Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2017 01:53:30 +0000 (UTC)
From: Snowblind94 <snowblind94@yahoo.ca>
Subject: Jared 2 - 29

Nifty is an incredible place to view free stories, but needs money to keep
up its good work. Please donate when you can to keep this service alive and
well. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

Disclaimer: All characters depicted are above 18 years of age. The
following contains scenes of explicit scenes involving male sex and in a
variety of consensual activities. But, if you're looking for non-stop sex
then this isn't the story for you.  If any of this content is offensive to
you or illegal to access in your geography, please do not proceed any
further.  The characters are entirely fictitious and are not based on
anyone who has or is still living.

This story may not be copied or posted to any other websites without
explicit written permission from the author.

If you have any questions or comments, please send them to me at
snowblind94@yahoo.ca

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

Jared the Paramedic - Volume II
Chapter 29 - What Evil Lies Within


The man was 38 years old, married and the father of one perfect child.  His
son is now 18 years old, and had just finished high school.  Wednesday
afternoon, Ryan was sitting in a motor inn room on the edge of town;
sitting on the floor with his back against the bed.  He is trying to get
drunk enough to do what he knows is the right thing.  The bottle of Jack
Daniels hit the floor with a thud and echo of it being empty.  The empty
bottle rolled near empty prescription bottles of Seroquel and Effexor that
he had swallowed after refilling the prescriptions earlier.  He was
sluggish in his movements to reach for the gun lying on the floor near him.

Ryan leaned over to grab the gun, but ended up falling over into his side,
hitting his head on the concrete floor under the stained and threadbare
shag carpet.

Ryan was so drunk he couldn't even form the words 'goddamn it' or 'fuck
that hurt' after his head had hit the floor.  He was laying on the floor
now, eyes open and trying to get a fix on the gun, which was hidden behind
the empty pill and liquor bottle.

His eyes were becoming even more blurry as they began to once again fill
with tears.  Ryan was sure he didn't have any more water left in his body
as he had been crying steadily for the past 3 hours after getting into the
motel room.

His wife was a beautiful woman, his high school sweetheart who had gotten
pregnant right after their graduation.  The parents and his then girlfriend
arranged for a quick wedding as having an abortion was out of the question.
He had been pushed into the marriage as it was the right thing to do by
everyone concerned, except him.  No one had ever asked Ryan what he wanted
to do.

Ryan had joined the military at 19 years old, something he had always
wanted to do and it was an escape from the married life he had found
himself in.  After training, he had volunteered for additional training for
anything which would keep him on the base most of the time, but still allow
him to visit his son, and to a much lesser degree his wife.

Ryan was never going to be rich, but he worked hard in the army.  His wife
spent every penny he made, and more.  Over time, the relationship between
his wife and him had become very challenging if not outright toxic.  She
was hoping he would have had more rank in the army, or become a doctor
instead of his just being a common medic.  She didn't care he had a chest
full of medals from his deployments and service overseas, he was just a
Sergeant.

His wife had become more verbally and psychologically abusive over time as
well. She had joined a new church, and that event marked a drastic increase
in the toxicity of his wife, and their relationship.  The only reason Ryan
enjoyed getting back to the home base was to visit with his son.  He and
his son talked a lot on Skype, but it was the time they could actually
spend together which was treasured by both.

He had come home this week to find his son was away at a church sponsored
camp.  Ryan thought this was really unusual as college should have started.
His wife was vague about the camp but kept saying they would all have a
meeting in a couple of days.  Ryan asked who the meeting would be with; he
had been told both sets of parents, school principal, the minister and a
lawyer.  Ryan really wasn't sure what was going on but he would be
available.  That meeting had taken place today, and it was not what she had
told him.

It was his wife, a lawyer and the minister in a small meeting room inside
the main doors of the church she was now attending.  The minister told him
his son had been identified as being ill and needed to be cured as soon as
possible.  Ryan had become quite upset he hadn't been told about the
illness and everything had seemed fine when they had spoken the other day
on Skype.

The minister then told Ryan his wife had come home and found their son
naked with another man.  Ryan was sitting at the table stunned at the
revelation his son could be gay, but it didn't matter to him.  The reaction
he got from the Minister and his wife when he wasn't appalled about his son
set the tone for the rest of the meeting.  His wife, the boy's mother had
contacted the minister and the two of them had the young man committed to a
church education and behavioral management program under the Mental Health
Act.  The lawyer served copies of the Mental Health Act committal warrant
to Ryan, and he was stunned that they considered being gay as an illness.
Ryan became real upset when he was served with divorce papers as well,
citing lack of emotional attachment, lack of love, psychological hardship
and lack of physical relations.  Ryan wasn't so upset about the divorce as
what she had done to their son.  The minister refused to disclose the
location of the camp.  The minister then suggested the homosexual behavior
was often from someone close to them who had molested and taught them how
to be gay.

The minister told Ryan research has proven people being gay were recruited
into the lifestyle as part of the agenda to spread gayness.  He started to
speak about the gay agenda and how his son had chosen to become gay when
Ryan snapped and demanded to know what he meant about his son being
molested.

Ryan began to argue about their information when the minister ended it by
saying everything had been done, and it was time to leave.  They would be
in contact over the divorce, he would be expected to pay alimony as well as
for the treatment of his son, and the lawyer bills.  Again, they would not
tell him where the camp was and the lawyer added if he tried to contact his
wife without him being present, they would not only charge him but seek
restraining orders.

Just as the three people were about to leave, Ryan finally snapped.  He
told the minister another option they could consider was his wife had
driven their son to homosexuality.  He heard the minister explaining to his
wife he had been right about her husband, and the claim of bisexual is the
first step of the gay agenda.

Two larger men who called each other Deacons came into the room and
assisted Ryan out the front door of the church, and he rolled down the
steps.  When he went to sit in his pickup truck, he found the back had been
filled with cardboard boxes and a note on his steering wheel suggested he
never go to the house again.

Ryan was lost, and had no clue what to do.  His life had just changed, and
he had no control over what was going on.  He drove back to the base, and
put the boxes into the room he was staying in.  Ryan sat on the end of his
bed for 30 minutes and stared at his feet.  His mind was traveling in
circles, not thinking about anything for more than a few seconds, and then
lost as his mind spun to the next topic.

It was then Ryan decided to refill his prescription bottles, buy some Jack
Daniels, find a cheap motel and then use his .45 to blow his fucking head
off.  He had nothing left in his life now.  He did have one quick thought
before he began gathering everything he needed.  He had one big regret in
his life besides not saying one last time that he loved his son.  He had
met the perfect woman years ago, and had not stayed with her because of the
ring on his finger.  He wouldn't divorce her until his son, Chris, was 18
years old.  His regret was not making the choice to be with Melanie Bear.

Before he had lost total control, Ryan had neatly piled all the papers he
had been served under his wallet on the desk where it would be found
easily.  In his wallet, he had taken the picture of his son out and placed
it on his leg to stare at it.  He had written a note, a last will leaving
everything to his son.  He also wrote Melanie Bear's name with a heart
below it.

Ryan was lying on his side, barely conscious.  He reached for the gun and
dragged it towards him, lifting it slowly.  He was weeping as he lifted the
gun to the side of his head and pulled the trigger.

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

The shot-fired call came to Tyler's police car and as backup they
dispatched Josh.  They were also advised a paramedic unit was on the way in
case it was needed.  Sgt. Frank Ayers was on his way to assume control at
the scene as well.

Marci and her partner had been dispatched to attend.  Liam looked at Jared
and noted his eyes were looking skyward.  Liam called in on the radio to
advise dispatch they would be backing Marci up.  Jared turned as Liam hit
the siren, heading into traffic.

"I got the message first this time, Jared... I mean if you call it a
message.  I have something deep inside me saying we are needed at the
call," said Liam.

"That's sometimes the way it comes, Liam," replied Jared very calmly.

"We're lucky, we are close already," said Liam.

"Head's up, police coming behind us," said Jared as he watched the side
view mirrors.  The Supervisor vehicle went by them, followed by Tyler.

When their ambulance pulled into the motel parking lot, Jared noticed
Tyler, Josh and Frank talking with the Motel clerk.  Marci's unit was
behind the police cars and she waved to Jared with a big smile on her
face. Jared waved back of course.

Frank motioned Jared and Liam over to them.  "We've tried phoning the room
with no success.  The clerk says it was one man, mid-to-late 30's, military
type and very distracted.  He listened at the door after knocking and no
one answered.  I have no clue if he is alive or dead or what happened."

"What do you need us to do, Frank?" asked Liam.  "Just so you know, we were
both drawn here before the call was dispatched to Marci's unit."

"I sense urgency," Jared said suddenly.  "There is no threat to anyone but
him, Frank."

Quickly, Frank looked at Josh and Tyler and said, "Break the door, Tyler
you kick, Josh to the left and I will go right or straight in.  Let's move,
Jared has never been wrong about stuff like this."

Jared and Liam grabbed their jump kits and signaled to Marci to wait where
she was.  The five men moved to the door.  Tyler gave a quick growl like a
wolf which Josh returned.  Frank just looked at the two of them.

"There is only one in there, Frank," said Liam.

Frank counted 1-2-3-go and the door flew off the frame shattered as Tyler
went through it.  Josh moved in and swung left as Frank went straight in.
Tyler followed him in.  Jared heard three clears called out and the two of
them entered.

Liam and Jared went directly to the man on the floor and started to work on
him.  Frank grabbed the gun carefully, took the clip out and laid it on the
desk.  He saw the legal documents, the wallet and the name Melanie Bear
with a heart under it.  Frank motioned for Josh to take a look.  His eyes
were wider than Frank had ever seen before.

"Sgt, I'll get Marci in here to help Liam and then we'll show Jared if
that's ok with you?" asked Josh.

Frank nodded his agreement, and started to look at the legal documents on
the desk.  He opened the wallet up and took the driver's licence out and
copied the information down on a note pad.

Marci came in with her partner, and Jared looked up at Frank with a puzzled
expression.  Frank motioned him to come over with his hand.  When Jared
arrived, he showed him the note with Melanie's name on it.  Jared looked up
at him with a puzzled look on his face, and picked up the wallet. He
opened, quickly reading all the cards and ID contained within it. He looked
at Frank and made the I- have-to-make-a-call gesture and grabbed the
information Frank had given him.

In the time before Marci and her partner had arrived, Liam had quickly been
working on the man.  It was a definite overdose, and with no bullet wound,
he must have missed his head.  He or Jared would need to spend time with
the man as Liam was sensing so much going on inside of him.  Liam had
corrected some of the blood chemistry as well as aspirated gastric
contents. Marci started to intubate him as Liam commenced cardiac
monitoring and IV therapies.

"Hey cuz, how's life?" asked Melanie as she answered the phone.

There was no exchange of pleasantries this time.  "Melanie, I have a man
here, according to his ID he is in the service and we are treating him for
an overdose suicide attempt.  He fired a gun, so he was really trying to
check out but he missed totally.  Anti-depressants, Bi-polar stabilizer and
alcohol all mixed together."

"That's terrible, Jared, what can I do to help?"

"Your name with a heart under it was written on paper with his wallet where
we would find it."

"Oh fuck, Jared, who is it?"

"Ryan Ritzler."

"Jared, that would be Sgt. Ryan Ritzler, Medical Corps and a friend of
mine.  Is he going to make it?"

"Come on down, Melanie, and maybe bring Grandfather to help you drive.
We'll look after him for you, but it's going to be a rough ride for him,
and he will need a friend."

"Thanks cuz, and Grandfather just walked in with his travel bag as if he
knew something was up.  I'll be on my way shortly."

"Mel, I will get a message to you if anything changes."

"Thanks Jared, I love you cuz, even if we don't say it enough to each
other."

"Love you too, cuz.  Drive carefully."

Jared hung up and immediately reflected upon Melanie saying she loved him
like that.  They always shared their expression of love for each other, but
she had made a point of stressing it this time.  This guy must be something
special to her, and she tried to say it without tipping her hand.

Liam, Marci and her partner were pushing the man out of the room on the
stretcher when Jared turned around.

"I'm going with them, Jared.  Can you pick me up at the ER?"

"No problem, but I need to have a chat with Frank before."

They got the man loaded into the back of the ambulance and it screamed out
of the parking lot.  Jared walked over to Frank, Tyler and Josh.

"He's a medic Sgt, and a friend of Melanie.  She didn't say it, but I think
a close friend and someone she not only likes but respects," said Jared.

Frank handed the legal papers to Jared.  "Looks like he is having a real
number done on him by his wife and her lawyer. This one document is a
Mental Health Committal Warrant on who I would believe is his son. The
committal is to a church re-educational camp.  Jared, I've read about those
places..." said Frank carefully.

Josh got quite upset, "Jared, we need to track this."

"Frank, what can you do to help?" asked Jared.

"I'll do everything I can, but I'm only a Sgt.  You know I will do my best
for you guys," said Frank.

"Could you use some help from the higher ups like the Chief Super?" asked
Jared.

"It wouldn't hurt, Jared," replied Frank.  Jared looked at Tyler, and
nodded.  Tyler pulled out his phone and dialed it.

Frank looked surprised.  "Tyler knows the Chief Super?"

Josh nodded to Frank.  "We all do, and we have an agreement to contact him
about certain things if he can help.  That's not for general knowledge Sgt,
but you know the way we work.  He supports us in our work.  Besides that
Frank, we would never circumvent you.  You are our boss, and we love you
too."  Josh turned his head at an angle, started to flutter his eyelashes
and hold his hands over his heart.

Frank laughed as he rolled his eyes and mumbled, "Little fucker.  Jared,
how do you manage with these guys?"

"When we need to get something done, Frank, they are a crack team who would
lay their lives on the line if it was needed.  When we don't need to get
something done, I can deal with it," explained Jared.  Out of nowhere Frank
heard a hand hit the back of Josh's head with a sharp smack.  He never saw
Jared's hand move.

Josh was rubbing his head, "Dammit, you're getting faster all the time.
I'll be good, dad."

Frank was laughing now.  Tyler came back to the group, "John... SHIT, the
Chief Super will meet us at the hospital as soon as he can get there, and
he is more than happy to help."

"You guys are incredible when you get rolling," said Frank.  "By the way,
I've been meaning to talk to you guys about Conner and Mark.  I love them
to death, and they have grown so much with your help, but I really need to
know who is teaching them the sarcasm..."

Before Frank could finish his sentence, all three of the men said at the
exact same time, "It's Liam, Sgt."  All three of them were holding up their
right hand, with their left hand over their heart like they were swearing
on a bible in court.

Frank put one hand on Jared's shoulder and another hand on Tyler's.  "Boys,
your verbal answer was better than the body language on that last answer.
But I'm thinking there are more than Liam with the ability to teach sarcasm
and theatrics to my child and his boyfriend."

All three of them tried the innocent 'who me?' routine.  Frank laughed.
"Jared, you and Tyler need to get to the hospital.  Take the wallet and
legal papers with you too.  The smurf and I will stay here to finish."

"SMURF?" sputtered Josh.

"Shut up and get to work before I paint you blue," replied Frank.

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

Liam was at the ER with Ryan and the trauma team.  Their patient was
fighting for his life, and Liam hadn't been able to intervene any further
with him due to the amount of people working on him.  Nothing had happened
to Ryan's body which couldn't be reversed yet.  Liam suddenly had an
inspiration come to him, and he knew it would work.  He closed his eyes for
a moment, and sent a message out to two people.  "Jared, I need you."  He
also sent a message, "Amanda, I need your help."  Before he could open his
eyes again, he heard Grandfathers voice, "I am here as well if you need
me."

The trauma staff had been taking over the patient care, and he now had a
chance to step outside the room to begin putting his plan into action.  He
was the last of the medics to have been released from the room as Marci and
her partner had already gone back to their unit to cleanup and restock.

Liam headed down the hallway and was met by Amanda, who gave him a big,
crushing hug.  "What do you need, Liam?"

"Amanda, Jared is coming and I need you to help as well.  I think a quiet
room would be best for what I am going to do."

"I now have a smudging and prayer room, would that be better?"

"Absolutely perfect, Amanda."

"Liam, I'm here," said Jared as he came down the hallway.

"This way, gentlemen," said Amanda while indicating with her arm
outstretched.  They went down the corner quickly, and around the corner.
Amanda opened a door and entered, followed by Jared and Liam.  The room was
designed for sitting on cushions in a circle surrounding a raised area for
burning incense or sweet grass.  On the walls were various sizes of drums,
blankets of different tribes, and some artifacts which had been given to
her.

They entered the room and stood for a moment while their eyes adjusted and
the two men looked around the room and were impressed.

"I am honoured I could be of assistance to you two.  What do you need me to
do?" asked Amanda.

"If Jared would chant while burning the smudging stick, and you would drum
for him, that would be good," said Liam.

Amanda turned and stared at a couple of drums in deep thought, and then
reached for one.  When she turned, she gasped at the site before her.  Both
Jared and Liam were now dressed in full leathers and furs of the positions
they held as Shaman.  They were both incredibly handsome in their
traditional clothing.

"This may be totally inappropriate, but could I snap a couple of photos of
you two for hanging on the walls in this room?" asked Amanda.

Liam looked at Jared who thought for a moment, and then shrugged his
shoulders.  Amanda quickly grabbed her phone and snapped a few photos of
the two men.  She turned it off and then sat with her drum.  Jared had lit
the smudging bundle and first cleansed the room before sitting down.

They began to chant as Amanda drummed the beat.  The drumming and chanting
had been going for a few minutes when the atmosphere in the room changed.
The room become cooler, but there was no breeze.  Even the forced air vents
in the ceiling seemed to have stopped blowing, and the gentle wind- chimes
Amanda had hung appeared to be frozen in unusual positions.  The smoke
above the smudging stick did not rise, nor did it dissipate.  It remained
locked in a single position.  Liam stood, out of his physical form locked
in time and extended his hands to Jared and Amanda.  They both grasped his
hands, stepping up and out of their physical bodies.

"Incredible," said Amanda.  "I have done some out of body travel before,
but not like this."

"You have strong abilities Amanda, and an incredible inner strength," Jared
replied.  "My soulmate has also grown so much since you have seen him
last."

"You and Liam have a single aura now when you are together.  You are one,
with many common areas and few distinct ones," she replied.

"Jared, I need your help to heal Ryan.  He is further than my abilities,
but I have brought you both into the outer world so it could be done.  When
I was in contact with him earlier, there was a shadow in his mind trying to
hide.  If you can work on his physical needs, I will watch for the shadow
and eliminate it if possible.  Amanda, please use your senses for any dark
forces moving towards us.  Also, may we borrow some of your inner strength
if we need it?"

"Anything you ask, Liam," she replied.  "The hospital has many forces
within it, and they are continually shifting.  I will watch for forces
which may interfere with us."

They moved down the hall quickly, moving around the people in the hallway
who were frozen in the position they had been when the three people entered
the outer world.

As they were walking, Jared explained to Amanda, "Think of it as watching
the clock on a wall.  The second hand makes a distinct movement each
second.  The hand moves, stops, moves and stops - forever.  Right now, we
are in the time between one second and another, the outer world.  This is
the world people aspire to reach through meditation."

Coming around the last corner to enter the emergency department, they came
face to face with Tyler frozen as he was moving quickly to catch up with
his brothers.

Liam and Amanda moved around him while Jared gripped his shoulder tightly,
pulling him into the outer world.

"Tyler, we need your heightened senses to work with Amanda to watch for
other spirits," said Jared to his surprised friend.  "But no pissing on
anyone."

Tyler recovered and smiled, "Too bad, there's a really butch nurse here..."

"No, Tyler," said Jared with a smile.  The two of them quickly caught up
with Liam and Amanda.

"I see the wolf spirit is here as well," observed Amanda.  "You don't mean
Nurse Ratchet do you?  Her real name is Tami, but behind her back we all
call her Nurse Ratchet.

"Is that the one who can crush a man or woman's skull in one of her hands?"
asked Tyler.

"You got it, Tyler.  She is a competitive weightlifter as well.  How can
the wolf spirit helps us today?"  asked Amanda.

"When I was at the door before we kicked it in, I smelled not only Ryan's
scent.  Something else as well and it smelled like stale air in an old
house, or stagnant water."

They entered the treatment room.  The monitors all showed Ryan was in
crisis, and the readouts would indicate he was dying in spite of everything
they did.

"I smell it again in here," said Tyler.

Amanda quickly added, "I sense something strong and dark in nature."
Amanda held both her hands up, palms out towards the patient.  "Definitely
him; it's a chameleon and it knows we are here."

Jared moved forward and between two people and placed his hands on Ryan's
exposed chest.  His eyes glowed white as he began to either neutralize or
repair the damages.  As Liam and Amanda were looking away, Tyler caught
site of a shadow jumping off Ryan and onto a nurse.

"It's on the move guys," said Tyler as he moved to a better position to
watch.

 The nurse's head twisted towards Amanda.  "You're gonna lose this one."

Liam moved forward quickly and placed his hands on each side of the nurse's
head and chanted.  The woman began to scream.  The shadow jumped again and
ended up in the Lab Tech who was taking some blood from Ryan.  After the
shadow had jumped, Liam held on for an extra moment.  The nurse glowed for
a second, and then he released her.  He moved her over to the corner and
sat her down.

"It can't go back into this one, I've given her a treatment," said Liam.

"Maybe that will improve her disposition," snarled Tyler.

"The lab tech" said Amanda.

Liam was near the lab tech and threw a white orb at him.  The shadow jumped
out again except this time Liam caught it mid-air with an orb, trapping it.
"Who are you?"

The shadow was inside the orb, bouncing hard trying to escape.  Finally it
answered, "servant."

"Servant to who?"

"Never, shaman!"

Liam closed his hand into a tight fist, and the orb tightened around the
shadow.  There was a scream as the orb imploded, disappearing.

"I'm still sensing something in the one on the table," said Amanda.

Jared spoke, "I would agree with you.  Something has tried to undo some of
the work I've been doing but isn't powerful enough."

"Keep working Jared, I'm going to get that one in one shot."  Liam went to
the feet of Ryan and stood, planting his feet shoulder width apart.
"Tyler, your hand on my shoulder, and you too please, Amanda."  They moved
behind him and stood, and then each grabbed his shoulder.

Liam brought his hands up and out, palms out.  "Creator, guide my hands to
do your work."  His eyes glowed followed quickly by his entire body.  Liam
reached and grab both of Ryan's legs at his ankles as his body immediately
glowed, becoming toxic for any evil within it.

A large shadow rose from Ryan.  The glow began to spread from Ryan and into
the shadow, causing it pain as it was consumed.  "You have no clue what is
coming, shaman.  You're nothing compared to him and he will defeat you and
your friends."

Liam concentrated harder, and the glow quickly intensified as if the
voltage feeding a lightbulb had doubled.  The shadow was consumed by the
white glow, screaming as it disappeared.

Liam leaned forward onto the table to rest.  Amanda and Tyler stood back,
releasing their grip on him.

"It's done," said Liam.

Jared spoke as he continued healing Ryan, "I even felt that last wave of
energy, Liam.  The healing is almost done on him."

Liam turned to Tyler and Amanda, "You guys ok?"

Tyler nodded yes.

"Wow.  I have dealt with some evil in the past but you guys bring it to a
whole new level.  That tired me out a bit," Amanda said.

Jared had just stood up after finishing his work and used one hand against
the wall to support himself.  Tyler immediately moved to him and placed
Jared's open hand over his heart. "Go ahead brother, I still have energy to
spare for you."

Jared's eyes flashed, and he stood straighter.  He reached out to Tyler and
bear hugged him tightly.  "Thank you Tyler.  I hope you know how much I
love you, brother."

Tyler replied quietly, "Not as much as our family loves you, brother."

They separated and stood back.  "I have removed the chemicals from his
blood and his stomach.  There was damage to the stomach, liver, spleen and
kidneys as well as the beginnings of hypoxia from circulatory collapse in
his brain.  I have never repaired so much at once before, and that was on
top of the repairs you made at the scene, Liam."

"Isn't it nice to have the ultimate paramedic watching over your shoulder
to help while working, Liam?"  said Tyler.

"You got that right, Tyler," answered Liam.

"I think I located the organic problems behind his depression as well and
it was the first time I had ever seen it.  Amanda, some of the neurons
appeared to be stunted or thinner in their growth compared to the others.
This means they were not producing enough neurotransmitters, nor receiving
enough to keep everything balanced.  I didn't understand everything the
Creator said to me as I was working, but he fixed them.  He said something
about having to look into it as he hadn't seen anything like it for
thousands of years, since Carman of the Celts had been living," explained
Jared.

"Interesting," said Liam in deep thought.  "Carmon was considered the
greatest evil witch of all time for the ancestors.  We're going to have a
deep meditation and see if anything more comes to us on this."

"It is going to be interesting to see how they explain the extreme change
in status of their patient in one second, and to such a degree," said
Amanda.

"Yes, I know, but I'm so tired right now, I don't know how to deal with
it," said Jared.

"I have an idea."  She explained what she thought, and they set it up.

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

A few moments later, they were sitting in the smudging room. Amanda and
Tyler had also stopped to grab both bottled water and cups of hot water for
tea. The four of them sat sipping their lemon tea, relaxing and chatting.

"I needed your energy like a battery booster to kill that one, thank you
for being here with us, Amanda," said Liam.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  I understand why my niece talks
about you two so much," replied Amanda. "She just doesn't know about your
shaman status and powers, but she loves you guys to death."

There was a panicked knock at the door of the smudging room, and Amanda
called out for them to come in.

A young nurse stuck her head in the room and immediately apologised when
she saw the other people with Amanda.  "Dr. Smith asked me to get you
quickly.  They need you in the ER and if someone has seen Jared or Liam,
them too."

From out of the darkness, Jared answered, "We are here as well Jen, and
we'll come with Amanda."

The four of them walked down to the ER, and the door to the room was closed
with a security guard standing outside of it.  He saw Amanda and the men
with her and opened the door, and said something.  He opened it further for
them to enter.

The doctors, nurses and lab techs were all standing in a circle around a
sleeping Ryan.  On his chest was an eagle feather with a partially burnt
smudge bundle laying on his chest.  The smell of smudge was strong in the
room.

"You asked for us?" asked Amanda.

The older doctor stepped forward.  "I see you are all here and thank you
for coming.  A few minutes ago, we were losing this patient you brought in,
Liam.  We couldn't do anything for him and he was circling the drain in
spite of best efforts.  We were all working on him when suddenly there was
a bright light in the room, and it was the patient glowing.  When the glow
dissipated, these objects were on his chest and he is completely stable,
possibly cured, no longer suffering the effects of the overdose."

Amanda, Jared and Liam looked at the room full of professionals staring at
him.  Jared stepped forward, "You're asking if we know what happened here?"

"Yes," replied the doctor.

"Would you believe me if I said it was a miracle by the Creator.  This man
is a friend of my cousin, and I know she was praying for him," said Jared.

"Doctor, you and these people do miracles every day.  Maybe just say a
prayer of thanks for whatever happened to yourself or aloud.  After all,
it's not a bullshit story... you are looking at it.  Not everything can be
explained Doctor," explained Amanda.

"But, what do we..." the Doctor started.

"Write what you actually saw, and your follow up that you have more testing
to do.  He's not going to cause you any problems," sad Amanda.  "The relics
though, as Jared and Liam are medicine men, they should deal with them
properly.  I'll keep them in my room upstairs."

Jared stepped forward and lifted the feather and bundle, gently holding
them in his hands.  "Doctor, a miracle happened because this man had not
finished his path in life.  We will work with him to help him back on his
path, the very path you as a team worked to keep him on.  You all did the
fantastic job you as professionals are known for, and we are proud to be a
small part of your team."  Jared and Liam both bowed their heads
respectively for a moment.

Their radios warbled at this time, causing everyone to jump except Liam and
Jared.  "Duty calls," said Liam.

The doctor stepped forward to shake their hands, "Get going guys and do
what you do out there to get the patients into us.  We are very proud of
you and your team of medics as well.  Together, we make a difference."

Just as Liam and Jared were leaving the room, they both heard a female
voice mumble, "Faggots."

Liam turned to Jared, "I guess it didn't help Tyler's favorite nurse's
disposition after all."

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

The dispatch was as back up to a motor vehicle accident, but they were
cancelled while en route as the first unit on the scene was sufficient.
Liam was driving to the base while Jared spoke to Melanie on the phone,
bringing her up to date on Ryan's condition.  Mel figured she would be at
the hospital at approximately 7-7:30 p.m., and Jared would meet her there.
Jared fanned the information among the rest of the family as well as Amanda
of their arrival.  Amanda had commented Ryan was in a private room, resting
comfortably but not conscious yet.

Marci was walking down the hallway as Jared and Liam came out of the
Education office.

"Marci, a moment of your time, please" asked Jared.  He turned to his
partner and Liam just smiled and nodded.

"Sure, what's up Jared?" she asked.  Jared led her into his office with
Liam and closed the door behind them.

Marci was getting concerned as he closed the door.  "You never mentioned
you had such a wonderful woman as Amanda for your aunt," said Liam.

"I thought I was in trouble when you closed the door.  What a relief.  Yes,
how do you know she's my aunt?" asked Marci as she sat in one of the
chairs.

"We've done some work with her at the hospital and we were talking
earlier," said Jared.

"Yes, my aunt is the social worker and she is also something she calls a
sensitive or channeling of powers.  I don't understand it all, but I accept
whatever she says."

"She is very good at channeling and speaking with spirits," said Liam.  "We
enjoy working with her and having her as a friend."

"Wow, I never mentioned her because I didn't think you guys would know
her," explained Marci.

"Well Marci, we would like you to come to the hospital tonight with us to
visit with Ryan, and our family.  Liam, it may be time for a token lesbian
or two in our family," said Jared.

Marci was speechless for a moment, "Your family? You mean your group of
guys? A token?"

"We are a family, bonded together and we would like you to meet them all
while we visit Ryan tonight.  Amanda will be there as well so she can meet
them all too," said Jared.

"Marci, tonight is special.  Our Grandfather, the Most Sacred Medicine Man
of the People is coming to visit with Melanie, the most evil, ugliest,
torturing witch of the west," said Liam.  He ducked just in time so Jared
missed slapping the back of his head.

"Hey, I've met Melanie and I like her," Said Marci.

"Oh God, another minion converted by her evil ways," said Liam as the back
of head finally got slapped.

"If I wouldn't be in the way, I would love to come tonight," replied Marci.
"Jared, if Liam insults Melanie again, can I slap his head too?"

"Of course you can," replied Jared quickly.

"You're both bitches," replied Liam as he ducked again.

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

The hospital room was a larger single bed room, Amanda had seen to that and
after they realized who he was associated with, they acted quickly to get
him in the big room.  As Jared, Liam, Marci, Troy, Tyler, Josh and Darren
walked down the hallway; they saw a nurse step into the hallway with her
hands on her hips.

"Mr. Jared, I see you brought back up with you this time," said the nurse.
"You are going to need it if you think for one minute..."

Troy snuck to the front of the group. He approached her bent over, acting
timid of her as he placed the box of donuts and travel box of Tim Horton's
coffee at her feet, he remained bent over but looking up at her.

"We swears, to serve the master of the Precious. We will swear on... on the
Precious!"  Troy then scampered to the back of the group to hide.

"Mr. Jared, these gifts please us."  She bent over and picked up the items,
"Jared, I can't believe you have ruined Troy too."

"Precious knows his place" said Jared with a smile.  "Kat, my Grandfather
and cousin are coming as well and should be here any time.  Melanie is a
friend of Ryan's and Grandfather is a medicine man.  I would like you to
meet both of them when they are here."

"No wonder Amanda had Ryan moved to the big room.  I look forward to
meeting them Jared, and thanks for the food," she said with a smile.  The
group moved on and into the room where Amanda was sitting quietly reading a
book.

"You got by Kat, did you?" Amanda observed.  "You must have brought her a
toll."

"It was a shrubbery for the Knights of Ni," said Josh in the back.  Amanda
rolled her eyes.

"I also see you have now dragged my niece into your mob," stated Amanda.

"I think we can salvage her," replied Jared. Amanda rolled her eyes again.

"Whatever," said Marci and Amanda at the same time.

There was a knock at the door, and Tyler reached over to open it.  Doctor
Smith from ER stood there with Melanie and Grandfather.  "Jared, I had no
clue you were related to Melanie and she was the cousin you mentioned.  She
and I served together overseas," said the doctor.  "I was shocked when she
walked in and asked for Ryan.  I also served with Ryan overseas but it
hadn't dawned on me at the time who he was because I was so wrapped up in
the treatment."

"Hello cousin," said Melanie with a smirk.

Jared moved through the group and took both of Grandfather's hands into
his.  "Grandfather, we are honoured you made the trip to visit here.  We
are impressed you made it safely," said Jared.

"Of course I made it safely, Grandson.  Do you think I am too old to have
leave of my senses to let my granddaughter drive?  Get a grip, Jared." He
replied laughing.

Jared saw Kat behind them and invited her into the room. "For those who
have not met my grandfather, this is Grandfather Mathew Bear, the Most
Sacred Medicine Man and Shaman of the People, the Most Elder of the People,
the most respected Elder in the tribal counsel of the entire western region
and the primary messenger of the Sacred White Buffalo."

The Doctor and Kat's mouths hung open in shock.

The old man stepped to Amanda and took her hands into his.  "I am very
happy to finally meet you, Amanda.  The Creator has told me much about your
work, and he called you 'Flying Swan'."

"Thank you Most Sacred..." Amanda started.

"Please, call me Matt or Mathew," he said to her as he cut off her using
his title.  "Flying Swan, you have such a beautiful heart and commitment to
helping other people. Your work is instrumental in preventing evil from
diverting people from their pathway in life."

He let her hands go and reached for Marci's hands.  "Your niece Amanda,
Jared says she is a first class paramedic, and person of good soul.  I
sense that in her very strongly.  She is a young lady of high integrity and
honour... not to mention cute too." said Grandfather.  "Pleasure to meet
you, Marci."

"Thank you, Grandfather," she replied, lost for words in front of this
special man.

He reached for Kat's hands.  Grandfather started to laugh, "My grandson has
kept you both amused and frustrated at times, Kat.  He has been like that
his entire life and I see he hasn't changed, in spite of what he tells me."

Grandfather didn't even look over his shoulder at Jared, "And don't try the
innocent act, Grandson."  Kat started to laugh.  "He said you have a pure
heart, dedication to your job, and love for people and he wasn't kidding.
I sense it all in you Kat, and the purity of your spirit too.  You are a
good person who will have a long life full of happiness."

Grandfather released her hands and reached for the Doctor's.  "You are man
of integrity, spirit and have a history of defending the rights of the
average person.  Your heart and dedication is like your wife's, very pure."

Everyone on the room looked surprised but Amanda.  "Was that a secret?"
asked Grandfather.

"It's just easier for us, Mathew," said the Doctor.

"Then it remains that way and if anyone speaks of it outside this room,
their hair will instantly fall out in clumps," said Grandfather with a
smile.

"I doubt that will happen but I would appreciate no one repeating it," said
Dr. Smith.

"Doctor, I said it as a joke, but it is something I can do," he said with a
serious face.

Dr. Smith looked deeply into Grandfather's eyes for a moment, and then
said, "I don't know why, but I believe it.  I ask you not to do it though,
and please call me Shawn."

Grandfather nodded his head and said, "As you ask."

Grandfather turned to Ryan on the bed.  "Please pull back the covers, but
leave the gown on him."

Kat moved forward to do it with Amanda's help.

"Shawn, what is your assessment of his current status and the diagnosis or
suspicions of why has he not woken up yet?" asked Grandfather.

Shawn explained the blood alcohol level, the drugs and the interactions
they had found.  Mathew asked about a couple of the drugs interactions and
effects on specific cell types and organs.  The old man asked several
questions of the doctor, and the questions were of such depth he had to
think about the answers.  He quickly realized this old man was more than
what he had initially thought, and he had not only an appreciation but
in-depth knowledge of cell chemistry, composition and operations.  By some
of the questions, Shawn realized this man actually had a comparable
knowledge of Histology as himself.

Grandfather dug into his medicine pouch for a set of eagle feathers
attached to an eagle leg with the talons.  He took it out and slowly waved
it over the man's body as he explained, "Mother Earth gives us many things
to live our lives.  Not only does she provide food, but she provides us
with all of the minerals, plants and things you call chemicals to make
compounds which heal.  Every patient is made up of the physical being, and
the spiritual.  Modern medicine does not treat or believe in the spiritual
being.  Never forget Dr. Smith, we the Medicine Men have been practicing
medicine for the entire body since the beginning of the 12 tribes.  We have
also been doing it with information given to us directly by the Creator and
passed through the generations."

The old man looked directly at the doctor and asked, "Does that satisfy
some of your curiosity of how I know so much about medicine and the human
body?"

"It has definitely caught my interest, Mathew.  I would have never guessed
at the depth of your knowledge," said Dr. Smith.

"Amanda, Melanie, this man is going to need a lot of help to find his way
after we wake him.  His spirit is wandering, confused and angry.  The
physical damage which was fixed was easy to repair, the damage on the
spirit is easy to hide, but hard to repair.  This has been going on for a
long time.  Two spirits, he is of two entities and has been trying to
suppress one. Not sexual or gender based two-spirits although he would not
be considered 100% heterosexual."  Grandfather closed his eyes and
concentrated for a moment.  "The second spirit he has infesting him is the
result of... his wife..." he paused as if thinking, "It's clouded and under
serious evil shadow influences, and she has been trying to influence him
for a long time.  Please expose his chest."

Grandfather looked at the man's muscular chest and then placed his hand on
the skin over the heart.  "He is of strong heart, passionate heart but a
hurt and broken heart as well."  Mathew thought for a moment and then
looked directly at Melanie.  "It is good you are here, Grand-daughter, you
will be of great assistance in his healing his heart, and he may help you
too."

This last comment caught the members of the tribe off guard, but Melanie or
Shawn didn't seem to be surprised.  Jared and Liam glanced at each other,
passing a knowing look.

The old man placed the eagle feather on the table next to the bed and
retrieved a bowl, smudging bundle and red berries.  He smashed the red
berries in the bowl, dipped his finger and made a circle over Ryan's heart
on the exposed skin.  He did the same on the forehead.  Next he took some
leaves and ground them up between his fingers and then placed them inside
of Ryan's left cheek.  Finally, he took a small vial of water out of his
medicine pouch.

"Troy, Darren, Josh and Tyler - each grab an arm or leg of Ryan and hold it
tight when I say so.  Liam, hold his head.  Melanie, come to my side.
Jared and Amanda, keep an eye for spirits which shouldn't be there."

He lit a smudge bundle and started to fan it around the room, and then
finally on Ryan.  Grandfather was chanting as he finished the smudging.
"Melanie, call his name.  Shawn, it may help if there was two of you
calling him at the same time."

The doctor moved next to Melanie and started to call his name and tell Ryan
they needed him back here to help them.  Grandfather looked skyward and
continued chanting as he now opened the water vial, and pour it onto Ryan's
chest.  The fluid immediately sizzled and steamed as it changed colour to a
dark red consistent with the colour of blood.

Once again the doctor witnessed Ryan's body begin glowing white, and
getting brighter as Grandfather chanted faster and faster. A dark shadow
jumped out Ryan's mouth, but was immediately trapped in an orb by Jared
before it could disappear.  Jared crushed it causing the shadow to scream
as it died.

Grandfather gave one final set of chants which seemed to shake the room.
Ryan was now squirming under the grip of the men holding him down.  A dark
shadow moving as if it were a poisonous gas escaping came out of his right
ear.  The gas seemed to lift up slowly and then look each way for an escape
route.  Jared used his hands to create another orb which trapped it.  The
black cloud cried loudly and bounced on the insides of the orb.

Suddenly, Ryan stopped squirming on the bed.  Grandfather signaled everyone
to silence as he said, "Ryan, the Creator commands your spirit to return to
its body.  You have a long path to walk before your end, and we need you
here.  You are amongst your new family; return NOW!"  The word 'now' echoed
and reverberated as if it had been yelled in a concrete car park.  Even the
ceiling tiles in the roof lifted causing dust to fall.

Ryan's eyes snapped open and his head moved so he could see what was going
on.  He couldn't move as everyone was holding him still.  Melanie and Shaw
moved into his line of sight.

"Rye, calm down.  You're safe," said Melanie as she stroked the side of his
face gently.

Shawn leaned over the man, "Ryan, your OK man, you're amongst friends."

Ryan looked around at all the faces, but he only recognized two of them.
He saw it was Melanie talking to him and Shawn the doctor.

"Mel?  Shawn?" he looked around, and he suddenly realized what he had done
to get him here.  He started to cry.

Melanie snapped, "Let him go," and they all instantly complied.  Melanie,
Shawn and Ryan all sat on the bed and held each other tightly as the man
cried.

Everyone moved to the other side of the room leaving the three people
embraced on the bed.

Kat was shaking her head, "I've heard of this, but never thought I would
see it."

Marci said the same thing and then asked, "Is this what you do, Auntie?"

Amanda smiled, "I don't have this type of power, but I do help people."

"Don't let her understate her abilities," said Grandfather.  "She is a
powerful person who does a lot of good work."

Kat looked at the orb and asked, "So what were those things that came out
of him."

Grandfather nodded to Jared to answer.  "Kat, Marci... those are what we
call shadows.  These shadows are dangerous, and it's a generic term we
use."

"Generic term?" asked Marci.

"You don't mean evil spirits, do you?" asked Kat.

"Very often they are evil, but not always spirits.  Shadows can be anything
which manifests or is invited to manifest inside someone.  It could be
hatred, jealousy and greed - the usual.  What happens the most is that
every person has some of the basic sins as they may be called within us,
but we control them.  The evil little shadow who is living in someone else
close by and sees this and plants another little shadow into them to grow
and lure the person into evil.  The object of the shadow is to obtain the
spirit voluntarily from a person as present to the evil one."

"This sounds like something from a comic book," said Marci.

Jared moved the orb closer to the women to look at.  The smoke manifested
itself into something which snarled and growled at the two women.  Everyone
could see two eyes looking out of the centre of the black mass, and moving
back and forth between the two women.  It suddenly fixated and lunged at
Marci.  Marci stepped back.

"What the hell..." she stammered.

"It sees a weakness within you Marci, and was moving to enter you and take
advantage of it," said Jared.  Jared's eyes flashed and he crushed the orb.
The shadow screamed as it was crushed to death.

"Kat, Ryan will need Amanda, Melanie and help we don't know about
yet. Tyler, you guys take Marci downstairs to the food services area and
get something to eat and drink.  I will meet you there shortly.  Liam and
Jared, you two go as well."

"Yes Grandfather," they all said.

"Grandfather, I didn't have time to mention an old friend of yours, Harold
and Ernestine, were in the ambulance the not all that long ago.  I don't
know if they are still here or not, but since you are in town they would
probably enjoy a visit with you," said Jared.

"Jared, those are my old friends who I have not visited with for too long,
and that is a good idea.  Maybe Kat or Shawn could help me find out if they
are here or where they live for me to visit," said Grandfather.

Kat looked at Mathew, "You are friends with Dr. and Dr. Brooks?  Why am I
even surprised Mathew to find that out."

"We did a lot of work together many, many years ago," said Grandfather.

As the young people were going out the door, they could hear Tyler say,
"Grandfather put me in charge."  Darren replied, "No way man."  They also
heard Liam, "I'm always in charge."  The sound of a head being slapped was
heard.

Kat was chuckling, "They are always like that, aren't they Mathew?"

The old man smiled at the nurse, "Yes, and whoever they befriend or work
with ends up just like them."

"Mathew, I've seen it happen a few times and each time I consider it a
miracle, and how the people they were taking under their wing were very
fortunate to have met Jared Bear.  I think of them as angels, although they
can test the patience of the saints," said Kat.  "Oh my God, I can't
believe I just thought of this.  You were introduced to us as Mathew Bear,
should that have been Mathew Alphonse Bear?"

Grandfather's face went blank as he answered, "Depends, you a cop?"

"Oh I am beginning to see where Jared gets his sarcasm and quick wit from."

"Unfortunately Kat, it is a long story about Jared's life but I will tell
you as I raised him, the apples didn't fall from this tree."

"So you are the Mathew Alphonse Bear?"

"I am him, Kat."

"This entire wing of the hospital is named after you, sir."

"Now that I have some building named after me, I'm sir?  Kat, I would give
it all up and you could have your name on the front of the dam building if
you continued to call me Mathew or Matt.  Sir is for important people,
which I am just an average man."

"You and Jared are so much alike Mathew, very humble.  I had no clue who he
was or you."

"I'm just a new friend of a very pretty lady and respected professional,
Kat.  Amanda knew who I was, but she also knew it wasn't important to me. I
would appreciate it if you do not say it outside of this room."

Kat looked at Amanda for guidance, but all she did was smile and shrug her
shoulders.

"Whatever you like, Grandfather" she replied.

They went over to see Melanie, Shawn and Ryan.  The three of them were
talking about the military and the problems he had when he came home.

"May I leave you here, Melanie," asked Grandfather.

"Yes, please.  Thank you, Grandfather," she said as she stood and hugged
the man.

"Paid in full after that hug, Granddaughter," he replied.  He looked at her
with a look of deep concentration and confusion.

"What's wrong, Grandfather?" asked Melanie with concern in her voice.

"I'm confused and don't understand something, Granddaughter.  Tyler asked
me if you needed a wide load permit for your ass when you drive to the
city.  What does that mean?"

Ryan and Shawn's face went blank, and then they both started to laugh.

"I'm going to remove that little tube of flesh he calls a dick with no
anesthetic," she said.

As Grandfather was leaving, Kat leaned over to him and whispered, "The
apples really fell close, didn't they Mathew.  You're as much a shit
disturber as Jared is."

Grandfather gave her the most innocent looks he could as he said, "Maybe."

"Oh shit, he says that too."

The old man smiled and shrugged his shoulders.  "My work here is done.  I'm
going downstairs to get some tea."

"Oh god, he says that too," cried Kat.

Mathew smiled a beautiful and warm smile to the nurse, saluted and left.
Kat held her head in both hands as the old man left, not wanting anyone
else to see how hard she was laughing.

Amanda left the room and rescued Marci from the guys, taking her home.  She
would be talking with her niece about the importance of trust and silence
about what she saw.

Ryan fell asleep, and Melanie answered many questions from Shawn and Kat
about what they had seen.  Both promised to remain silent, but they also
knew they could contact Melanie or the guys anytime for help.  Melanie
invited them to the ambulance base for a tour, and if they dared meeting
Jared's entire family all at once, they could come for dinner on Friday
night at the cabin.

Kat looked at her with interest.  Melanie explained Jared had asked her
about setting up a special supper for friends and family.  Shortly after,
Grandfather had asked her to do the same thing and to make the dinner
happen, it was a new moon and he sensed something would happen special that
night.

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

Thank you to Scott for editing the story.  I know your busy at school and
in life, thank you my friend.
 Special thanks to The Story Lover (http://storylover.us/) for his support.