Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:23:10 +1000 (EST)
From: Dane Isaac <dane_isaac@yahoo.com.au>
Subject: Rian chapter 5

hey everyone! i'm getting such a great response to this story! if i
havent emailed you back yet dont fret i'll get to it!
So here's the next chapter, sorry it was a bit of a wait...
anyway let me know what you think!


Rian
Chapter 5


Sometime later Tristian came through to report that Gus had got a hold of
Rian's grandparents and that they had signed over temporary guardianship
in lieu of Rian's dad. Something complicated that the boys didn't
really care about. All they knew was that now Gus could make decisions
for Rian who was still some months away from his 18th birthday.

Most of this went over Rian's head as the drugs made him kind of
oblivious. In fact while most of this was all going on Rian was
contentedly dreaming.

He dreamed of a boy with honey coloured eyes and a brilliant smile. He
dreamed of silly disconnected things too, melting icy poles, sliding down
grassy hills on flattened cardboard boxes, the feeling you got when you
jumped off the top tower at the swimming pool, the sick yet satisfied
feeling you got when you ate an entire bag of lollies.

His thoughts gradually changed. He saw his father's angry face the time
he thought his mother's lipstick would make great war paint. He saw his
father's frustration when Rian took an extraordinarily long time to work
out how to tie his shoe laces, he saw his father talking to his mother at
the back of the hall when he graduated from primary school instead of
taking photos like everyone else's parents. Finally he saw the look of
absolute hatred and anger on his father's face as he kicked and punched
Rian's already battered body.

It was with this image in his mind that Rian woke. Jake was gone and the
room was dark. He could hear heavy breathing and slight snoring from the
room's other occupants and the faint yet amazingly penetrating hospital
noises.

Rian wished someone was there.

He woke up to whispering the next morning, surprised that he had fallen
asleep in the first place. Jake and Tristian were in the corner smiling
and whispering to each other. Rian felt a sudden pang of jealousy shoot
through him as he watched.

Jake looked up suddenly and saw he was awake. He grinned widely and
hurried over to his side.

"Hey Rian. How you feeling this morning?"

Rian smiled faintly. "Thirsty."

Jake spun to get water but Tristian was already there and the two of them
smacked into each other. Giggling, they argued about who got to give Rian
water.

Rian watched them. They seemed really close and again jealousy reared. It
was then that Rian noticed a dull pain in his chest. He was pretty sure
it wasn't from jealousy though. He winced but was really glad that the
pain was not half as bad as yesterday, although that may have had
something to do with the painkillers he was on.

Jake had conceded the battle and Tristian approached with a cup of water.
Rian watched them silently.

Tristian frowned. There was something in Rian's eyes, well eye really,
that hinted that he was upset about something. Tristian helped him tilt
his head and held the water steady for him as Rian used one shaking hand.

Jake had run around the other side of the bed and picked up Rian's free
hand. He was rubbing it gently and despite himself, Rian started to
relax. When Rian's head was back on the pillow, Jake reached out and
smoothened Rian's short curls off his forehead. Rian's eyes closed as
he reveled in the feel of the gentle hand.

"Ree?" Tristian said softly and Rian looked at him. "Your grandparents
are arriving today to see how you are."

Rian wasn't sure how he felt about that. They were snobby rich people
who lived in a huge house in an area with all the other snobby rich
people. Rian, being a bit of a socialist at heart especially where
welfare and equality was concerned, had tolerated them politely but never
really liked them.

"Tristian? Do they know?" He didn't mean that his father had done this
but that he was gay.

Tristian guessed what he meant. "No. Dad does though and he wants to
talk with you."

Jake was looking puzzled. "Knows what?" He asked curiously.

Rian stared at him for a moment. For some reason his past fear of people
knowing had diminished. "I'm gay. That's why my dad beat me up."

Jake looked horrified and for a moment Rian thought that he was horrified
at the fact that he was gay. "How could your father do that?"

As the reality of the news sunk into both Rian and Jake, a shy smile
passed between them. A smile that made both their hearts race. The moment
was interrupted by Gus.

"Boys? Can I speak with Rian alone please?" Gus asked.

The boys nodded and headed out the door.

Gus smiled at Rian as walked over and sat in the chair beside the bed. He
drew the curtain partially around for some added privacy.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush, let me get straight to the
point. Tristian told me that you're gay and that this was why your
father has been hurting you. Firstly Rian, I want you to know that you
are kind of like a second son to me and I've been very worried about you
lately. Ange and I don't care that you're gay." Gus patted Rian's
hand in comfort.

"Rian, I've talked to your grandparents and they have signed over
temporary guardianship. They will be here later on today." Gus frowned
and Rian noticed that he seemed troubled. "I haven't told them why your
father beat you but your father has been arrested and I'm sure they will
find out soon. No matter what I will still be asking if I can get
permanent guardianship over you. I want you to come and live at our
place. Ange is cleaning up the guest room for you as we speak. She wanted
me to tell you she will be around to see you later."

"The police will also be in this afternoon to question you and my lawyer
and I will be there if you want. How does that sound? Do you want to live
with us? Its ok if you would prefer to live with your grandparents."

Rian smiled happily for the first time in a long while then tears started
to appear.

"I want to stay with you and Ange." The tears overwhelmed him.

Gus held him while he cried.

When Gus left the two boys hurried back in. Jake was continually shocked
and upset every time he saw Rian laying there. How could Rian's own
father hurt him like that? Just because he was gay? Jake had told his
parents that he was gay when he was fourteen and they didn't bat an
eyelid.

He came from a massive family, with two older brothers, an older sister,
two younger sisters who were twins and a younger brother. The only one
who had some difficulty with it was his oldest brother Mark. Mark had
married a very religious woman and had converted. It took the whole
family ganging up on Mark to make him see reason. Things weren't the
same between them but Jake had never been that close to his eldest
brother in the first place.

Jake stared at Rian from the doorway. He had told a few family members
about the intriguing boy and they had all encouraged him to get to know
him. He had held back before never hoping that Rian could be gay. But he
was.

Jake couldn't help the grin that came over his face. He caught up with
Tristian and made his way over to Rian's bed.

Perching himself on the edge of the bed, Jake reached over and took
Rian's hand.

"What did Dad say Ree?" Tristian asked eagerly, hiding a smile at
Jake's obvious infatuation.

"He wants me to stay at your house."

"AND?" Tristian demanded grinning.

"I want to live with you guys." Rian said smiling as Tristian started
bouncing around the room like Tigger.

After he had been told off by a nurse, Tristian declared he was going to
talk to his dad about how best to use his new slave. Grinning evilly he
raced from the room much to the annoyance of the nurse who called after
him to slow down. Muttering, she turned back to her patient.

"He means that doesn't he?" Jake laughed.

Rian smiled. "He only wishes. Bet you Gus'll make him slave after me
until I get better. There'll be hell to pay."

Rian laughed when he heard a nurse in the hall say loudly, "Slow down
young man! You nearly bowled me over!"

The laugh quickly turned into a grimace and he clutched his chest as a
sharp twinge of pain shot through his ribs.

Jake noticed and went into mother hen mode. "Are you ok? Do you want me
to call the doctor?"

Rian smiled faintly. "I'm fine just remind me not to laugh."

"Ok." Jake said seriously. "Hold on, I'll put in my phone."

They stared at each other a moment then Jake grinned and Rian couldn't
help the giggle that burst out.

"Ow!" He winced again

"Sorry!" Jake was instantly contrite. He stared at Rian quietly, trying
to resist the urge to run his fingers through that beautiful raven hair.

After a second of internal battle, Jake gave in. He leaned close and
brushed Rian's forehead tenderly with his fingers.

"Oh Rian." He whispered, moving his fingers into Rian's soft curls.

Rian watched him, taking in the expression on Jake's face. He couldn't
ever remember seeing that expression on someone's face as they looked at
him before.

It was a look of loving tenderness. Those honey eyes moved closer and
closer. Rian felt Jake's breath softly fanning his mouth then Jake's
lips brushed his own.