Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 21:20:26 -0400
From: Jon Bennett <stonewolf@angelfire.com>
Subject: Nick and Jonathan Part 15

Hehehe... OK.. To all of you with no sense of humor(just kidding), thanks
for ALL of the E-mail. You have all made me very aware of how much this
series has touched each of you in some way. I am gratified beyond words at
the praise and compliements that have come from you all about the series.
Here is part 15. Has Jonathan been killed? Read on.

As always... Nick... thanks for being there. Especially last week when I
really needed you.

NICK AND JONATHAN PART 15.

Nick could hear what sounded like the engines warming up. He noticed a
slight vibration in the plane.  Before he could wonder about it, there was
a knock on the door and Chris came in.

"He's gotta leave and we gotta go" said Chris. "Jon's been
shot".............................

The words were like an icicle being thrust though Nick's chest. For what
seemed like minutes, Nick could not feel anything in his body, unable to
breathe. Finally words came out of his mouth only as a whisper.

"Shot?" he croaked out. "What... how..Where did it happen?"

"I don't know all the details yet dude" said Chris in reply. " All I know
is that Brandon called. They are still in Boston. One of the other security
guys-Jason took a really bad hit, he jumped in front of Jon. Get it
together we are moving in less then 3 minutes"

Nick could not even move. Everything he had suddenly known over the past
two weeks seem to dissolve in a single instant. He could not think. Chris
had gone back out to make last minute who knows what. Out of a haze, Nick
could feel Paul shaking him.

"Hey NICK" said Paul. "Snap out of it man. Talk to me."

"I can't man" said Nick, almost on the verge of collapse. "I can't even
think.. You had better get off I guess while you can; we're gonna be flying
out in a minute."

"No way dude." said Paul. "I'm not going anywhere except to Boston with
you. I'll call Mark later and he can take care of shit. You're not in any
condition to be alone."

Nick turned and had a look of a thousand miles away on his face."I can't
ask you to do that man."

"I don't recall being asked asshole" said Paul, slapping Nick gently in the
face." Now come on, tell me what we gotta do here"

"Uhm.. sit down somewhere I guess."said Nick.

The two left the bedroom and walked out to the stairs leading to the
upstairs lounge. There they met Chris who appeared in a fouler mood then
earlier. Nick noted that his jacket was off and the weapons he carried were
in full evidence.

"Thought I told you he had to leave" said Chris, not at all politely.

"I'm going for the ride man" said Paul, looking Chris in the eyes."He is in
no shape to be alone right now. Deal with it."

Chris looked over at Nick and nodded. "OK, get him upstairs and settled
in. We are rolling."

Looking out, Paul noted that the plane was moving. In fact it was moving
fairly quickly toward the departure runways. He guided Nick upstairs who
was obviously in a deep state of shock. He led him to a chair and put him
down into it, and sat down in a swivel chair next to him.

"Hey Bud" said Paul, shaking Nick. "You in there?"

"Yeah man, I'm here, my mind is blown that's all" said Nick, slowly coming
around. "I can't believe that Jon's been shot."

"Hey, it can't be too bad" said Paul, "Chris or whoever he is, didn't say
he was dead, just shot"

"Don't even go there man" said Nick. "I'll fucking lose it if he is dead."

Over the intercom came the voice of Captain Hendrickson. "Everyone settled
down? We're ready to roll"

"Kick it Don" said Nick. "Firewall this bitch."

"We're on a straight and direct flight line to Boston" replied the Captain
as they started their takeoff roll.  "Flight time is 2.5 hours. Hang in
there Nick"

"Just get me there Don" said Nick, again his voice barely above a whisper.

Chapter Two: About an hour or so into the flight, Chris came upstairs to
the lounge where Nick and Paul were talking quietly. Actually Paul was
doing most of the talking with Nick answering in monosylables.  He noted
that Nick still looked pretty rocky. He walked over to the bar, found a
bottle of Bacardi 151 and poured about two inches into a glass. He brought
it over to Nick and gave it to him. Nick downed the shot without even
looking at it. About 10 seconds later he looked up at Chris and barely
managed to ask "What the fuck was that".

"Bacardi 151." said Chris sitting down on the couch. "Best thing I know to
knock you back into your senses."

"Or knock you out senseless" said Nick. "What else do you know about what
happened?"

"Only what Brandon had said earlier." said Chris. "I can't get through to
his cell phone or Danny's. I mean last I heard Jon was alive, but that's
it. I have no idea where he was shot or how. I've made some arrangements
for when we land. There will be a vehicle waiting to take us to the
hospital. There will be a small group meeting us to make sure you stay
safe. Brandon did say that Jon said that you re to be covered hard"

"How long til we get there?" said Nick, getting up and pacing a little
unsteadily.

"About an hour or so." Said Chris. "Listen, I'll keep trying to get some
more information for you. In the meantime, just try to relax dude. If I
know Danny, no one out side of the medical staff is getting within 20 feet
of Jonathan."

"I know, I just can't deal with this" said Nick. He could not believe that
he could feel so many emotions going through him. Not all that long ago, he
had finally managed to shut himself away from feelings. Now they threatened
to overwhelm him. Jonathan meant more then just love to him. He had given
him comfort, love, and a sense of being alive again.

"Come on Nick" said Paul, standing next to him. "You can't do yourself or
anyone else, especially Jonathan any good pacing and threatening to pass
out here man. Come on, lets go downstairs. I think you need to crash out
for the rest of the trip. A little sleep will help you"

"How can I sleep man?" said Nick. " Jonathan is lying somewhere in a
hospital or on a operating table or something with a piece of metal in his
body that could be killing him."

"Come on" said Paul guiding Nick downstairs and towards the forward
lounge. Once they got in there, he pushed Nick down on the couch. Pulling
off his hiking boots he made Nick lie down on the couch and covered him
with a throw blanket that was on the back of the couch. Looking around he
found a dimmer switch on the wall and turned down the cabin lights to a
dull glow.

"You relax as much as you can man" said Paul. "I'm gonna go see if Chris
knows anything else"

Chapter Three: "Damn this thing is huge" said Paul to himself. He had been
walking around the 747 trying to find Chris. "How the hell do you get lost
in a fucking plane? This is nuts."

Finally after a little more searching he found Chris in the conference
room. Chris had one cell phone in his hand, another on the table, set up to
a speaker, and was using the other hand on a laptop computer typing one
handed. As he finished the call, and put down the phone, Paul walked over
to him and took a seat opposite him on the table. Chris looked up at
him. The look on his face was one to melt ice with a single glance.

"I know you don't know me from shit" said Paul, "But Nick is a very special
friend. We have been friends for ages. There's not much we haven't done
together.  He finally got the balls yesterday to tell me he is gay and I
was the first one he told. That means a lot to me, and he does too.  I
didn't have the guts last night to tell him I already knew he was gay, or
at least I thought bi. I hate to see him like this."

"I know." said Chris. He got up and walked over to the bar in the
conference room. He pulled a bottled water out for himself and got a beer
out for Paul. He brought them both back to the table.  "Hope you are legal"
he said with a small amount of humor.

"Got a great fake ID" said Paul.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, Chris keeping an eye on the
computer screen. Neither knowing what to say.  As Chris watched, after a
few minutes a connection was made and it beeped at him.

"About fucking time" said Chris.

"What?" said Paul.

"Its Danny" said Chris. "My boss, the one who was with Jonathan when
whatever happened"

"What's going on" asked Paul.

"Give me a couple of minutes" he replied. He was tapping keys on the
computer at a furious pace.  "Go back and stay with Nick. I'll let you know
something as soon as possible. We also have to talk before this plane
lands. You are my responsibility for the next day or so until I can get you
back to Denver."

"Whatever man" said Paul. "I'm hanging around until Nick is OK. You don't
need to babysit me. I can always get back to Denver on my own."

"Easier said then done dude" said Chris. "You are here, that makes you part
of this group.  So, consider yourself baby sat"

Paul walked back to the front of the plane to find Nick still on the
couch. He appeared to be sleeping or at least lying still.  Then he
rememebered the shot of 151 Chris had given him. It had looked to be pretty
heavy duty. He finished his beer and sat down on the couch on the opposite
bulkhead and stared at his best friend in the world.  Funny he
thought. Nick had always been quiet and reserved. He was a very special
friend. He had found some gay magazines in Nick's closet one time about a
year ago but never said anything. It didn't matter to him he was
gay. Looking back, he realized he should have said something when Nick told
him yesterday; but there would be time for that later. In his mind, looking
back to yesterday, he still couldn't believe his eyes watching Nick walk
out of the plane and walk down the stairs. He seemed so different, of
course he thought smiling to himself, walking down a stairset from a 747
would do that, but overall full of confidence, and happiness. The bullshit
he put up with from his father seemed miles away.  It was an incredible
change in him. Now he was like a formal shell of himself, having curled up
inside of himself. It was hard to even get him to talk since Chris had told
him Jonathan had been shotl.  He didn't know who Jonathan was, but it was
evident that he was someone who was special to Nick.

Chris came into the room, saw Nick on the couch apparently asleep. As he
started to back out of the room, Nick rolled over and saw him. He rolled
over into a sitting position.

"What's going on man?" asked Nick a little groggy. He had managed to fall
asleep briefly although he had no doubt it was from the Bacardi. No way
could he have slept with the feelings of pain, hurt and anxity from not
knowing about Jonathan coursing through him. Now maybe he would get some
answers.

"I talked to Danny via IM" started Chris.

"Yeah and?" said Nick more harshly then he had intended. He realized just
how close to losing it he really was. Part of him was there and it was like
part of him was outside his body watching his every move.

Chris sighed.  He walked over to one of the chairs and sat in it as if
carrying the weight of the world.  "Danny didn't have a whole lot of
time. According to him they had left the hotel earlier this
morning. Jonathan had stayed an extra night in Boston. Something about
lobster or clams or something.  This brought a brief smile to Nick's face
as he remembered Jonathan talking about Legal Seafood.  They were leaving
the hotel to go someplace Jon knew for breakfast. Some little deli in
Kenmore Square called the Deli Haus. As they left the T station in Kenmore
Square, some asshole jumped out 15 feet front of them and yelled something
at Jonathan and fired. The first bullet struck Jonathan. Jason jumped in
front of Jonathan pulling him down to the ground and took two more bullets
meant for Jonathan.  Danny and Shawn brought the gunman down with a couple
of single shots."

"What about Jon dammit!" yelled Nick, finally losing any sembleance of
control.

Danny paused briefly, as if debating with himself how much to tell Nick.
Finally he spoke.

"He was shot in the upper left chest" said Chris. "Danny doesn't know how
bad it is yet, other then the fact there was a lot of blood. He was
concious going into the emergency room. All he kept saying was to make sure
you were safe.  They have been working on Jonathan for about 3 hours
now. The doctors won't say anything yet. Danny is also a little busy
convincing the hosptial security that 4 armed guys are not leaving the
emergency room and that anyone who goes into the trauma room has to go
through them first."

"Oh man, I can't deal with this" said Nick, slowly sinking to his knees on
the floor.

Paul walked over to Nick and sat down beside him, holding him. Nick wrapped
his arms around his shoulders and began to cry. Chris wanted to say more,
but knew that there was nothing else he could say. Silently he left the
room.  Nick continued to cry and shake in Paul's arms for a long while
until he finally quieted down and became limp in Paul's arms. Paul
continued to hold him not saying a word, holding and supporting him.
Finally Nick moved a little and Paul let him go, watching him go into the
bedroom and bathroom. Nick emerged about 10 minutes later, looking a little
worse for wear, but more calm and composed.

"Thanks man"said Nick quietly.  "Guess you really must think I'm a queer
little faggot boy now. Can't even manage not to cry at bad news."

"Not really" said Paul. "Little maybe." This got him a well deserved scowl.
"I've known you were in to guys at least in someway for a while. I could
never think of you as a limp wristed pouf"

"You've known?" Nick looked over, shock in his face.

"Yeah. for a while"said Paul, "I was looking for a sweatshirt in your
closet at your house last year and found a magzine with guys dickin each
other in it."

"Oh man, how come you never said anything" asked Nick.

"I just figured you were bisexual or something, maybe thinking about a
guy." said Paul. "I think every dude gay, straight or whatever checks other
dudes in the shower or something out to see how they stack up. I've even
done it."

"Yeah I guess" said Nick. "I knew I was into dudes, but never had the balls
to try anything. Maybe it was a way of denying myself that I was gay. It
all changed when I met Jonathan. He was like no one else I had met. I knew
some gay dudes, but couldn't even think about doin anything with them."

"Its kewl dude, relax" said Paul, sitting down next to Nick on the couch
"Its who you are, not what you are or what you are doing. We've been
friends for too many fucking years to have anything tear us apart."

Nick smiled and reached over to hug Paul again. Then Paul did something
that Nick wasn't expecting. As Nick reached over, Paul stopped him, looked
him in the eye and planted a kiss square on the surprised lips of
Nick. Pulling back he looked at Nick.

"That proves I love you and care about you as a friend, and it's the first
and last time you get kissed by me. I'll deny it if you tell anyone, but I
hope you realize I don't care or I am worried if you are gay" said
Paul. "Just don't plan on gettin any of my ass"

The two broke up laughing. It was exactly what Nick had needed. Paul walked
over to the bar and looked around for some soda or something. Not finding
any he looked over at Nick who had managed to at least get up on his own
and sit in the chair.

"Hey, is all you got on this plane booze?" asked Paul, a smirk on his
face. "I mean under other circumstances we could be having a hell of a
party here dude, but I don't think either of us need anymore beer or shit".

Nick got up and walked to the phone on the bar. Picking it up he punched
four on the phone. Almost instantly the phone was picked up in the
galley. It was as if everyone on the plane was on pins and needles waiting
to find out what was going on.

"Yes sir" asked the steward. "How can I help you?"

"Can we get some soda and coffee up here in the foward lounge?" asked Nick.

"Of course sir" replied the steward. "Do you require any sort of food?"

Nick wondered if Jonathan only hired people with Brittish accents.

"Do you have any Doritos?" he asked.

"Yes of course. Jonathan said you were quite fond of them. There happens to
be a case down here" said the steward. "Nacho, Ranch, or Salsa Verde?"

"Surprise me" said Nick. "I am not up to decisions here at the moment"

"Very good sir" said the steward, "We'll be along directly."

Nick put down the phone and walked back to the sofa. Paul walked over and
sat next to his best friend.  He noted that Nick seemed to be calming down
to some measure of stability, but still a little shaky.

"So, dude" started Paul, not too sure how much to bring up. "Tell me
something about this dude who has swept you off your feet and into this
flying palace"

" I don't know what to say man" said Nick. "Jonathan is not what I first
thought he was. He had never mentioned the whole first year we talked and
chatted that he was worth this ungodly amount of money. Hell, when he flew
out to meet me for the first time a couple of weeks ago, he flew
commercial."

"Wow" said Paul. "If I had this thing I'd fly everywhere in it"

Before Nick could continue, there was a knock on the door and the chief
steward walked in with a rolling cart. On the cart was a silver
bowl. Looking into it Nick saw that he had combined all three doritos. He
smiled.

"Thanks." said Nick."Uhm.. I hate to sound like a fool but I don't even
know your name"

"You are entirely welcome sir" said the steward. "The name is Kevin sir"

"Please don't call me sir" said Nick, cringing. "It makes me feel old. I
don't think you are that much older then me man"

"Ok, I'll try" said Kevin. "You know, Jonathan hates it too when I call him
sir. Keeps threatening to fire me if I don't stop, but it was the way I was
trained."

"How old are you anyway?" asked Nick.

"26" said Kevin. "Jonathan showed up one day at the school where I was
going to in London. He hired six of us before we had graduated. Paid for
the last year of our schooling and brought us on board his company. Never
regretted it for a minute"

"Kewl" said Nick. He tried to reach for the carafe of soda, but Kevin beat
him to it, lifting it up and at the same time reaching down ot hte lower
level of the cart and pulling out two crystal glasses out. He poured the
soda and handed a glass to each of the guys.

"I hate to be forward" said Kevin." Have you heard anything about Jonathan
yet? All we know is that he was shot and we rolled out of Denver on
incredibly fast notice. Barely got the galley locked down before we flew"

"Not really Kevin" said Nick, muching on Doritos. Hell of a breakfast he
thought. "Chris said they were sill in the emergency room as of about a
half hour ago."

Kevin nodded and turned to walk out the door, closing it softly.

Chapter Four: Nick and Paul were talking about basically nothing and eating
when the intercom chimed softly.

"This is the flight deck" began the voice. Nick recognized it as that of
the flight engineer."We are 10 minutes out. We have clearance for a direct
landing. We should be locking down in general aviation within 10 minutes
after landing. On the bright side, Boston is a lot friendlier towards this
plane then Denver is."

Nick could feel the plane start its descent. He got up and started to pace
around the room.

"I thought you were supposed to be sitting down with your seatbacks and
trays in the full upright position" asked Paul with a smile.

"Hell dude" said Nick, "I was in bed getting my ass fucked one time when it
landed. This plane is as gentle as a baby coming in"

" I really don't need the visuals of a cock going in and out of your ass"
said Paul grimicing.

"You should try it" said Nick, looking out the window seeing the Boston
harbour again.  "Who are you kidding?" said Paul. "Just cuz I don't mind
you being gay and I kissed you doesn't mean you can stick that cock of
yours in me"

"Just kidding man" said Nick with a smile.

The plane cleared the runway and set down. As it began to slow and turn off
the runway for the taxiways, Chris came into the lounge. He tossed a down
jacket at Nick.

"OK, When we stop here is the drill. This isn't exactly an easy plane to
hide. If someone wants to know you are coming, it's a pretty safe bet, they
know" said Chris. "We are going to do this by the numbers."

"OK OK" said Nick. "Just get me into the city and the hospital."

"Micheal and I will be with you close in" said Chris. "You will also have
two other guys with you. Paul has to stay here at least for now. That is
not negotiable. I want to make sure you get into the hospital with no one
around you but us. I can send for him later."

Chris shot a look over at Paul. "You understand that man? You don't leave
this plane. I got a whole bunch of guys here who are going to be watching
the plane. You will be safe here."

"Why should I not feel safe man?" asked Paul. "Nobody knows me here or
cares who I am. They aren't after me"

"Think about it for a minute" said Chris looking out the window as the
plane stopped, then cursing under his breath, forgetting that the plane
windows were 40 feet up over the tarmac.  "You are a friend of
Nick's. Someone might use Nick to get to Jonathan. If they want to do that,
they would pull your ass in a New York minute and get rid of you like
garbage when they were finished."

Paul turned a few shades of green underneath his snow tan. The realities of
what was going on sunk into his head. "No sweat man. You are in charge."

Chris turned back to Nick."You ready?"

Nick was already halfway to the front doors. "Fuck yes man. Let's get
moving."

Chris walked over to the doors where Micheal was standing. He looked out
the door portal and saw three people he knew as other agents. Opening the
door they nodded that it was all clear. Together the five of them
surrounded Nick in a diamond patten. They went down the stairs and into a
waiting limo. As Nick looked back he could see 10 guys surrounding the
plane, all with weapons out. He felt sorry for the first person who tried
to get near the plane.

As the car sped into the city, Nick started to wonder about things. What
would happen if Jonathan died? He didn't think he could go on without him,
but knew that even if he did, he couldn't go home. Bleak and black thoughts
filled his mind.  He was lost in thoughts and wasn't even aware that they
had arrived in the hospital.  The limo stopped and Nick started to get out
but was stopped by Chris.

"Hold on dude" said Chris. "This thing is armored. Another 30 seconds isn't
gonna make or break shit. You stay here for a minute."

Chris got out and surveyed the area. It looked OK. He saw Danny coming out
of the emergency room entrance. He and Danny talked for a minute before
looking back at the limo. Danny had a look on his face that was part tired
and part angry.  He walked over and opened the door for the other guys to
get out. They formed a semi circle around the limo door, all with guns
out. Danny motioned for Nick to get out.

"How's Jonathan?" asked Nick as he was surrounded by the 6 people and
walked into the emergency room waiting room area. It was obvious that Danny
had been scowling and pacing the waiting room as most of the people were
all on one side of the room.

"We don't know" said Danny. "They are in trauma room working on him
still. All I know is that I have pissed off half the administration in this
hospital and they can kiss my ass for it, but he is safe here and that is
all that matters. I got 3 guys outside the room and 1 inside the
room. Brandon is around here somewhere trying to line up hotel rooms. The
only thing I do know is that Jason-the agent who threw Jonathan to the
ground and took two bullets died 30 mintues ago."

Nick felt emotions he had never known before and didn't know how to react
to them. Here was Danny telling him that someone had died saving Jonathan's
life. Someone gave up his life to protect the person he loved. He was
filled with silence and emptiness, not knowing what to say.

As they stood standing in the waiting room, A doctor came out of the
emergency room. He was tailed by one of the bodyguards. He looked and saw
the cluster of people with guns and figured this had to be the people he
had to talk to. Inside the cluster of people with guns he saw a young man,
a look of concern on his face.

Nick pushed thru the crowd of bodyguards to approach the doctor.

"Are you the one working on Jonathan" he asked.

"Yes I am." the doctor replied. "I am Dr. Silverman."

"What's going on? He is all right? Can I see him?" asked Nick, the
questions pouring out of him.

"No, not yet, you can't see him."said Dr. Silverman. "In fact, I need to
talk to you alone"

"No way Doc" said Danny. "He goes nowhere alone. One of us at least goes
with you, if not two."

"Come this way" said the doctor going towards an office door. "See here? It
is a closed office. You can wait outside the door, but what I have to say
is to him only."

Danny checked the office and decided it would be all right. "Don't be too
long"

Nick and the doctor went into the room and closed the door. Immediately all
6 security agents surrounded the door, like a pride of lions defending
their young.

"What's going on Doc?" said Nick, sitting in the chair the doctor pointed
to. "Why can't I see him? What's wrong?"

"I don't know how to tell you this son" began the doctor, gently. "Its not
good news, either for Mr. Castleton... or you"

Nick could feel his world start to crumble.