Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:32:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: JMH <trandar2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Circle the Noun Chapter 34

"Come on hon, it's been over six weeks," Glenn said as he waited in bed
with a hard-on."

"I'll be right back," Kyle said nervously.

When he did come back, Kyle was carrying the heart monitor machine.  Glenn
moaned as sat up so Kyle could put the sensors on him.

"Kyle, do we relay need to do this.  We have made love a dozen times since
the incident and I'm still alive."

"Thanks to these machines," Kyle said as he patted the top of the heart
monitor.

"Kyle? I know you are still scared but we need to move on.  It's affecting
our sex life."

"Sorry Glenn, but it would just kill me if us making love hurt you again,"
Kyle said, the sadness showing in his face.

"I understand."  Glenn gave up.

With great care so as not to get tangles in the wires, the two of them made
love.  It was while Glenn was fucking that the power went out.

"Glenn, you ok?" Kyle said panicked.

"I'm more than ok?"  Glenn laughed as he kept on pounding.

"But the machines?" Kyle asked as he tried to find them in the darkness.

"Fuck the machines.  Kyle do you 'really' want us to stop just because of a
fuse?"

It might have been that Glenn was really fucking him hard, it might have
been that it felt good not to hear the beeping of the machines but Kyle
decided not to protest.  He heard the sound of Glenn ripping off the
patches.  Soon Glenn was lying on top of him, kissing Kyle's face and neck
while he really went at it with Kyle's ass.

When Glenn finally cummed inside his lover he let out a deep satisfying
moan.  Glenn had to admit all the exercise had help build up his
stamina. He was barely winded.  "That was wonderful my love," Glenn said as
he kissed Kyle gently on the lips.

"You haven't been this passionate in years," Kyle said amazed.

"I take it that you liked sex without the machine."  Glenn grinned.

"Uhmmmm?"  Kyle stalled, not wanting to admit that he had been wrong.

"It's ok, babe? but tomorrow that machine goes back to the hospital," Glenn
said firmly.

"But?" Kyle wanted to protest.

"Kyle? I want to love you fully, not have to stop each time my heart rate
jumps.  For that not to happen I would have to stop loving you as just
being with you sends my heart racing."

"I just don't want you to die."

"Yes, but you also want me to live and the only way I know how to live is
by loving you."

"I understand.  The machine will go back tomorrow," Kyle relented.

"Good? now I'm going to see what is wrong with the power.  You stay here."
Glenn grinned as he got out of the bed and headed out.

Glenn walked through the dark house with a satisfied grin on his face.
Getting rid of the heart monitor had not really been for himself but for
Kyle.  With all the beeping and flashing lights, Kyle could not escape his
fears of loving Glenn to death.  The power outage was just the thing Kyle
needed to get over it.

"Ok Tad, you can turn the lights back on," Glenn called out into the dark
garage.

"Just one second," Tad grunted.

"Ok?"  Glenn waited.  The fuse box was near the basement stairs so he did
not want to take the risk of tripping but after a while, when the power did
not go back on and the grunting and moaning were only getting louder, he
made his way carefully over to the fuse box, feeling his way till he
touched the metal case and flipped the switches back on.  This flooded the
room with light that blinded Glenn for a second but when he could see again
he almost fell down the stairs in laughter.

On the hood of Kyle's car was Richard with a sock stuffed in his mouth,
fucking him was Tad while he still had his workout clothes on.  "Having fun
you two?" Glenn laughed.

"Just breaking my boy in!"  Tad grinned as he kept on fucking.

"Your boy?" Glenn asked.

"Yep? he is a decade younger than me, he is my bottom, and still learning
the ropes, so yes I would say he is my boy? aren't you, Rich?"

Glenn saw that Richard shook his head yes.

"That's my boy!"

Glenn had to agree that Richard, after loosing 40 pounds of fat and gaining
a lot of lean muscle did look boyish. Of course Tad had added to that image
by taking Richard shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, and
the Gap, remaking Richard into a 34-year-old college frat boy.

With a final push, Tad deposited his seed deep inside Richards bowls.  Tad
then took the sock out of Richard's mouth and raised him up for a kiss.
"How is my boy doing?"

"Real good," Richard sighed.

"Kiss?" Tad asked as he moved his lips inches from Richard's.

"Kiss," Richard agreed as he planted a light peck on Tad's lips.

"Kiss," Richard said again as he returned the kiss but much harder, with
Tad wrapping his arm around Richard's waist so he could lower him back down
on the hood of the car.

Seeing that the two of them were just getting started again, Glenn went
back into the house where he found Terry reading a book.

"Are the two of them having fun?" Terry asked, not looking up from her
page.

"Yes?" Glenn replied nervous.

"Good."  Terry smiled, putting the book down to face Glenn.

"Good?" Glenn asked, surprised.

"Yes? I want Richard to be happy."

"But he is cheating on you."

"No? I gave him permission to have his fun with Tad."

"That does not hurt you?"

"Nothing compared to when I gave Josh to Robert."

"But Terry you deserve to be happy," Glenn said concerned as he took a seat
next to her.

"And I am? you have no idea how boring Richard was in bed before Tad broke
him in.  Richard use to act like touching me was committing a sin.  Now, he
is very adventuresome."

"But you don't worry about him leaving you?"

"Oh no? that is one of Tad's rules.  He never breaks couples up, but he has
told me that he is really taken with my husband.  Best client he has had in
years."

"Best how?"

"Oh come on, Glenn, you know what Tad is?"

"No I don't?"

"He is a Dom? as in dominatrix? a master only that he achieves with
personality and presence what others do with leather and whips.  How else
is he able to get you and Kyle to work your asses off while living off
celery sticks."

"I see your point," Glenn agreed.  Tad was sort of a GQ bully.

"And my husband is submissive," Terry added.

"Richard? nah he is just a little shy."

"Come on, Glenn?  His best friend offered him a job in San Diego and turned
it down because he was afraid I would have asked to stay for the kids.  He
didn't even bother asking me.  For the holidays when it comes time to visit
family he agrees to see whomever I want.  I have to pick his family over
mine or else he would never see them."

"Ok? so he does not have the strongest backbone in the world."

"No he doesn't, but Tad is giving him one."

"By treating him like a college kid?"

"Yes?it's really very simple? Richard is like a child looking for approval.
Tad gives him that approval whenever my husband does what Tad tells him to
do.  Tad's approval gives him the self-confidence to make love to me in
bed, to talk to his friend in San Diego about the job, to be happy with
himself."

"So? Tad has been good for your marriage.  What if Richard decides he wants
to leave you for another man."

"Tad and I are working on that one."  Terry smiled mysteriously.

"What do you mean?" Glenn said suspicious.

"Let's just say that Richard is not the only one cheating with Tad."

"OH MY GOSH!" Glenn exclaimed as his gray eyebrows shot up.

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

Andrew woke up feeling at peace.  His head was nestled between Robert's
head and shoulder.  Josh had his own head resting on Andrew's chest.  Both
men had their arms protectively around Andrew.

Andrew let out a deep sigh of relief.  He had expected Thanksgiving dinner
to turn into a shouting match instead he had ended up in bed with both
Robert and Josh, not for sex but for comfort.

It felt good to be back in his old room with everything but the bed the
same.  This is where he belonged.  Not necessarily in bed with Josh and
Robert but with his family.  Yet? Andrew did not want to be alone.  He did
not want to have his sex life end with the pity cuddle from Josh and
whatever pleasure Andrew could gain from his own two hands.  He needed a
sex partner and Edward was not the type of person he would want to bring
into the family.

That was secondary to the fact that Andrew didn't really love Edward.  He
and Josh had been given an invitation to attend a dinner of high power gay
men.  Josh had missed it to go on his annual trip to the lake with Robert
and the boys.  Andrew knew he should have gone down with Josh but he was
feeling a little peeved.  The lake house belonged to Robert and he ran it
like it was his.  Robert set the schedule, planned the meals, determined
who did what.  It was also the place where Robert and Josh let down some of
their barriers when it came to how they felt about each other.

So Andrew had stayed home and gone to the dinner party.  It was a mixture
of the rich and cute.  Andrew, having worked nearly as hard as Josh in
keeping his body in shape, was a little of both and so attracted the
college age toy boys and the better looking rich business men as well.  For
Andrew it was a change of pace? being the desirable one in the room.  He
felt he had to work hard for Josh's attention so it felt good to not have
to do anything to be the center of attention here.

Edward had not been blind to the attention Andrew attracted and soon took
him in hand, introducing Andrew to many of the same people who attended his
sex parties.  Edward invited him to the next one, which was coming up soon.

It had been the second week of Josh and the kids being gone at the lake
that Andrew had enough of just jacking off alone in bed.  He went to
Edward's party and he did have sex with the many men available there,
including Vale and Edward.

That had begun his downward spiral.  Edward introduced him to more men than
Andrew could remember the names of.  Sex, once a form of expressing love to
Josh, was now just a mindless activity he did to forget that Robert had
first place in Josh's heart.  Andrew did feel guilty for cheating, but his
only solution for it was to sleep with more men.  He had become a sex
addict.  Instead of drugs, alcohol, or psychotherapy he had turned to
fucking men to forget his pain.

But just like anything else taken into excess, it had led to his downfall.
Andrew knew that Edward liked him only because he felt he had found a
kindred spirit? a wealthy middle-aged, yet hot guy who seemed to enjoy sex
as much as he did.

To be honest Andrew had enjoyed himself.  The sex had been great.  The
freedom to sleep with whoever he wanted had been good as well but as a form
of life style it was crappy.  Waking up more days than not with a hangover
and in bed with Edward plus several other men left him with an empty
feeling inside.  It had been good to enjoy himself for once but the guilt
of feeling he was doing nothing productive, nothing to move himself into
the type of loving relationship he had always wanted, had given him a bad
attitude that he had taken out on Greg.

Now Andrew had choices to make: stay with Edward for the sex or move back
home and try to repair the damage he had caused to everyone, especially his
son.

"Morning Andrew," Robert said as he kissed him on the cheek.

"Hey?" Andrew said as he tried to clear his mind of depressing thoughts.

"Come on, let's let Josh sleep in.  He did cook for all of us last night,"
Robert said as he slipped out of the sheets.

"OK?" Andrew said as he joined Robert.  He could sense a talk coming.

Handing Andrew one of his spare bathrobes as he put one on himself, Robert
led Andrew downstairs to the library.

"Rumor as it that you have some info about the trouble David is in," Robert
said once he took a seat.

"Yes? I might," Andrew agreed.

"Well? what is it."

"I? I found an army knife in the toilet in Scott's bathroom."

"Well, finding a knife in the toilet is a little suspicious but why do you
think it is linked to the murder?"

"I don't know? Maybe because of the fight Scott and his father had that
night."

"Tell me about it."

"I, Edward, Vale and a few of the house boys?"

"House boys?" Robert said with raised eyebrows.

"Yes Robert? I've been a little slutty lately.  I think I've more than paid
the price for it."

"I'd say you have," Robert agreed.  What could be worse than getting AIDS
as a result of indiscretion?

"Scott came back home? very angry but not with Edward at first but with
Vale.  He accused him of sleeping with one of his patients.  That was the
first time I learned that Vale had AIDS."

"I see? continue," Robert sighed.

"Vale just laughed his head off and left the table.  Scott tried to follow
but was stopped by his father, fists were thrown and Scott left, with his
father on the ground with a bruised lip."

"You slept with Vale?"

"Yes? I got myself tested the next week.  Edward kept on telling me he was
not infected, but I pushed him to get tested.  I swear Edward knew he was
infected, but as long as a doctor did not tell him he was he could keep on
pretending.  I feel sorry for the house boys? I'm sure they are infected as
well."

"Have you warned them?" Robert asked.

"No? and before you yell at me about that it is a complex issue.  The boys
know if they come out positive they would most likely get kicked out of the
house.  Knowing Edward, he would blame them instead of Vale for his
infection.  As long as the boys don't know they are infected they have a
roof over their heads."

"And slowly dying when they should be getting treatment," Robert said
bitterly

"Yes?" Andrew admitted.

"Tell them," Robert said sternly.  There was no hiding that it was an order
than a request.

"I will? Edward will kick me out of the house though."

"Fine? move back here.  I also want you to find housing, medical treatment,
and consoling for those boys who want it."

"That will cost me a fortune!" Andrew exclaimed.

"I know? I also know you are good for it."

"Fine? but I hope you know I'm also a victim here."

"Barely? yes, you were tricked by Edward and Vale, but you were just
fooling yourself if you thought living there would not have its risks."

"I know? that is my fault, but those kids?"

"Did you sleep with most of them?"

"Yes," Andrew admitted.

"Then you have some responsibility.  Look? just enlighten them that they
need to get tested and tell them you will help them regardless of the
results.  Some of them will be like Edward and stick their heads in the
sand, but one or two might really want your help and if you ever want to
lessen the guilt I know you are feeling, you will give them that help."

"Ok?"

"So back to the knife and argument.  Do you have the knife on you?"

"Yes.  It's in the car."

"Good? we can give it the forensic experts we hired to see if it is really
the murder weapon."

"Ok," Andrew sighed.

"Now tell me.  How did Scott know that Vale had AIDS and you or Edward did
not?"

"I don't know."

"Then let's find out.  Go get the knife and come back here," Robert said as
he got up and left.

Andrew left for his cold car and pick up the box he had the knife in before
heading back into the warm house.  Ten minutes passed before Robert
returned with a sleepy Scott in tow.  Andrew wanted to leave but he knew
that Robert wanted him to stay.

"What's up?" Scott said as he took a seat.

"Show him," Robert said looking at Andrew.

"I found this hidden in the tank of your toilet," Andrew said as he opened
the box with the knife.

"Looks like one of the knives me and my father collect," Scott dismissed.

"Why was it hidden in your toilet?" Robert asked.

"I don't know? I would not have hidden it there."

"Is it your knife or your father's?"

Scott picked up the large knife and examined it before putting it back.
"It's mine but that doesn't mean anything, all the knives are kept in the
den, both mine and my father's."

"So anyone could have access to it?" Robert asked.

"No? they are kept in a locked case.  Someone would need one of the keys."

"Ok? let's change topic.  Tell me about the night of the murder.  You and
David both left early.  David has told us his story.  What is yours?"

"I went home.  Picked up a few things and then?"

"You and your dad got into a fight," Andrew finished.

"Yes, but we always fight," Scott dismissed.

"About AIDS?" Andrew pressed.

"Ok? so I've know for some time that Vale has AIDS? so what."

"Tell us how you knew?" Robert asked.

"Hey? that's confidential info," Scott said evasively.

"Scott? stop fooling around.  David is in some serious trouble and if this
knife does turn out to be the murder weapon you are in trouble as well."

"It's not the murder weapon," Scott brushed off.

"How do you know that?" Andrew said angrily.

"I?" Scott could not finish.

"Scott? help us," Robert almost begged, getting out of his seat.

"Ok? I'll tell you, but you have to keep it a secret."

"Alright," Robert said taking his seat again.

"I bought a few skeleton keys off the internet.  You know the kind the
police have.  I've used it to get in and out of the house all the time."

"Continue," Robert encouraged.

"The one of the rooms I love breaking into was Vale's office.  He keeps all
the files on his patients in there.  It's funny reading the sarcastic
comments he writes down about them. Ok? "

"Yes," Robert replied to show he understood so far.

"One of those files turned out to be Thomas's.  Can you believe that?
Thomas was one of Vale's patients.  So I read his file and you know what I
found out?"  Scott giggled.

"No? tell us," Robert said getting tired of how Scott was dragging things
out.

"The two of them were screwing around.  I mean I knew that Vale had been
fired for having sex with one of his patients I just didn't know he went
after guys my own age."

"Damn," Robert sighed as he began to put the pieces together.  "So Thomas
got AIDS from Vale."

"I didn't know that Thomas was infected till I learned at Glenn's house."

"Then how did you know that Vale was infected?"

"Well, besides checking on his files I also peaked into his meds closet.
You know the one where he keeps all the free samples the drug companies
hand out.  I sometimes took a zanax or two to get a buzz"

"Ok? so we now know we need to get you to drug counseling's and you found
AIDS meds in the closet."

"Hey, I'm trying to help you out," Scott whined.

"And we will help you out as well," Robert replied unsympathetically.

"But how do you know that Vale was taking the meds?" Andrew asked.

"Because I know that none of his patients had AIDS.  I read their charts
after all.  I noticed that the supply would go up and down as if they were
being consumed and replaced. My guess is that Vale was using them on
himself."

"He might have also given them to Thomas," Robert added.  "His parents
didn't know he had AIDS."

"That is something we can also prove.  The drugs showed up during
forensics.  If they are the same ones Vale has in his drug closet we can
prove that Vale knew about Thomas's condition and was treating it," Andrew
said excitedly.

"I think I see what happened," Robert said as he began to put the pieces
together.  "After you found out that Thomas had AIDS you went to confront
Vale about it? yes?"

"Yes" Scott replied.  "It was the only thing that made sense.  Why would a
psychiatrist have AIDS meds in the first place?  I suspected that Vale was
using it on himself.  I also knew that Vale was fucking Thomas so when I
learned that Thomas also had AIDS I knew who to blame."

"Ok so you go home and accuse Vale of infecting Thomas? Vale must not have
been happy with that."

"Of course not? he was not only having sex with a kid but also his patient.
He would be screwed if that ever was found out," Scott suddenly realized.

"Could Vale have obtained the keys to the knife case?" Robert asked,
remaining calm.

"Getting my dad's pants off was a specialty of Vale's.  Yeah, I would have
to say getting the key would have been easy for him."

"The cuts on Thomas's body have been described as almost medical in
precision.  That is why the police have been investigating every doctor
David had contact with to see if David witnessed any surgeries.  Vale is a
psychiatrist, but I would not be surprised if he did a ER or surgery
rotation some time in his training."  Robert grinned as he felt himself
building a case around Vale.

"It would be good if he did," Andrew agreed.

"So Vale killed Thomas to prevent him from telling anyone about their
relationship," Scott said, amazed.

"Looks like it.  It all depends if this knife is really the murder weapon,"
Robert said as he held the sharp blade.

"This is going to ruin my dad," Scott said when the implications of this
coming out hit him.

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

The week that the forensics team had the knife was the most stressful the
house had ever been.  The ringing of the phone sent such panic in everyone
that Josh had to eventually call his investigation team and ask him to not
call only his office.  Still, whenever Josh came home from work he would be
barraged by questions.

So as not to create suspicion, Andrew agreed to stay with Edward till
things were known one way or the other.  Still, Andrew could not hide his
distaste for Vale but the members of the house easily explained that away
as Vale was being more smug than usual.  Nothing would have made Andrew
happier than telling everyone in the house that Vale had infected all of
them with AIDS but he had to wait till he could move back home.

In preparation for this, Andrew had his son's things moved to Josh's house.
This not only made Greg happy, but Vale and Edward as well, as they had
never cared for Andrew son's squeamish personality.

David though suffered the worst.  It was his fate that was at stake.  If he
could name Vale as the killer he could even hope to get off all charges.
Josh warned that it would not be easy though.  Thomas's parents were
convinced that David took part in their son's murder and they wanted him to
face some punishment.

The first good news to come out of the revelation of Vale's past with
Thomas was that Eric knew who to concentrate on.  After staying up for
three days with no sleep Eric brought over a large stack of papers, which
were complex, but hinted that Vale had sent the messages to Thomas and
David telling them to go to the soccer field.  The connection was that
Vale's credit card was used as a deposit at two different internet cafes
and while aliases had been used in attempt to hide their origin, the text
messages that both David and Thomas received originated from computers in
those cafes.

So that mystery seemed to be solved.  On further questioning Scott admitted
that he had read about Thomas's relationship with David in the file Vale
kept on Thomas.  Robert now suspected that when Scott had accused Vale of
infecting Thomas, Vale had quickly guessed that David must have just found
out the same as well.  Robert found what Vale did disgusting, but he had to
agree the man had a quick mind.  How else could he have arranged the murder
of Thomas and framing David for the crime in a matter of hours?

It was late Friday night and the family was huddled in the den waiting for
Josh to return.  Even Robert did not know where he was as his calls to
Josh's cell phone went unanswered.  Around seven, Josh did call and asked
Scott to join him at his law firm.  Three more hours passed with no
additional news so when the front door finally opened everyone jumped and
went to see if it was Josh.

Josh was there but he was not alone.  Standing next to him were two police
investigators, Scott, and the District Attorney.

"Uncle Josh?" David asked worried.

Josh let out a deep sigh before speaking with a small smile?"It was the
murder weapon."

"Yes!"  David jumped up and down in excitement

"With the rest of the evidence we have gathered the DA now believes that
Vale was the killer.  He has been arrested and held without bail," Josh
added as David, now crying went to his father and hugged him.

"Thomas's family has been told but so far they don't believe it yet," the
DA spoke up.  "They still want us to press murder charges against you, lad,
but with what we know there is little chance of it standing up in court.
The charge of making violent threats though will stand.  I'm sorry.
Thomas's family has been lobbying hard with the government to see you
punished."

"I did make those calls and I'm ready to be punished for them."

"That is why I'm going to offer you a deal.  If they can't get the murder
charge to stick to you they want you to face the maximum sentence on the
lesser charge.  I'm offering you three months jail and two years probation.
I'm also offering you complete immunity to the murder charge so that if
Vale tries to pin the crime on you, you will be safe.  If you don't take a
deal you will face a hostile jury pool and could face three to six years."

Having a clue to how Vale's mind worked.  None of the family would be
surprised if Vale already had a story that would pin the blame on David.
"I accept your deal," David said without a moments thought.

"Your sentencing will just be a formality.  The judge has already agreed to
the deal.  I was also able to get him to delay sentencing until January 5th
so you can spend Christmas with your family."

"Thanks."

"Where can we sign the papers?" the DA asked.

"In the library," Josh said as he led the way.

While the whole family watched, David and the DA signed the plea agreement
and immunity deal.  The DA and the two investigators then left the house so
that the family could be alone.

"It's over?" Mike sighed as he hugged his son close to him.

"I'm so sorry, dad," David cried.

"Why?" Mike said as he looked into his son's gray eyes.

"I should have never made those phone calls."

"You were angry.  We were all angry.  What you did was irresponsible but
you stood up and took responsibility for it.  If Thomas had not been
killed, you would have gotten off with probation.  It's Vale's fault."

While David continued to rest against his father's body, Nathan came up
from behind David and wrapped his arms around him.  David let go of his dad
and turned to face Nathan before kissing him on each cheek gently.

"I need to be alone with Nate right now," David excused himself as he
pulled Nathan away.

"Use my bedroom," Greg offered.

"No? we're going to our old room.  The room we shared for years," Nathan
said with a squeeze of David's hand.

Once the two of them were out of sight, Mike went over to Josh and pulled
him into a bear hug.  "Thank you Josh," Mike wept.

"What for?" Josh asked confused.

"For letting your son be with mine."

"I never told him he couldn't," Josh said as he patted Mike on the back.

"I know, but all you had to tell Nathan was that you disapprove and he
would have listened to you.  Thank you."

"I felt uncomfortable at first, but after I saw Nate look at David like I
do Robert, I knew I could not interfere."

On hearing his name mentioned, Robert joined the hug, wrapping his arms
around both Josh and Mike. Soon Patrick added his hug as well.  Scott
grabbed hold of Greg in a tight squeeze; Jeff and Jeremy leaned against
each other with happy smiles on their faces.  This left Philip, but that
did not remain for long.  Josh saw him standing all alone with his arm's
crossed looking lonely, so Josh let go with one of his hands and used it to
wave Philip over.  At first Philip shook his head no, but when Josh smiled
and kept on waving Philip could not help but grin and join them.

"You're family, Philip.  No reason for you to be alone," Josh told him when
he wrapped an arm around Philip.

"Yes?yes? dad," Philip said as he felt his eyes water.  He was finally part
of the family he had wanted to be a part of since Josh had been his
softball coach.  It was a tight fit, but he was able to wrap both arms
around Josh's waist while he cried on the shorter man's shoulder.

"I wish I could adopt you."  Josh smiled as he held Philip close.

"I want you to adopt me," Philip whimpered.  "I want to be David, Nate's,
and Greg's brother.  I want you and Robert to be my parents."

"Then we will just have to do something about that."  Robert grinned as he
kissed the top of Philip's head.

All this family closeness was very healing after a week of stress and
worrying, but it could not last.  With knocking on the front door, everyone
let their arms fall down to their sides.

Josh, not knowing who could be coming at this hour, left to see who was at
the door.  What he found in front of him took him aback.  Standing in the
cold were three college age boys who looked nervous.  In the background
Andrews Mercedes SUV was in sight, but as soon as Josh opened the front
door it started to drive off.

"Can I help you?" Josh asked, not sure what to make of these strangers at
his door.

"Andrew brought us here.  Is it true that he, Vale, and Edward all have
AIDS?" a scared voice asked.

Now realizing who these boy had to be, Josh got out of the way, letting
them enter the house.  "Why did Andrew drive off?" Josh asked as all three
men came in.

"He went to get more of our stuff.  Edward's place is now a graveyard," a
boy with peroxide blond hair explained.

"Yeah? word is getting out.  Edward paid us each a grand and told all of us
to leave his house.  I think he is going into hiding.  The phone was
ringing off the hook," a guy with short dark brown hair and remarkable
violet eyes added.

"Are you all the boys who lived there?" Robert asked as he came in the
entryway.

"No? this is less than half of us.  Edward's favorite went off with Edward
to the airport.  Three others are staying around to see if anyone comes
back.  Those are the ones who have been around for a while.  We are mostly
the new guys, except for Aiden.  He was Vale's fav," the peroxide blond
explained, pointing to the guy with violet eyes.

"Shut up!" Aidanshouted back as he tried to make himself invisible.

"Hey, that's enough of that!" Josh jumped in.  "Regardless of who was the
fav of who, you are all in the same boat.  All of you are homeless and
afraid you have been infected," Josh nearly shouted, which received
grumbles in return.

"What are we going to do?" a guy with a military cut, natural blond hair
said, panicked.

"Calm down, Justin," Aidansaid as he tried to hug the frightened young man.

"No? you fucked me!  You probably infected me."

"Andrew also fucked you.  He could have as well," Aidansaid sternly while
he still tried to comfort him.

"Justin was Andrew's fav," the peroxide blond whispered to Josh.

"You are just a gossip hound, aren't you," Josh said with distaste.

"Hey, just trying to help," the guy said as he stepped back from Josh.

"We know the other guys' names, but what is yours?" Robert asked.

"Oliver Staples."  The guy grinned as he offered his hand to Robert.
Robert did not take it.

"Well, until Andrew gets back ya'll will have to wait in the den."

"Fine with me," Aidangrunted as he picked up his bags.

"I hope you have some grub for us," Oliver replied as he followed Robert to
the den.

"Are you ok?" Josh asked Justin, who still looked very upset.

"No I'm not? I got kicked out of the military for being gay.  I think I
find a chance of a lifetime when I met Edward, only to get AIDS.  I have no
money.  No education.  No future? I'm screwed."

"I'm sorry, Justin.  We will try to help you."

"Help? Edward offered to help and look where it got me."

Remembering how Oliver had said that Justin was Andrew's favorite, Josh
decided to play that card.  "Do you trust Andrew?" he asked.

"Yes? that is why I agreed to come here."

"Andrew and I are very close.  He would want me to help you."

"Do you have AIDS?" Justin asked.

"No? Andrew and I were together before he met Edward."

"Why did he leave you? or did you leave him?"

"We sort of left each other," was the only way Josh could explain it.

"Unlucky him to get hooked up with Edward and get AIDS."

"Yes, but he's coming back home where he belongs."  Josh smiled as he led
Justin to the den.

"Would my life have been so fucked up if I had been straight?" Justin felt
he had to ask.

"Being gay is never easy, but we still have choices to make and they make
all the difference."

"All I have made lately have been wrong choices," Justin agreed.

"Come on, let's get some food into you.  No more worrying till tomorrow."

"OK?" Justin sighed as he tried to put today behind him.