Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2001 13:50:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Freeman <mf900@yahoo.com>
Subject: Michael-and-Chance-12

Author's Note:

Hey guys, happy holidays! :o) As usual, I tried to get the installment out
as soon as I could.  However, I have been very, very, very busy!  And thus,
the delay.  Anyway, so here it is, the twelfth installment of "Michael and
Chance."  Enjoy.  I recommend that you listen to the following songs as you
read this installment: "Snow on the Sahara" by Anggun---it's my favorite
song of all time; see the amazingly beautiful lyrics below; "Only Time (Pop
Radio Remix) by Enya; and finally, "Tell Him" by Celine Dion.


Snow on the Sahara

Only tell me that you still want me here/ When you wander off out there/
To those hills of dust and hard winds that blow/ In that dry white ocean alone

Lost out in the desert/ You are lost out in the desert

But to stand with you in a ring of fire/ I'll forget the days gone by/
I'll protect your body and guard your soul/ From mirages in your sight

Lost out in the desert/ You are lost out in the desert

If your hopes scatter like the dust across your track/
I'll be the moon that shines on your path/
The sun may blind our eyes, I'll pray the skies above/
For snow to fall on the Sahara
Just a wish and I will cover your shoulders/ With veils of silk and gold/
When the shadows come and darken your heart/ Leaving you with regrets so cold

Lost out in the desert/ You are lost out in the desert

If your hopes scatter like the dust across your track/
I'll be the moon that shines on your path
The sun may blind our eyes, I'll pray the skies above/
For snow to fall on the Sahara
If that's the only place where you can leave your doubts/
I'll hold you up and be your way out
And if we burn away, I'll pray the skies above/
For snow to fall on the Sahara

Artist: Anggun.  Lyrics: Benzi-Matheson/Benzi

Usual Disclaimer and Legal Stuff:

The following story deals with male-to-male relationship and gay erotica.
If this offends you or is illegal in your location and/or you are under the
age of consent in your jurisdiction to read such materials, then you should
exit this page now.  This statement releases the author of the story and
the site wherein this story is posted from any legal action or liability.

All rights reserved by author.  This series is not to be reproduced,
distributed, altered, or posted elsewhere without the expressed consent and
written permission from the author.  Copyright 2001.


			  Michael and Chance 12:
				  "Dream"
				    by
			    Michael T. Freeman
				 12/24/01


Previously:

And just as Chance was about to end it all, to let go of all his pain and
misery, he heard the faint, familiar voice of his beloved Michael behind
him, "No, Chance...please don't!"

Startled by the voice, Chance opened his eyes and instinctively looked over
his right shoulder to see a shimmering, ghostly figure of his beautiful
Michael standing behind him with arms outreached.  Chance, without
thinking, let go of his right grip and reached for the radiant figure,
causing him to lose balance.  His body reflectively reacted as his left
hand tightened its grip on the railing as he dangled helplessly from 10
stories above ground.

"Michael?!!" Chance cried out as he looked up to balcony.  But no one was
in sight.  A very bewildered and distressed Chance shouted hysterically for
help as he hung on for dear life.

**********************

MC12: "Dream"

I cannot begin to describe to you where I am right now, or what I am
feeling and experiencing.  It is unlike anything I have ever seen, or felt,
or experienced before in my life.  It is beyond moral words, but I shall
try.  It seems that I am standing on a white sandy beach, the most
brilliant white sandy I have ever seen.  And beyond is the most beautiful,
amazing horizon I have ever witnessed with these unusual multi-colored,
iridescent, swirling streams of light.  I find myself mesmerized by them.
They seem to dance in a rhythmic pattern and emanate an heavenly warmth
that permeates into the core of my very being, flooding me with an
overwhelming sense of peace, love, and beauty.  It is beyond anything I
have ever felt and experienced in my entire life.  It is truly surreal, and
yet, so real at the same time...

********************** (Chance's Apartment)

"Help!" Chance cried out as he grabbed the railing with his other hand and
struggled to pull himself up over the railing.

At that moment, Dade bursted out onto the balcony after hearing Chance's
cry for help when he entered the apartment.  He quickly grabbed Chance
hands and swiftly pulled him over the railing.  Chance shook erratically as
Dade carried him to the couch.  Dade was completely shocked and horrified.

"WHAT the FUCK were you doing out there, Chance?" Dade shouted at his buddy
who was pale as a ghost and shaking like a leaf.  "Are you fuckin' CRAZY or
something?  What were you thinking?"  Dade shook his head in disbelief as
he sat on the coffee table across from Chance.

Chance could hardly speak and averted Dade's eyes.  He was too ashamed and
embarrassed and dazed to reply, or look at Dade.  Chance sat on the couch
with knees bent and arms wrapped around them as he trembled sporadically in
terror as tears streamed down his face.

As angry, and frustrated, and bewildered as he was, Dade couldn't stand
seeing his buddy like this---so miserable, and distraught, and terrified
like a lost puppy.  Dade slowly moved over to the couch and sat next to
Chance and slowly wrapped his arms around him, holding him tightly, and
sighed.  "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Chance," he said softly and kissed
Chance on the side of his face.  "It just that you scared the crap out of
me."  Dade exhaled heavily.  "What's going on Chance?  Please tell me.
What would make you do a crazy something like that?" Dade pleaded as tears
started to well up in his eyes at the thought of possibly losing his best
friend.

But still no answers from Chance, only the erratic hissing sound of his
sobbing.

"It's alright, Chance," Dade whispered as he pulled Chance towards him,
allowing Chance's head to rest on his lap. Chance coiled up in a semi-fetal
position as Dade continued to lightly stroke his hair.  "You don't have to
tell me, if you don't want to.  I'm here for you, buddy...always."

The last 24 hours has been an emotional whirlwind.  The mental and physical
exhaustion finally set in as Chance's body quickly succumbed to Dade's
reassuring and comforting touch and shut down to sleep.  Dade continued to
stroke Chance's hair rhythmically as he watched Chance falls fast asleep.
Chance looked so peaceful and beautiful asleep Dade thought to himself as
he carried his buddy to his bedroom and set him gently down on the bed and
tuck him in.  Dade sat on the side of Chance's bed, watching his buddy
sleeps.  He gently brushed Chance's dark brown hair out of his eyes to
reveal a tired, but strikingly beautiful, rugged face.  Suddenly tears
welled up in his eyes as he thought of what could have happened tonight if
he wasn't there to rescue his buddy. He couldn't bear the thought of ever
losing Chance.  He is the only real family that Dade has left now since the
passing of his grandma two years ago.  He has already lost so many people
in his life---his mom to cancer when he was only 12 years old, and his dad
to a car accident when he was 15---and he couldn't bear the thought of
losing another person who he loves so dearly in his life.

"God, what were you thinking, Chance?" Dade whispered to a sleeping Chance
as the soft light of the moon highlighted his sharp facial features.  "What
would drive you to try to end your life like that?"  Dade sighed deeply.
"God, I wouldn't know what to do if I ever lose you."  Tears slowly
trickled down Dade's face as it suddenly hits him how much Chance means to
him, how much he truly loves him. Dade exhaled deeply.  "I love you so
much, Chance...if only you knew how much," Dade uttered softly as he
continued to study his buddy's face.  "Why haven't I told you so...what am
I waiting for?"  Dade rested his right hand lightly on Chance's chest.  He
could feel the beating of his buddy's heart.  "Why didn't I let you into my
heart when I had the chance...what was I so afraid of?" Dade whispered as
he felt his heart ached with regrets.  "But I know that it's too late
now...you're with Michael," Dade said disheartedly as he wiped away his
tears and sighed.  "I love you, Chance....I truly do.....sweet dreams,
buddy," Dade whispered as he kissed Chance lightly on the lips and left the
room.

A half an hour later, there was a loud bang on the door.  Dade was in the
bathroom, washing up for bed.  He quickly opened the door to find a worried
and distressed Stacy standing there.

"Hi, I'm sorry, is this..uhm..Chance's place?" Stacy asked as she looked at
Dade, in awe of his striking physique and good looks.  He had only boxers
on.  Stacy couldn't help but noticed his amazingly toned body with wide,
broad shoulders, well-defined pecs, rippling washboard abs, and lengthy
strong legs.  She was mesmerized by the warm brown eyes that was staring at
her through the careless brown hairs.

"Yeah, it is," Dade replied. "Uhm...who are you?"

"I'm sorry...I'm Stacy's, Chance and Michael's friend," Stacy replied,
finally snapping out of her trance.

"What can I do for you?" Dade inquired with a friendly smile.

"Uhmm...actually, I was wondering if Chance is here?  He was very upset and
distraught when I last seen him, and I just wanted to see if he is okay,"
Stacy continued as Dade invited her into the apartment.

"Yeah, he was very upset and distressed when I found him dangling from the
balcony," Dade said gravely.  "I think he was trying to commit suicide."

"WHAT???" Stacy nearly shouted out in shock. "Oh, my God!  Is he alright
now?"

"Sshhh," Dade hushed Stacy, "I think so.  He's asleep in his bedroom right
now.  Yeah, I can't believe it myself.  I wish I knew why.....what could
have driven him to do something like that?"

Stacy looked briefly away.  "I think I have a pretty good idea why."

Stacy sat down on the couch and proceeded to explain what has transpired in
the last 24 hours as Dade listened attentively.

"Wow, poor Chance," Dade sighed when Stacy finally finished.

"Yeah, poor Michael, too," Stacy added.

"Yeah, those poor guys...they have really gone through the ringer in the
last 24 hours."  Dade sighed heavily. "But he seems to be okay now, sound
asleep."

"But how is Michael doing," Dade inquired with concerns.

"Well, he was still in the coma when I chased after Chance," Stacy replied
sadly as tears welled up in her eyes.

"It's okay," Dade said as he instinctively wrapped his arms around Stacy to
comfort her.  "I'm sure he'll make it through because he has such wonderful
and caring friends like you and Chance."

Stacy strained a little smile as she wiped away her tears, "Thank you.  I'm
sorry.  I don't mean to be a big cry baby in front of you.  I better get
going.  Would you mind calling me a cab?"

"Hum...sure, but I can give you a lift, if you like," Dade offered.

"No, really, that's not necessary.  I don't want to trouble you.  A cab
will be fine," Stacy replied.

"It's not a problem at all.  I'll be glad to," Dade insisted with a warm
smile.

Stacy finally gave in and accepted Dade's gracious offer for a ride home.

"Let me go get dress and check up on Chance to see if he's okay before we
take off," Dade said as he walked over to Chance's room and peeked inside
to see his buddy still fast asleep, dripping off in his dreamland:

Chance could hear the distant cries of seagulls as he finds himself
standing on a white sandy beach.  He could feel the warmth of the brilliant
sun shining down on him as the turquoise ocean water gently laps at his
feet.  Everything seems strangely enhanced and vivid and brilliant.  There
seems to be a mesmerizing quality to the environment---the sight, sound,
smell, taste, and touch of this exotic place seem intensified.  Everything
seems to emit an iridescent hue of splendor and glow.  The ocean breeze
sounds like strings of melodies in perfect harmony with the crescendos and
diminuendos of ocean waves and seagulls' cries.  Even the swaying of nearby
palm trees seems to sing to him.  It's so surreal.  The salty air tastes
unusually sweet and smells heavenly fragrant.  And as the sun shines on
him, he feels this indescribable, overwhelming sense of peace, calm, and
love that he has never felt before in his entire life---so pure and
unconditional.  It is intoxicating.  No words can adequately describe what
he's feeling.  This essence of unconditional love seems to envelop him,
permeating into his entire being as he becomes one with it and it with him.
It feels so familiar, like a home he's so long forgotten and deeply yearn
for.  A home he knows he shall return to again one day.

Suddenly on the tip of his peripheral vision, Chance catches a glimpse of
movement of a figure from a far.  There seems to be someone approaching
him, a shimmering figure.  Chance squints to try to make out the figure,
but he could not see it very well.  As it approaches closer, Chance's mouth
drops in disbelief and bewilderment, rendering him speechless.  "Oh, my
God, it can't be....Michael?" Chance screams in his head.  "Michaaeel!"
finally escapes from his lips as he races madly towards the brilliant
figure.  Chance embraces a radiant Michael as tears of joy roll down his
cheek.  "Michael, I can't believe it's you.  God, I love you so much,
angel," Chance babbles in between hysterical kisses and loving embraces.
"I know, it's okay, Chance.  I'm here now," Michael replies with an angelic
smile.  Suddenly, Chance breaks from the embrace and takes a step back from
Michael with a dazed and confused expression on his face as it dawns on him
that this can't be.  This isn't real.  This is a dream, that his Michael is
in the hospital in a comatose state because of him.

Chance jolted abruptly up from bed in a bewildered state of mind, not
knowing exactly where he was, or what day it was.  He sat there for a few
seconds as his mind struggled desperately to regain cognizance of reality.
He checked his digital watch and realized that he has slept for nearly 2
days.  As the events of the last few days rushed back to his consciousness
like a bullet train, tears welled up in his eyes as it slowly dawned on him
that he was just dreaming, that his beloved Michael was still in the
hospital.

Suddenly the phone rang, snapping Chance out his trance.  He looked at the
phone with sudden apprehension, terrified of who may be on the other end of
the line and the news it may bring!

To be continued.

Author's note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter.  It is one of my favorite
installments.  As always, I welcome your comments, suggestions and
constructive criticisms.  Let me know what you think of the Series.  They
can be sent to mf900@yahoo.com

I would like to thank all of you who have written in and shared your
thoughts on the Series.  Much appreciated.  Well, have a great holiday,
guys.  Wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! :o)