Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:20:25 -0600
From: Lone Wolf <kk.lonewolf.37@gmail.com>
Subject: Chapter 18 of Zack and Jay

Zack and Jay
Chapter 18
Author: Kevin

Author's note: Sorry for the long delay in getting 18 written. I had a
small problem with my laptop while on the road. It apparently wanted to
learn to fly but forgot the most important part of flying, the landing.
Thanks to my parents I got a new one, but lost a lot of things to include
everything I had written on 18 up to that point. Took some time to recreate
it. Plus my grandfather died a little over a week ago. He was 93 years old,
lived a long life, last few months were hard on him, fucking cancer! I wish
they could find a vaccine or something so people don't have to suffer like
that.

I hope to hear from you all soon. As usual comments, questions, or concerns
can be sent to kk.lonewolf.37@gmail.com or posted to justusboys.com, Forum,
Gay Sex section, Thread "The Real Zack and Jay".

I can hear people talking, but can't make out who they are or what they are
saying. Everything just seems to be running together. I feel someone grab
me as I begin to slide from the chair I'm sitting in. I can barely make out
someone calling my name. It sounds like they are about a mile away. I feel
a slap across my face and everything slowly returns to normal. I can make
out my parent's and Diane's voices, and Shawn's cries.

I open my eyes and the room is still colorless and blurry. After blinking a
few times things start taking shape and the color slowly returns. I can see
my mother standing over me, my father standing next to her holding Shawn
who is crying hysterically and Diane sitting next to me looking
worried. Then I see Dr. Morrison looking forlorn standing right where he
was when I blacked out.

"Jay's gone isn't he?" I ask him.

"Mr. Miller I'm sorry I scared you. I shouldn't have said that the way I
did. I was trying to apologize for it taking so long. What I was going to
say was I'm sorry for this taking as long as it did. Jay's injuries where
more severe than we had first thought. It took a little longer than we had
anticipated to remove a large enough section of his skull to relieve the
pressure on his brain. And there was a ...," he pauses thinking and then
continues, "complication during the surgery."

"What do you mean there was a complication during the surgery? What
happened?" I ask him.

"Jay woke up on the operating table."

"What do mean he woke up?" dad asks.

"He regained consciousness during the surgery. We were forced to give him
more powerful drugs and right now he is in a drug induced coma."

"For how long?" I ask.

"I'm sorry I wish I could give you a more definitive answer but I can't. We
just don't know. That's up to Jay. We must wait until the swelling goes
down and then wean him off the drugs and slowly wake him up. But again we
must wait for the swelling to go down first. The next twenty-four to
forty-eight hours will tell us more."

"Can we see him?" I ask.

Dr. Morrison hesitates for a few minutes and I'm just about to tell him
never mind when he says, "Yes you can all go in and see him. Jay is in
ICU. Normally, we only allow one visitor in the room at a time. But given
the circumstances I will make an exception. Zack you can stay as long as
you need or want to. The rest of you please keep your visit as short as
possible. And as for the little one, he can go in and see his father but
only for a couple of minutes. I must stress, no one touch his head or try
to remove the bandage. You must prepare yourselves for what you are about
to see. There is severe swelling and bruising in Jay's face from his
injuries and what we had to do to fix them."

When he's finished speaking he leads us up to ICU and tells the nurse on
duty that he is allowing all of us into Jay's room together. But that Shawn
can only stay for a few minutes. She acknowledges her understanding and she
shows us into Jay's room.

I just about faint again when I see him. His face is so swelled up and
bruised from his injuries and what they had to do to repair them in the
operating room he is almost unrecognizable. Even if he was awake there
would be no way he could open his eyes because of the fluid and blood that
has collected around them from his broken nose and what the doctors had to
do to set it. He has an IV entering the side of his neck with medicine from
four different bags being pumped into him. He has a tube coming out of the
right side of his chest that is draining the blood and other fluids from it
so his lung can re-inflate. He is catheterized and his urine is emptying
into a bag hanging from the side of his bed. The bandage around his head
makes it look like he is wearing an oversized turban. There are tubes and
wires coming or going everywhere. He is hooked up to a heart monitor that
is beeping steadily next to his bed.

Mom notices me swaying a little and pushes a chair under me as my knees
give out. Dad pulls a small flask from his back pocket and hands it to me.

"What is it?" I ask him.

"Jack Daniels; I figured you would need something before the night is
over."

I take a small sip of the liquid and it burns all the way down my throat. I
grimace at the taste and exhale loudly. Mom comes around me and kneels down
in front of me and holds me.

"Take another drink; bigger this time," dad says.

"Are you trying to get me drunk with my husband laying there half dead?" I
ask him.

Mom says, "Zack, Jay isn't half dead. You heard the doctor he woke up
during the surgery. I can just imagine how horrifying that was for him but
it's a good sign. He will recover from this. You just need to have faith."

"Sorry mom, but my faith is wearing thin! How much more do I have to
suffer?"

"I know baby," she says and holds me while I cry again.

After a few minutes Dr. Morrison comes into Jay's room and says Shawn must
leave now. Mom stands and moves to the side. I get up and take him from dad
and hand him back the flask. I take Shawn over to Jay's bed and carefully
lay him on his chest. He cuddles into his father and gives him a hug. As I
pick him back up he looks down at Jay and says, "Love, daddy!"

"I know little man, and daddy loves you too." I hand him to Diane and ask
her if she minds taking him home. "We shouldn't be much longer. I don't
want to leave him, but I can't stay either."

"I know. Yes, I'll take him home. It's no problem. Stay as long as you
need. He'll be fine," she tells me.

As she walks towards the door with him and he realizes I am not coming too
and he starts crying. "You'll be alright Shawn. Grandma, grandpa and I will
be home in a little while. You can go with Diane. She won't hurt you. I
promise."

He looks at Diane for a minute as if he is thinking it over. Then looks
back at me and says, "Daddy, love!" and waves goodbye.

"I love you, too. And we will see you at home in a little while." I wave
goodbye to him and Diane disappears out the door.

My parents and I stay for a little while longer until I am so physically
and emotionally drained I can hardly keep my eyes open. I go to Jay's bed,
pull his left hand out from under the blankets, place it on his chest and
lean over him to give him a kiss. When I stand back up I notice his wedding
ring isn't on his hand.

"His wedding ring is gone!"

"What?" mom asks.

"His wedding ring is gone," I repeat.

"Hang on I'll go ask at the desk. They probably took it off him in the
emergency room." She comes back carrying a bag and hands it to me. It has
everything that was in his pockets and what remains of his clothing. I pull
his sneakers out and place them on the chair next to his bed. I find some
money and his watch. I pour a handful of change out and mixed in with it I
find his `who holds the key to your heart' necklace and his wedding ring. I
put the money in my pocket and the necklace around my own neck for safe
keeping. I'm just about to put his wedding ring on his finger when
Dr. Morrison returns to the room.

"We will need to do a few more MRIs and he can't wear that in the
machine. I would suggest you take it home with you for now."

I tell him ok, reach down and hold Jay's hand again and say, "We need to go
Jay. I'll be back with Shawn in the morning. I love you."

I try to pull my hand from his but he won't let go. "Oh my God!" I exclaim.

"What's wrong?" mom asks.

"He's holding my hand and won't let go!"

"That's impossible!" Dr. Morrison says.

"Well impossible or not he's doing it," I say as I pick up my hand and
Jay's comes up with it.

He quickly moves around to the other side of Jay's bed, places his fingers
in Jay's right hand, and says, "Jay if you can hear me squeeze my fingers."

I watch as the expression on his face changes to utter disbelief. I look
down and sure enough Jay's fingers are slowly closing around the doctor's.

"This doesn't make any sense; first him waking up in the OR and now this?
He's got enough drugs pumping through his veins to knock out a horse. Does
he have any allergies to medications?"

"No not that I'm aware of. Shit he hasn't had so much as a cold since we've
been together. I've never even seen him take anything for a headache. I
don't know. I don't think so. What the hell kind of spouse doesn't know if
their husband has any allergies to medications?"

"Zack it's alright. You'd be surprised by the number of people that come
into this hospital on a daily basis and don't have a clue as to their
spouse's medical history. You and Jay haven't been married all that long
according to his chart. And with what you guys have been through it's
completely understandable," Dr Morrison says. "I'll be back in a little
while. I need to set up another MRI to check the swelling in his
brain. With him being semi-conscious we'll probably start weaning him off
the medications soon."

I take his necklace off undo the clasp and put his wedding ring on it and
then put it back on. Then say, "Jay, I'm really tired we need to be getting
home. I'll be back in the morning with Shawn. I love you."

He mumbles something but I can't make it out. Then I notice he is very
slightly patting the bed next to him.

"What? Do you want me to sit down?"

I notice him shake his head and then I barely hear him say, "Stay!"

"Jay you know I can't do that. I have to get home and take care of
Shawn. When I was in the hospital it was just the two of us. I need to get
home to him and make sure he's alright." I lean over him and give him
another kiss. This time he kisses me back. "I love you!"

I barely make out, "I love you, too!" He squeezes my hand and then he lets
go.

My parents and I head back to the house stopping to pick up my car. We
leave Jay's in the Admin parking lot for now. When we get home I ask Diane,
"How was he?"

"A perfect angel, he's in bed asleep," she says. I ask her if she wants to
stay the night, as it's so late. She declines warmly and leaves.

I tell my parents good night, head upstairs to Shawn's room and take him to
bed with me. I wrap my arms around him and pull him to me and sleep like
that until I'm awoken in the morning by him jamming his little fingers up
my nose, poking me in the eye, and pulling on me ear.

"Somebody wants to play huh?" I ask him as I start tickling him and don't
stop until he is laughing hysterically. After a few minutes there is a
knock on the door. I hear mom ask if she can come in.

"Yes mom, you can come in."

She comes and sits on the edge of the bed and says, "I was just coming to
check on him and see if you wanted me to take him."

"No, it's alright. I'm awake. We'll be down in a few minutes."

"Ok. I called Bill and Sarah to let them know how Jay is. They wanted to
come back out, but said they couldn't afford the tickets. I called Jane and
she's getting everything ready now through the travel agency. They should
be here tomorrow evening."

"Mom, thank you. Let me know what it costs and I'll pay it."

"No you won't! Your father and I will get them here. The only thing you
need to worry about is that little guy right there and getting Jay better."

"God, you and dad have done so much for Jay and I over the last year. I
don't even want to know how much you guys have spent on us."

"Zack; it's only money. You know damn well money means nothing to us. We'll
do anything for you guys. And it's not like we can take it with us."

"Thanks mom. I love you."

"I love you too. Now come on get up. Breakfast should be just about done."

"Ok, we'll be right down."

She leaves and I turn back to Shawn who had been laying there watching us
talk the entire time like he understood what we were talking about. I look
him directly in the eyes and say, "You know daddy and I will do anything
for you too, don't you?"

He turns on his side, looks directly into my eyes, places his hand on my
cheek and says, "Daddy, love!"

"I love you too little man."

I get up and get dressed. I then take Shawn into his room, change him and
get him dressed and we head downstairs. As soon as I walk into the kitchen
with him he screams, "Gamma! Gampa!"

"Good morning Shawn," both of my parents say at the same time.

I put him in his highchair and turn to head towards the counter to help and
my mother says, "Sit!"

I reluctantly sit down and mom brings me my breakfast and Shawn's
cereal. We eat then we all head to the hospital to see Jay. As we are
walking into his room I get the shock of my life. He is out of bed and
standing next to it. "Jay Shawn Miller get your ass back into that bed
now!"

"I can't lay there any longer. I have to move."

I slide a chair over next to his bed for him and he sits in it. "You should
have asked one of the nurses to help you." I can't believe the difference
just a few hours has made in his appearance. He doesn't look anything like
he did last night.  The swelling in his face is just about gone.  The
bruising looks like it had happened a week ago.

"How are you feeling," I ask Jay.

"I feel a lot better!" Jay says.

Just then Dr. Morrison comes into the room.  He asks Jay, "Did you tell
them yet?"

"No!  I was just about to."

"Tell us what?"

"We took Jay back into the operating room last night after you left.  We
put the piece of his skull back in that we removed to relieve the pressure
caused by the swelling in his brain.  We also did another MRI.  We ran a
few tests and discovered why Jay woke up during the surgery.  His
metabolism is so high his body was breaking down the medication faster than
we could pump it into him.  Also, his body repairs itself faster than
normal."

"What do you mean his body repairs itself faster than normal?" I ask.

"I've seen it on a few occasions when someone's body can repair damage
faster than normal.  Take a look at these x-rays," Dr. Morrison says as he
puts a couple of Jay's head up on a screen and turns the light on behind
them.  "This first x-ray was taken when Jay was first brought in.  You can
see the skull fracture, broken nose, and broken jaw.  This next one was
taken earlier this morning.  Do you see these fine white lines where the
fractures were?  Those white lines indicate new bone is growing.  This is
something we normally don't see for one to two weeks after an injury. His
body is repairing itself at an astonishing rate.

We don't know why this is happening but would like to run a few tests to
see if we can figure it out," he finishes.

"No! Absolutely not! I will not let Jay get turned into a guinea pig or
human pin cushion. We've been through enough as it is. I just want him to
get better so we can go home and get on with our lives."

"I completely understand," Dr. Morrison says.

I take Jay's necklace off and ask, "Can he wear these now?"

"Yes. We shouldn't need to run any more MRIs. It should be alright for him
to wear them now."

I take his wedding ring off the necklace and hand them to him; and he puts
them on.

During this entire exchange Shawn has been fighting me to get to Jay. Jay
holds his hands out to him and he fights even harder to get to him. Jay
tries to pick him up but can't. "You'll have to set him on my lap. My ribs
hurt to bad to pick him up right now," he says.

As carefully as I can; I set Shawn on his lap. He snuggles into Jay and
gives him a hug. He then looks up into his eyes and says, "Daddy, love!"

With tears in his eyes Jay tells him he loves him too. "I didn't think I
would ever see you two again."

"I know. I thought I had lost you forever. When they started doing CPR on
you yesterday I thought I would have to tell Shawn when he got old enough
to understand what happened to you. That is something I would never be able
to do. Promise me you will never leave us."

"I promise I'll never leave you!"

"When you get better we are going to start a different training regime. We
are going to add karate and unarmed self-defense to our training. You will
learn to defend yourself so something like this never happens again."

"Do you think you can teach me?"

"If you will do as I say I can teach you. I don't think it will take long
and you will be as good as I am."

"I highly doubt that. You've been doing it since you where ten years old. I
will never be as good as you. But hopefully you can teach me enough to
defend myself and our sons if it comes to that."

"I can handle that if you can."

"I can too."

"I love you more than I can tell you!"

"I know, me too!"

We spend the day with Jay, as he gets better by every passing hour
Dr. Morrison has him moved from ICU into a private room. Later that
evening, my parents head out to pick Jay's up at the airport. While they
are gone Dean Rogers and the head of the psychology department come by to
check on Jay and apologize for what happened. They tell us not to worry
about any of the medical bills for Jay's stay in the hospital; the school
will cover them completely.

They also tell Jay that the school is just about ready to get his network
up and running so kids from other schools can call in and make appointments
for him to call them back. From what they say it looks like it will go
national shortly before the start of the fall term. To begin with, it will
be just the colleges on the east coast and they will be adding more every
month until every college in the country is hooked up to it.

I have no idea how Jay will manage to return all of the calls that will be
coming in by himself and ask about it. He says once it is up and running
after graduation the school has already told him he will be able to search
for any help he will need. He will have the authority to hire as many
counselors or psychologists as he deems necessary. He will also be involved
in the hiring of the phone operators and assist in their training.

Apparently the school has already found a large open room they will use as
a call center. The people answering the phones will have basic counseling
training and be taught how to tell if the individual needs immediate
help. Jay's office will also be relocated to a large room adjacent to the
call center. He will only be a few feet away during normal work hours if
someone calls in and the operator feels it necessary for them to talk to a
counselor immediately.

It looks like it will quickly grow to be the world's largest counseling
phone network set up strictly for gay and lesbian kids to get help with
coming to terms with who they are. And it will be run by my husband. I
couldn't love him anymore or be more proud of him if I tried.

Just before they leave they hand Jay an envelope. He opens it and reads an
official looking document then I notice what looks like a check.

"What's this?" I ask.

"I officially signed all the paperwork necessary to become an employee of
Harvard University. This is the letter telling me I'm now an administrative
employee of the school and my sign on bonus," he says and hands me the
letter and check. I read the letter first then look at the check. I almost
fall out of my chair as I try to comprehend what it says. It's written for
twenty five thousand dollars. I'm so proud of him. He hasn't even graduated
yet and is already making a name for himself and a huge mark in the
counseling society.

A little while later my parent's return with Jay's. We all spend the
evening together. I order a sheet pizza and wings and have them delivered
to Jay's hospital room. Jay tells our parent's about the network being just
about ready to go `public' so to speak and they are so happy for him. We
all celebrate late into the night until the head nurse comes in and tells
us we must leave; that Jay needs to get his rest.

We head back home and dad and I take Bill and Sarah's luggage into the
guest room. We sit up talking for a couple more hours about Jay and what he
has already accomplished.

I ask my dad what kind of second vehicle we should buy as Jay's car just
isn't going to cut it anymore with another baby on the way. He mentions a
few different vehicles to include a couple minivans.

"I was thinking more about an SUV. I honestly can't see Jay or me driving a
minivan."

He mentions a couple different SUVs that he would love to have. He then
suggests that we go look at some tomorrow while mom, Sarah and Bill take
Shawn to the hospital to see Jay. He says, "Just the two of us, like old
times."

"I'd love that," I tell him.

In the morning mom, Sarah, Bill and Shawn head to the hospital to see Jay;
and dad and I go to a couple local car dealerships. We don't find anything
that we think would be suitable at the first and head to another. We test
drive an SUV there, but I don't like the way it handles. We stop at a
couple more and just look around. About lunch time as we are driving
towards the hospital dad suggest we stop at the Cadillac dealership.

"Dad, there is no way Jay and I can afford a Caddy."

"What's the harm in looking?" he asks.

"Ok. What the hell. Why not?"

We pull into the dealership and park. As we are getting out I notice a dark
blue Escalade parked in the showroom. I start walking towards the door and
dad follows me. We enter the showroom together and walk up to the beautiful
vehicle. I instantly fall in love with it.

As we are looking through the open windows at the interior; a salesman
walks up, and asks if he can help us. Dad introduces both of us and
explains that I am looking to buy an SUV.

He explains the different options, that come stock on the Escalade and then
goes into great detail about all the extras this particular one has on
it. Power everything, all digital dash, cruise control, am/fm stereo with
fifteen CD changer built in, all leather interior, heated seats, the list
goes on for what seems like forever.

Dad asks if there is one on the lot we can take for a test drive and the
salesman says he will be right back. About five minutes later he returns
carrying a dealer plate and a set of keys. "If you will follow me outside
it will only take a few seconds to get the plate on and you can take it for
as long a drive as you want. I think you will be happy if you in fact
decide to buy one. I've had a couple that I have driven as demo cars and I
love them."

We follow him outside and wait as he attaches the plate to the vehicle and
then hands me the keys. He quickly goes over a couple of the controls in
the SUV and then leaves us to get comfortable with it. After a couple of
minutes figuring out how to adjust the seat and mirrors I start the vehicle
and pull out of the lot. The power it has surprises me. It seems to have
more power than my car, and handles just as good if not a little better.

We drive around for about a half an hour and then dad asks, "Well, what do
you think?"

"I love it. I want one. But I can't see how we can afford it. The sticker
price on this one is just over ninety thousand. The one in the showroom is
just under ninety five. There is no way we can do that for a car."

"Jay just got a check for twenty five thousand dollars yesterday, plus you
guys have whatever is left from Shawn and Sue's estate. You could probably
pay cash for it and get a great deal."

"I know, but that money was meant for us to raise Shawn not buy a bunch of
stuff we don't need."

"Zack, you guys need a better family car. The mustang is going to get very
crowded real soon and Jay's car is not a family car. You said it yourself
that you need a bigger vehicle."

"Yeah, but a ninety five thousand dollar one? No, we don't need one of
those."

"Just see what kind of deal they will make you. First, see without Jay's
car, then with his as a trade in towards it. You will probably get a better
deal without it and then you can sell it yourselves."

"I don't know dad."

"What harm is there in asking?"

"Ok. Let's head back then." It takes a couple of minutes to get back to the
dealership. As soon as I park and we are getting out the salesmen walks up
to us and asks what I thought of it.

"I love it, but the price is a little steep."

"Well, why don't you guys come in and we can go over some numbers?"

He turns around and leads us towards the building. We hang back a little
and I whisper to dad, "I'm trusting you not to get me screwed over or in
over my head."

"I know, Zack. Please trust me."

"I trust you with my life, Jay's and those of our kids."

He looks at me and I can see his eyes are watering, not quite crying but
almost. "I love you, Zack."

"I love you too, dad."

We finish our private discussion just as we catch up with the salesman who
is standing holding the door open for us. He shows us to his desk and
finally introduces himself, his name is Tom.

Tom goes over all the incentive programs Cadillac has running right now
plus tells us about the manufactures rebates being offered. He then asks
what extras I would want on mine if I decide to buy one.

I turn and point to the one sitting in the middle of the showroom and tell
him, "I want that one."

He clicks on a few things on his computer and then pulls his calculator out
of a drawer in his desk and punches a bunch of buttons on it. "Do you have
a preapproval from a bank or will you need financing?"

I look at my dad and he nods his head. "If I decide to buy one I will be
paying cash."

Tom just about falls out of his chair with shock and says, "Fifteen years
in this business, most of them with Cadillac, and that is the first time I
have ever heard that." Once he recovers from the shock he punches a few
more numbers on the his calculator then says, "Well with the rebates and
other incentive discounts right now plus a discount for your cash payment
in full, the final price of the one on the showroom floor is eighty one
thousand nine hundred dollars, after tax and licensing are added in."

"Not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Can I have a couple days to
think it over and talk to my husband about it?" I ask him.

"Of course, I don't need an answer right this minute. Take as long as you
need."

Then my dad asks, "Can we get that quote in writing?"

"Sure, that's not a problem. Just give me a minute." He clicks his mouse a
few times and then types in a bunch of numbers. Then the printer in the
corner comes to life and prints out the quote. He gets up from his chair
and grabs the paper from the printer. Returns to his desk, signs it and
then hands it to me. "Zack, it was nice meeting you and I hope I can sell
you a car real soon."

My dad laughs and says, "I'm sure you do."

Tom laughs it off and shakes both of our hands and then walks us out to my
car. We say our goodbyes and then get in and drive to the hospital. On the
way I say to dad, "I can't believe you said that to him."

"Said what?"

"That you're sure he hopes he can sell me a car real soon."

"Zack, think about it. Even with the discounts and everything you will get
if you buy it, he's still making one hell of a commission on that vehicle."

"Yeah, I know."

"And to be honest with you if you don't buy it, I just might. That is one
hell of a deal."

"I know, I couldn't believe it when he said the total. I was expecting it
to be a lot more than that."

"Well that's why it's such a good idea to buy luxury items when the economy
is down like it is now. Their sales are down so they will do anything to
make a deal. I bet, if you tried, you could get him to come down even
more. Try bargaining with him before you sign anything. That is if you guys
decide to buy it."

"Well this is something Jay and I will have to discuss; and if we agree to
buy it, I'll see if he'll come down even more. Thanks dad for coming with
me. I really enjoyed today. I've missed us spending time together just the
two of us."

"I know, Zack. I've missed it too."

We finish the short drive in silence. I find a parking space in the
hospital's lot and, after getting out, I walk around to the passenger side
of my car and give my father a hug. "Thank you. I love you, dad."

"You're welcome and I love you, too."

He puts his arm around my shoulders and we walk to the main entrance of the
hospital. Make our way through a crowd that is in the middle of the
lobby. Some of the people standing there look like cops; they just have
that air about them. Then I notice Judge Mitchell with them.

"Dad, Judge Mitchell is here."

"Where?"

"Right there," I say as I point towards him.

We walk over to him and as soon as he sees us his expression changes from
his normal politeness to warm and welcoming.

"Guys how are you?" he asks.

"We're good. What's going on John?" dad asks him.

"We have a problem..." he says.