watched -
seemingly in slow motion, as a fifth wave overtook the one he was riding and
threw him forward.  He tried to maintain his balance, but was pitched
forward and down.  Luke immediately dove for where he went down.  My heart
raced and then seemed to stop altogether!

Luke came up with Craig's limp body in tow.  I was all at once panicky. I
quickly lay down on my board and paddled wildly to get to them.  But Luke
was a stronger paddler than I and kept in front of me the whole time, even
with Craig across his board!  By the time we fought our way back to the
beach, I could do no more than drag my surf board ashore and flop my sorry
ass on to the sand.  The paramedics were waiting.  Craig's shoulder, back
and face were a mass of blood.  And he wasn't moving!  The paramedics once
asked Luke if I was all right.  He said he thought so, just worn out from
the fast paddle back.  Craig's surfboard was still out there somewhere.

When I had gathered enough energy to crawl over to where Craig lay, I could
see that his chest was moving ever so slightly.  The paramedics were still
intermittently working on him.  All at once his body heaved over forward and
he vomited and choked.  What color was in his face left him, and then when
he laid back down, with the help of the paramedics, his color returned.  He
looked over at me, then he looked up into Luke's eyes and smiled weakly.

The paramedics took Craig directly to a large hospital in Honolulu.  It took
all of 2 hours to get there.  I rode in the ambulance, and Luke drove the
car back to the Hotel, and then joined us at the hospital.  (Parking is at a
premium anywhere in Honolulu!)

As Luke walked in, the doctor, a larger, dark, native Hawaiian man,  met us
both.  "Is there a next of kin here?"  he said.

God, that scared me!

"I - I'm his - his- partner"  I said, bracing for the worst.

"Your friend is in critical condition.  He hit his head very hard and there
are a lot of contusions and abrasions all over his body.  The worst is that
the integrity of his skull was compromised."  My questioning look was
answered by, "That means it was punctured and there is foreign matter
inside, which has already caused infection and swelling."

My knees buckled and I collapsed.  Luke helped me to a chair.  "Doc - what -
*sigh* - what are his - ch  - chances - of recovery?"

"I don't want to scare you, son, but I don't want to give you false hope
either.  He is pretty bad.  I think you may want to call his family, if they
are available, to come.  The prognosis is not very good."

I just stared ahead.  Again the doctor spoke.  Maybe you should - is your
hotel nearby?"

"No sir," answered Luke.  "They are staying at the Outrigger Surf at
Waikiki."

"Well then, maybe we can make up a room close by, here in the hospital.  And
you?"

"I'm just a friend - a - uh - guide who became a friend - a good friend."

"Do you want to stay, too?  We can just as well put two beds in the room as
one."

"I just started a new job, sir.  I better - can I come back and stay here
later?"

"Certainly!  We'll make up a bed for you!"

____________________________________________________

Luke left for work.  The doc showed me into a room.  It was getting dark.
The window shade was stained red by the light of the sunset showing through
it.  I called home and woodenly reported the events of the day.  I called
Craig's dad and told him.  He said he would be on the first flight he could
get out.

I climbed up onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.  I felt like crying - I
WAS on the inside!  I was exhausted, but could not cry - I could not sleep.

"The last thing he saw" I reasoned with myself,  "was me, rejoicing at his
finally standing up on his board."  I think he saw that.  Or was the last
thing my paranoid reaction to him moving Luke's hand?  Or would he remember
most my complaining the night before? All of a sudden the dam broke.  I
started to sob so hard, it was hard to even breathe.  I sobbed and cried and
stopped and then started all over again.

"Mr. Gary?  Would you like something to calm you?"

I wiped at my nose, wiping tears and mucus all over my face.  "I - I guess."
  She gave me a pill and I took it.  It made me drowsy.  I was awake but
also half asleep.  I dreamed.  Craig's spirit came to me and said, "I can't
come to you right now, but I am lying here in the next room loving you.  I'm
so sorry - so sorry -" That phrase kept repeating itself to me, until it
became my own phrase.  I awoke, crying, calling Craig's name, saying, "I'm
sorry, my darling Craig - I'm so sorry!"

I could not sleep after that, until at about midnight when Luke returned.
They had not brought in the other bed, so he climbed up onto my bed.  He
thought I was asleep, and he put his arm around me from the back.  I turned
around and pulled him into me and started to sob anew!  He patted me on the
back and kept telling me it was going to be all right.  I said, no it was
not!  I was so sure he was going to die, and I could never again tell him
how much he meant to me.

"He knew that, Chris!"  Luke softly said.

"He knew that I was pissed at him - that's what he knew!"  I said it loud
enough that the nurse looked in on us.  I then buried my face in his neck
and sobbed and cried and sobbed some more.

________________________________________________________

In the morning, I was awakened by the doc.  "His condition has stabilized.
His father is with him right now, if you want to go in, I think it would be
all right.  The antibiotics we started him on yesterday have begun to take
effect, and his fever is subsiding, which means the infection is being
successfully eliminated."

Both Luke and I were up in moments and on our way out the door.  The nurse
pointed us to a room.  As we neared the room, we saw Craig's dad.

"Hi Dad.  How is he?"

"The doc says he's better.  He looks awful to me."

"He does look better.  Dad, this is Luke.  He's the one who saved Craig."  I
felt like I was about to fall apart, but I held it together, in case Craig
could hear us.  Just then he opened one eye.

Anybody here up for some waves?"  he said weakly.  He smiled up at me.  His
dad asked him how he felt.

"Pretty good, for just having had my head smashed in by a the great coral
reef."  He answered.  He never took his eyes from me as he was talking.  I
know he knew Luke was there.  "Thanks for coming, Luke.  Where are we going
today?"  His eyes were still was glued to mine.  They told me something -
they told me he loved me.  And only me!

"I think we will stay pretty close to the hospital today.  You guys really
went all out yesterday.  I think we all need to rest today!"  Luke said.

Finally Craig broke his gaze away from me and smiled a weak smile at Luke.
"Why don't you take Chris out to see the Arizona.  I can have Chris tell me
about it.  I'm sure my dad will be glad to stay here with me."  His dad
nodded.

"You think I am going to step two feet away from you?"  I protested.

"I'll be all right.  The doc said I was getting better by leaps and bounds."

"That's right!"  Doc said.  "If he had not been so healthy as he was, it may
have bben a far different scenario.  If he keeps improving as he is, I think
we can let him out of here this evening - as long as you promise to take it
easy for the next few weeks."

"Please go see the sunken ship and the memorial for the two of us.  We maybe
can go to the Polynesian Cultural Center tomorrow.  I'll expect a full
report on today's activities!"

"Sorry, Craig."  I said.  "I'm not leaving you!"  Craig made a quick glance
up at his dad and said "please?" with his eyes.

"Okay.  On one condition.  We will get you a wheelchair for tomorrow, and -"

"Just what I was going to suggest!"  Doc said.

"So, dad, do you want to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center with us
tomorrow?"

"I'd love to, but - I have to get back to Cincinnati.  That's why Craig
wants to spend this time with me, I think."  Craig nodded.

"Okay."  I said.  "I'll be checking on you by phone though.  You really
scared me - us - a lot!"

He raised and then nodded his head slightly, grimacing, but demurely batting
his eyes.  I got it.  I leaned down and kissed him on the lips.  "I'll
expect a better one tonight!"  I said, and I left with Luke.


Luke and I took a cab to the hotel, where we both cleaned up and changed
clothes.  We got to the car and headed back to Pearl Harbor.  We went
directly to the U.S Navy Arizona Museum, (or something) where the tours of
the Arizona embarked from.  What was surprising to me was that there were
other tours which were run for a cost, and they did not deliver you to the
memorial.  Only the official Navy tour gets you on the memorial, and it's
free!

I took Luke back home and returned to the hospital.  I walked in to the
room.  Craig had been un-attached from all the hoses and monitors he had
been hooked up to earlier.  His head had a bandage wrapped completely around
it, and he had an eye patch.  I put my finger up to say, "Just a minute",
and stepped outside the door and started coughing - hard.  I didn't need to
cough, but I had to do something to hide my tears!  When I saw him, I choked
up and tried to keep it in, but ...

"Are you okay?"  the doctor asked me.

I smiled up at him, and said, "I - uh - oh!  Doctor!  Yes!  I was just kind
of shocked at seeing my - at seeing Craig.  Are you sure he will be okay
going with us tomorrow?"

"He looks worse than he is." The doc replied.  "We had to shave his head,
and there are also stitches over the left eye.  There was a little damage to
his eye ball, but nothing permanent.  I thought it best to keep it covered
for a day or so.  The eye heals very quickly.  The scar over the eye is
iffy.  It may not go away, but it may just blend in with his eye brow when
it grows back. Time will tell.  you can take him - where were you going
tomorrow?"

"The Polynesian Cultural Center."

"That should not be a problem.  Just be sure that he takes it easy. NO
WALKING LONG DISTANCES!"

"Okay.  And thanks for all your help!"  The doctor was walking away when I
stopped him.  "Doc?"

"Yes?"

"Uh, what about - I mean *cough* what about - er - sex?"

"Heh!  Well I hate to tell anyone they can't do that, but -"

"That's silly.  I am sure we have enough control to abstain if it it
dangerous."

"What I mean is, "he reiterated, " - well,  as long as Craig is not doing
anything strenuous.  I don't know what you two are in to, but I would stay
away from him being a "top", if you get my meaning.  YOU do all the work,
and it should be fine.  The best advice I can give is, if it hurts, don't do
it!"

"Thanks!"  I said, supremely embarrassed.

I gathered up my strength, and re-entered the room, this time with a light
air and a smile.  "HI!"  I started.  "How is the most wonderful guy in the
world - but the most inept surfer I know of?"

"Very funny!"  He smiled.  "Ow!  It hurts to smile!  No tickling allowed!"

"Oh, my sweet babe!  I was so worried.  I was afraid I had lost you!  I'm so
happy you are - all right!"

"Hrmph!  Do I LOOK "all right?"

"You look just - well you LOOK horrid!  But that will pass.  The doc said
the only thing that may reamin is a scar over your left eye.  That will just
give you extra character - as if you NEEDED to be any more of a character!"

"So you are not completely disgusted by me now?"

"Craig, do you really have to ask?  Would you desert me if I was messed up?"

"Of course not!  I love you!  But I am the one who is -"

"Craig!  Shut the hell up!  I love you so much, it wouldn't matter in any
scenario!"  I guess I get to take you home.  The wheel chair will be here
soon.  We will stop by the car rental place and get a bigger car first."

"Chris, I don't want to ride around in a wheel chair!  I am fine to walk,
see?"  He got up and walked around the bed then turned around and nearly
fell.

"Yeah!  I see!  Sit down!"

The nurse wheeled in the chair, and he sat in it.  I thanked her, put his
stuff on his lap, and we headed to the pharmacy to get the prescriptions
filled.  He was prescribed two different antibiotics and a pain killer, in
case it got too intense for him.  As I was pushing him out the door, toward
the car, he said, "Hey, I may get used to this pretty fast, slave!"

"Enjoy it while it lasts, but don't get too used to it!"  I helped him into
the car, kissing him the first time since before the accident, excpet for a
peck earlier.  "I'm afraid of touching you in the wrong place!  You do the
touching, k?"  He grabbed my face and pulled me down to a deep, wet kiss,
closing his eye and running his tongue around my mouth.  I gently grabbed
his package through his torn shorts, and squeezed.  "Everything okay in
here?"

"Everything's fine in there!"  He replied.

We got another car - the only thing bigger they had on the lot was a Lincoln
Town Car.  It looked like a boat!  But it sure was comfortable!  We drove to
the condo, and went to the Royal Hawaiian for dinner again, because it was
close by.  We got another table outside next to the beach.  The sun was
setting as we ordered, and we got to watch it while we waited for our food.
It was so much more romantic than the two nights before, when I was being
such an ass!  I looked at this man, head wrapped, eye patched, still bruised
all over his upper body, and said, "You are still the most beautiful man in
the world!!  I love you so damned much!"

We ate a wonderful lemon mahi-mahi dinner, with rice pilaf and fresh
stir-fried veggies.  Dessert was a concoction with mango, papaya and two
kinds of guava, and I think some yogurt, that they called "tropical
paradise".

I wheeled him down to the now closed (for the day) aquarium, near the south
end of Waikiki, in the shadow of Diamondheadand we stopped again to watch
the lighted boats on the water.  The moon was still nearly full.  Craig
stood up from his wheelchair and almost stumbled into me, throwing his arms
around my neck,  I saw him grimace, but said nothing.  He then reared his
heard back, panted, grimaced again, and put his lips on mine.  I was so
afraid of hurting him, I just let him take the lead.  As his tongue entered
my mouth, I reciprocated.  HE moaned - I think a good moan - and sat back
down, with a sigh and strong exhale.  The effort was obviously a strain for
him.

I pushed him back to the room, and when he tried to get out of his shirt,
his shoulder was too sore, so I helped.  I undressed him and he wanted a
shower.  "No way.  Can't get that dressing wet.  I'll draw a bath for you."
I did that and then helped him in and down into the water.  Then I washed
him all over, as gently as I could.  He was right!  Nothing wrong down
below!  He got as hard as a rock, with the special bath I was giving him.

I drained the bath, got a towel and helped him up.  I toweled him off and
then helped him into the bedroom and on to the bed.  He groaned as I helped
him lie back on the bed.  It hurt me so much each time he grimaced or
groaned!  I then lay down next to him, both of us nude.  The room was plenty
warm.  In Hawaii - or at least in Waikiki - there are no screens on the
windows in the upper floors.  No insects!  And the temperature was perfect!

He strained at leaning over to kiss me.  I said, "Don't Baby!  Let's get you
well first!"  Then remembering what the doc had said, I started to kiss his
chest.  I nibbled on his nipples.

"No tickling!"  he reminded me.

"I won't, sweetheart."  I said softly.  I knew his tummy was very ticklish,
so I didn't go there, but rather went for the gold.  Again, he moaned - a
"good" moan.  I got a rhythm going and before long I was drinking the elixir
of love.

When I was finished, he grabbed my Mr. Happy and then grimaced.  "You okay?"
I asked.

"Yes, but - I want so much to - get you off - I want your spunk!"

"That won't work."

"If we are careful - and creative - it may!"

"Well, you lead the way!"  I said.  He started to jack me off slowly.  When
he tried to increase the speed, it hurt him too much.  So I said, "You let
me do that, and you work on the top!"

He started to kiss me.  I had to close my eyes, because it made me too sad
to look at his face.  He was controlling the kissing, and I was wanking
myself, with increasing gusto.  He heard my breathing become ragged and hard
and said, "Please, Christy, let me have your spunk!"

So I stopped and gently put it into his mouth.  I very slowly pushed in and
out, afraid of hurting him.  But I was still close enough that it didn't
take very much before I was moaning and trying my best to not buck and
heave.  He swallowed most of it, with some dripping out the corner of his
mouth.  I let myself finish, then cleaned up the excess on his chin with my
tongue, then came in for another kiss.  I guess there are people who have to
do this all the time, but I was thankful it would only get better for us, as
my wonderful man healed.

I covered us with a sheet and as he was comfortable on his side, I very
carefully spooned him, holding him while he fell into a deep sleep.  I then
sat up on the bed and cried very softly but very deeply.  I thanked God for
saving my Craig, and asked if it was okay, that he would please be
completely healed.  I then lay back down and cried myself to an exhausted
sleep.

Comments, as always, are welcome.  I cried the whole time I was writing the
words to the Hawaiian Wedding Song!  I was completely shocked by Craig's
accident - as I am sure you were.  I hope you don't think I planned any of
that.  I love both of them too much to plan to hurt either of them!  And
don't bother telling me about the statement that each day was equally nice
as the first!  I didn't lie.  Chris did!  Love, Steve s4d@hotmail.com