Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 20:03:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Dewey <dewey2k@yahoo.com>
Subject: For the Love of Pete Chapter 5

This story is a work of erotic fiction involving teenage boys partially
based on real people and events.  Names have been changed to protect the
guilty as well as the innocent.  All the usual rules apply.  If you
shouldn't be reading this now, then don't continue on.

Copyright Notice - This story is copyright by the author and the author
retains all rights.  You may distribute, copy, or print this story however
you like, PROVIDED this copyright notice remains intact and you do not
change the story in any way.  Also you may not charge any fee to anyone to
distribute or access this story.

For the Love of Pete
Chapter Five

I have no idea how I slipped out of my coat, but I did.  I dropped my
backpack, extended my arms backward and ran for my life.  As I disappeared
into the forest following Pete, I heard Joe bellowing with rage.

"Get back here!  I'm not through with you!" Of course, my adrenaline was
pumping so fast that he might as well have been speaking a different
language. I ignored his outraged roar and tore out after my love into the
woods.

We ran for at least ten minutes, weaving in and out of trees and running
over ferns and huckleberry bushes in our haste, heading for our fort that
we had carved out of the underbrush last summer.  The cool thing about the
fort was that unless you knew exactly what to look for, it just appeared to
be a huge clump of underbrush with a few trees sticking out of it.  It was
well concealed, with the entrance screened by a huge sword fern that had
fronds longer than I was tall.  Inside, we had cut a ten foot wide hollow
into the Azalea bushes and the various trees that formed the perimeter.
The space was large enough for us to stand, but barely so.  There was a
roof of sorts formed by the underbrush.  It hid us from above, but didn't
keep the rain out. We also had made a rabbit hole out the back side, and if
we had to, we could always crash through the walls.  This place would hide
us for a while.  No one else knew where it was.

Pete had easily outdistanced me through the forest, a result of his track
training, where I had played baseball, not the most athletic of sports.
Finally I reached the fort and carefully picked my way through the fern,
careful to keep all the fronds intact.  As I walked into the opening, I
paused to catch my breath.

 I glanced at Pete.  What I saw tore out my heart. He was standing there in
the shadows, face dappled by the fading afternoon sun reaching through the
brush.  The light caught his many tears, make him a tragic figure.  He
stood there just looking at me, face contorted into a mask of suffering and
ultimate sadness. His mouth was working, trying to say something, anything,
but unable to.  I tried to move toward him but I was frozen in place by the
visage in front of me.

He looked to the heavens and screamed. I never want to hear its like again.
I swear that it was the sound of his soul crying out in torment, like his
very life force was leaving him to express his pain.  And it went on and
on, crying out his grief and anguish.

At long last, he exhausted his breath and collapsed to his knees sobbing
loudly.  I found I could move again and was next to him faster than a
blink. Putting his arms around me, I pulled him to me.  We over balanced
and fell to the ground.  I didn't care.  My love was in pain and he needed
me.  And I needed him.

Pete was not a huge kid, but he was strong.  So strong I thought he might
break my ribs.  He held on, like a drowning man to a life raft, wailing
into my shoulder.  I could feel his hot tears soaking through my shirt, and
my own running down my face and falling into his hair.  His shaking was
uncontrollable, made worse by the wracking sobs that came so often I though
he was going to fall apart in my arms.  Every so often Pete would moan and
then throw his head into my shoulder, trying to bury himself in my body.

I held him for a long time.  The next time I was aware of what was around
me, it was near dark.  I had thought I heard Brenda's voice a couple of
times, calling our names, but we didn't answer.  How she could have not
heard us, I'll never understand.  Maybe she had found us and decided to
leave us be.  Either way, I didn't care.

As he calmed, Pete began to tell me of all the shit his dad had put him
through over the years, trying to make sure he would be a real man. Trying
to toughen Pete up, make him callous and macho just like he was.  I spit in
disgust.  Several times.  Some of the things he described were nothing
short of torture, forcing this sensitive boy to suppress his desires, hide
his true feelings, and ultimately bend to his will.

I can honestly say that I have never been so angry as I was at that moment.
I really wanted to kill Joe in a slow, painful manner.  Of course, I would
never actually do it, but I relished each and every thought.

Pete sniffled, wiping his face on his sleeve. "What now? Where can I go?  I
can't go home."  He had a haunted expression on his face, like he wanted to
look over his shoulder.

"That's the easy part.  We go to my house.  I am sure you can stay there
until we get stuff sorted out.  And we have my fort if we need to hide."
We had built a similar fort in the brush not too far from my house.  Not
nearly as large, but the two of us could sit comfortably, and sleep there
if necessary, after I got the sleeping bags in our closet.  "Why don't we
wait a while longer and then go get the bikes.  We can ride by flashlight
to my place."

"You lost your back pack, though."

"I'll sneak in and get it, or I'll ride right behind you. Maybe we can ride
double.  It doesn't matter. But we can't stay here tonight.  I don't have a
jacket."  I paused.  "Look at me."

He turned his head toward me, his eyes meeting mine.  My heart broke.  Eyes
are not meant to express that kind of sorrow.  Especially the eyes of a
young boy.  This young boy.

I spoke slowly and deliberately, punctuating my words with a squeeze of my
arms. "We will get through this.  I know it's your dad, but you and I are
together, and that makes this OUR fight.  I will make sure you are safe,
and then we will take care of anything that comes our way."

"I don't want to drag you into this, Bri.  I don't want to burden you with
my-"

"DON'T! DON'T SAY IT! YOU ARE NOT A BURDEN!  WE ARE TOGETHER!  We are
together.  What happens to you happens to US!  If I were in your situation,
I am sure that you would be here for me. Right?  RIGHT?"  He nodded.  "And
for all I know, my situation may be the same as yours is.  You know Dad.
Mom may understand now.  A week ago, never.  But now maybe.

"What time is it?"

Pete glanced at his watch. "Eight fifteen.  Lets wait until ten and then go
for the bike."

"Okay.  I wish I had a cell phone, I'd call my mom."

"Yeah, me too.  Hey, Bri?"

"Yeah?"

His eyes pierced my soul.  "I can't tell you how much it means to me that
you are here right now.  If I had to go through this alone, I don't know
what I'd do.  I mean, where would I be able to go?"  He sighed heavily and
then looked me in the eyes once again.  There was a fierce determination
and resolve in his gaze behind the sadness.

"Brian, I love you.  I love you now more than ever.  Why you love me, I
don't know, but I am so grateful you do.  I was so afraid that you would
run away when I told you, that you would tell everyone about me.  Never in
my wildest dreams did I think you would love me back.  You're right, Bri.
We are together.  And no matter how it turns out with your folks, I want
you to know that I am with you , and I won't leave you.  I want to be with
you forever.  All I can do is hope that you want to be with me."  His eyes
were pleading now.  How could he convey so many emotions with his eyes?

"Forever."  A simple word loaded with meaning.  Yes, we were going to be
together forever.  And if that meant defying my parents so we could be one,
then so be it.

We sat there in a companionable melancholy silence, just soaking in each
others' presence.  Neither of us spoke much, relying instead on little
gestures to covey our feelings.  He would stroke my cheek, I would squeeze
his hand.  He would snake his arm around me and hug me, I would hug him
back.  We shared tender kisses as night completely overtook day, the only
light from the moon filtering through the leaves, giving the scene a
surreal aspect.

Ten o'clock came at last.  We crept out of our sanctuary and moved quietly
back toward Pete's house.  It took us some time to get there, as we
couldn't really see where we were going.  We didn't dare use the flashlight
because it may be seen and we didn't really want to face Joe.

The house was dark.  Both Brenda's car and Joe's truck were gone.  That
meant the house was empty.  I pointed out the missing cars to Pete and he
nodded grimly.  Motioning Pete to get the bike out and get ready to go, I
padded over and tried the front door.  Locked, of course.  I pantomimed
keys and he dug them out of his pocket, tossing them to me.  Since it was
dark, I missed them and they made a loud clatter on the cement.  We both
froze, but there was no reaction from the house.

Picking up the keys, I found the right one and unlocked the deadbolt.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and jumped back, expecting someone
to leap out at me.  No one came.  I quickly ran through the house and down
the stairs. My backpack and jacket were on the floor, with shards of broken
glass and debris caused by Joe's rampage.

One thing did catch my attention.  It was a picture of Joe and Pete at the
lake where they take their fishing trip in the spring.  They had looked
happy together in that picture, Joe ruffling Pete's hair, both smiling.
Now it was in little pieces, torn up and strewn about with the rest of the
trash.

Quickly, I grabbed my jacket and back pack, bolted up the stairs and out
the front door.  I debated on taking the time to lock it and decided we
shouldn't advertise the fact we had been there.  I turned the key in the
lock, sliding the bolt home.

Pete started up the bike, it's roar shattering the silence. As I hurried
over to the bike, I dug out the flashlight I had put into my backpack.  We
would need the extra light it would provide.  As an afterthought, I ran
back into the workshop and got the big battery powered work light that Joe
used when he was under a car or truck working on the engine.  It would give
us even more light.

I slipped my helmet on as I mounted the bike, turned on the work light, and
we were off.  Pete took it nice and easy, since we weren't really in a
hurry and is WAS dark out.  We wound through the woods, following the trail
we knew so well.  Riding mostly in silence, we agreed sometime during the
trip to walk the last five hundred yards, just in case.  We would stash the
bike at my fort and hoof it from there.

As we got closer to the fort, I began to worry a bit. I had never been out
here in full dark, and never from this direction.  I hoped I could find the
entrance, and we did find it with no problem.  We pushed the bike into the
low clearing, putting it down carefully.  Since we no longer needed the
work light, we left it with the bike.  I took a brief last look around to
ensure that no one else had been there, and it appeared the fort was still
our secret.

Once more shouldering our packs, we headed toward my house, circling around
to come at it from a different direction out of habit.  We had hidden our
fort from Her Royal Hind Ass for over a year.  I knew she searched out in
the direction we came from because we had come upon her one day as we
returned from a jaunt into the hills.  She even told us that when she
finally found our hidey-hole, she would destroy it, so naturally we told
her all about it and that she would never find it.  (I never will
understand why she hated me so much.)

Approaching our neighborhood, Pete pointed out that there were lights
flashing about where my house was.  Red and blue lights.  The cops were at
my house.  I stopped, falling behind a couple of steps before Pete turned
and looked at me.

"Maybe we should camp out here until the cops leave.  I don't want to walk
into there and no know what is going on."

"Hey dude, do you think Chris is up?  Maybe we can go there until things
chill out."

"We can try, but I don't know if his mom will call mine or not.  Better we
hang here, I think."  Pete looked dubious, but didn't press the issue.

Not more than five minutes after we halted our advance, I saw three
flashlights ranging in our direction.  They were really bright, like the
ones the police use.  They were about 200 yards away, separated by about
thirty yards, and I could faintly hear them calling our names.  They may
have heard the bike, I realized suddenly.

"Let's head back to the fort, Pete.  I don't like this."

"We have to head down there sooner or later, and I can't think of a safer
place to be than with the cops, can you?"

Before I could come up with an answer, I heard a voice I recognized.  It
belonged to one of the local patrolmen.  Danny and my dad had served
together in the army, sort of.  Not the same unit, but the same time
period. They met each other when they got back in the States.  He and Dad
had been close friends, if Dad had any.

"Brian! Pete!  I know you can hear me!  I heard the bike, and Brenda told
us you have one.  It's okay to come out now.  Joe isn't going to get
anywhere near you two.  We've already taken care of that."  Pete and I
exchanged glances. "If you don't come out, we'll have to bring out the dog
and track you down.  Dawn told us about your fort out this way.  Come on
boys!  I swear to you it is okay."  One thing I knew about Danny, when he
gave his word, he meant it.

"I think it's all right, Pete.  I trust Danny."  He hesitated, and then
nodded We started toward Danny's voice.  I turned on the flashlight and
immediately all three patrolmen flashed us with their lights.  Shielding my
eyes, I yelled, "Mind turning those down a bit?"  They didn't respond.

Danny's voice came again from behind the center light he must have been
holding.  "Brian, put the light down, and drop your back packs.  We just
need to make sure everyone is safe here We need to check you for weapons.
Just stay there and don't move.  Everything will be okay, I promise."

I stopped, took a step backward, and looked at Pete.  He looked as confused
as I felt.  Danny kept talking.

"Joe has been arrested, and we need to be sure that you aren't going to do
anything stupid, okay?  All we are going to do is pat you down and search
your packs, then we'll walk you to the house."

Pete and I both had the same reaction at the same time. We started to back
away because we were frightened.

"Don't Move!  Hands up!  Hands up NOW!"  The other cops were screaming at
us, and it scared us even more.

Danny's bellow cut through.  "STAND DOWN!  Brian, Pete, come on now.  These
guys don't know you like I do, so they think that you may be a danger right
now.  I know better."  He lowered his light.  I could see his silhouette
now.  He had his hands out to his side, empty except for the flashlight.

I made my decision.  Looking at Pete, I put my arm around his shoulder and
gently propelled him toward Danny.  The other cops didn't say a word, but
did follow us with their lights.  We approached slowly, not hurrying, but
not hesitating either.  Danny dropped his arms to his sides as we reached
him.  He spoke quietly and gently, asking us to drop our packs.  The other
officers were close behind us, and emptied out the backpacks.  Danny
quickly patted us down, asked Pete to take out his pocket knife, and just
as quickly returned it to him.

"Your parents are worried about you two, Brian.  And your mom was nearly
hysterical, Pete.  What happened up there?  All Brenda would say is you two
had a fight with Joe."  He looked from Pete to me expectantly.  Seeing we
weren't going to answer, he leaned in and dropped his voice so only Pete
and I could hear it.  "Joe kept going on.  He said you two were gay.  Is
that true?"  Genuine curiosity, I thought, no condemnation or hostility.

Pete stared hard at him and then nodded, dropping his eyes.  Danny looked
to me, and I nodded also.  Then my dad's friend said something that
surprised the hell out of both of us. "It's okay boys.  I understand.  I am
too."  Thunderstruck, we walked the rest of the way in silence.

As we approached the house, I could see three patrol cars in the front
yard, Brenda's car in the driveway, and Joe's truck sitting in the front
lawn.  I also saw several neighbors standing in their yards wondering what
was going on.  We ignored them all.

"I think I have these two under control.  Why don't you guys head back to
your zones.  I'll wrap this up and file the report."  The other cops said
something, I don't remember what, and then got in their cars and drove
away.  Seeing all the excitement was over, the neighbors drifted into their
houses.  I idly wondered what gossip would come out of this.

Then I realized I had to face my parents and tell them I was gay.  It was
one thing to talk about it when I was ten miles removed from them, but
another thing entirely to actually do it.  I was so terrified I began to
balk as Danny led us to the front door.  He tightened his grip slightly and
spoke in a calm quiet voice, assuring me that he would be there when we
told my parents the whole story.  Pete must have realized what I was
thinking, and hurting as he was, put his arm around me and held me tight,
supporting me and telling me we were together.

We reached the threshold.  I stopped and stared at the door.  Why was I
having such a problem with this?  Pete had for all intents and purposed
lost his dad. Granted Joe was a bastard, but he was still his dad.  I
hadn't told my parents yet, but I was ready to turn and run.  Before I
could act on that, Danny reached over me and opened the door, taking away
my options.

Brenda was the first person I saw.  She had a bruise just starting to bloom
on her left cheek.  Seeing it was me and Pete, she ran to the door and
embraced us both, crying.  Pete wrapped his arms around her and held her
close, asking her what had happened.  Hearing him start sobbing, I absently
put my hand on his shoulder. But I was looking beyond Brenda to my parents.
They had a relieved look on their face, but also had an anxious expression.
Obviously Brenda had told them some, but not all, of the details.  I
continued to stand there like a statue, just staring at them.  Dawn was
nowhere in sight.

I felt dizzy, like I'd fall over if I moved.  The longer I stood there, the
more worried my parents looked.  I hoped my face didn't show anything.  I
had hidden things from them too long for my emotions to betray me now.
Damn these tears.

Mom stood and came over to me.  Brenda released me into my mothers arms.
Try as I might, I couldn't hold it in any more.  I bawled like a baby, not
even trying to speak.  I don't remember the last time I had cried like
that.

I remember Dad awkwardly wrapping his arms around both of us, then his
embrace strengthening.  Then I saw his tears.  My dad, crying?  I had never
seen him cry before that I could recall.

It was only a few minutes but it seemed like hours.  Danny had shut the
door and moved into the living room.  When the rest of us got a grip again,
he ushered us to take seats on the couch or the floor. I sat next to Pete,
who sat in front of his mom.  If my parents thought this odd, I didn't see
any sign.

Danny sighed and ran his hand through his thinning blond hair. "Okay,
folks.  I have to get all the details for the report.  I have Brenda's
portion, but I want to hear what the kids have to say.  Pete, remember that
your dad can't hurt you now.  Anything you say is between us and the walls.
He won't hear it.  Brian, if you have anything to say, just chime in.  I'm
not leaving until I make sure you two are okay."  He put special emphasis
on that last sentence, letting us know he was there to support us, should
things go bad.

Neither I nor Pete spoke at first.  Brenda began to recount the
conversation she had had with Joe again.  I watched my parents like a hawk,
searching their faces for any reaction when Brenda stated,
matter-of-factly, that Pete had told her he was gay.  I saw nothing in
their faces, not even surprise.  How much had she told them?

She ended her recitation at the point where Joe had grabbed my jacket. But
it was obvious from her and my parents expression that there was more to
the story than she had told.  She was hiding the events that had given her
that bruise.

 Danny looked to Pete and I expectantly, and didn't seem disappointed when
we told him that was pretty much it. "What did you do after you got away?"

Pete answered, "We took off to the fort.  We cut it out of the brush last
year.  It's about a mile and a half away from the house.  I couldn't think
of anywhere else to go.  I didn't even realize that Dad had almost caught
Brian until he caught up to me at the fort."  He looked at me
apologetically.  I patted his knee.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw
Dad's jaw tighten just a bit, while Mom's face remained impassive.  Fear
once again bloomed in my gut.

Pete continued on, looking at the floor in concentration.  He was actually
looking beyond the floor.  "I kind of lost it for a while, and by the time
I got myself together it was dark.  We decided to wait until around ten
before heading back to get the bike, and come here, which we did."  He was
so brave and strong.  It didn't seem to phase him that the world knew he
was gay now.  Well, my parents and Danny didn't actually constitute the
world, but he must feel terribly exposed and vulnerable. I hoped I could be
that strong for him.

As I watched him speak, I could see the beginnings of tears in his eyes.
God, what must he be thinking?  His dad had rejected him, and any sense of
control he had over his life had been stripped away because he was out,
now, and not by his choice.  What would I feel if my dad rejected me? Or
Mom?

A hush settled over the room, disturbed only by the nervous shifting of my
parents and Brenda in their seats.  Danny was writing in his notepad.
Looking up briefly and catching my eye, his expression asked if I was going
to tell my part.  Just as I started to speak, Mom broke the silence.

"Pete, you are positive you are gay?"  How was that any of her business?
Pete responded as if this were a normal, everyday inquiry about his health.

"I am sure.  This isn't a phase."  She studied him for a few moments with a
contemplative expression.  Pete looked back, face emotionless.

"Are you gay, too, son?"  I jumped as my Dad spoke, his face displaying
deep anxiety and dread.  My head was swimming, I couldn't catch my breath.
I looked around the room from person to person in a near panic, and then
caught Danny's eye.  He gave an imperceptible nod, indicating that I should
do what I felt in my heart, or that's how I took it.  Then my gaze fell on
Pete.  He was watching me, using his eyes to express his love for me as
only he could.  I knew I loved him, and I needed him.

I took a deep breath.  Another.  I squared my shoulders, and spoke with
more confidence than I felt, by far.

"Yes, I am gay."  Four words.  Four simple words.

My father closed his eyes tight and looked heavenward, and then let his
head fall to his chest.  He stood up slowly, and walked to the front door.
My heart fell.

Mom stood as my father opened the door and started to follow him out.
Hearing her following, he said something in a voice so low I only caught
the last part of it. "I need to think," he said.  Mom looked at him for a
few seconds and then nodded. Danny stood and followed after my dad without
a word.

All I could think of was my dad was leaving.  He didn't want me any more.
He was abandoning me.  I started shaking almost uncontrollably.  Pete put
his arm around me, pulling me close, giving me some of his strength.  The
tremors eased a bit.

After he had shut the door, mom stared after Dad for a moment, then turned
to come back in the living room.

With no hesitation, Mom came and knelt in front of Pete and I.  She studied
us, seeing every detail.  Pete's arm tightened around me, bracing me for
whatever may come.  I am sure Mom saw it.

"Are you and Pete a couple, then?"  All I could do was nod.  She looked to
Pete, then back to me.  "Both of you need to hear this.  It doesn't matter
what your orientation is.  You are the same person you were yesterday, last
week, or last year.  I love the both of you."  She opened her arms, reached
out, and gathered us into her arms.  Soon after I felt Pete's mom put her
arms around us from behind.

"That goes for me too, boys. Pete, there is no good time to tell you this,"
Brenda began, "and after what happened tonight, this is probably the worst
time.  Pete, we are leaving your father.  He's crossed the line and I won't
put you in danger any more."

Pete turned around to look at his mom, breaking the embrace we were in.
"Dad isn't coming back?"  A mixture of excitement and regret?

"We have to get our things out before the police let him out tomorrow
afternoon.  For the time being, we'll be staying here until we can find a
place."

Pete saw the bruise blooming on his mom's cheek.  "He hit you," he stated.
She nodded.

"That's not why we're leaving though.  Or rather I should say that it IS
part of the reason, but not the whole reason.  You don't need the details,
and I won't tell you if you ask.  This is the best thing for you.  For us."

Pete just nodded.  Having regained my composure, I wriggled out of my mom's
grasp and stood to stretch my legs.  My stomach was still churning and I
felt weak.

"Anyone want something to drink?"  Pete nodded, Brenda and Mom declined
with a wave of their hand.  The three of them continued to discuss the
moving plans for tomorrow, but I paid no attention, to engrossed in my own
thoughts.

Ambling into the kitchen, I examined what I was feeling.  Mom seemed like
she was, if not fine with everything, at least okay.  But Dad?  He ran out
of the house without a word.  Would he be back?  Would he still want to be
my father?

I decided I was in shock and wasn't fully feeling what was going on yet.
Probably the adrenaline rush still.  Must have been living on adrenaline
for the whole day.

Mom entered the kitchen as I poured Pete and myself a glass of Coke from
the two-liter.  She watched me as I finished pouring, replaced the cap, and
returned the bottle to the fridge.  She was making me nervous.  As I turned
around, I saw Dad and Danny having a heated discussion in the driveway.
They weren't loud or anything, but I could tell they were both angry.  I
realized I needed to hear what Dad was saying.  Walking to the living room,
I gave Pete his glass and set mine on the side table.  Turning around, I
headed toward the bathroom.  Shutting the door behind me, I climbed into
the tub. There was a window above the tub that we kept cracked to keep
fresh air in the room.  I hadn't turned on the lights, so Danny and Dad
wouldn't know I was listening.

"What am I supposed to do?"  Dad was speaking in an urgent voice.  "I don't
know how to raise a straight kid much less a gay kid."

"Why do you care if he is gay or straight.  He is your son, and he is the
same son you have known and loved for the past thirteen years.  Why is him
being gay changing that?  Do you like me any less because I am gay?"

"No, but you're not my son!"

What difference does that make?  You think it makes you somehow less of a
man since your son is gay?  Are you afraid of what other people will
think?"

"No, but-"

"But nothing!  Brian is of the bravest kids I have ever known.  You forget
I know what he goes through at school and I see what he goes through here,
and we have talked about that before.  He stood up for his friend and then
came out to you.  He is willing to give up everything for that boy in there
just as you would for your wife!  And you're worried about what others will
think."

Dad was silent for a moment, just staring at Danny.  "What do I do?"

"You can start by paying attention to the kid."

"I do."

"When is the last time you did anything with him?"

"I. don't remember.  I think we played catch."

He had, in February.

"You ignore him!  You aren't comfortable dealing with him, so you don't.
He is now starting to show his feelings and you can't deal with it, just
like you can't deal with your own feelings.  Well, you better learn. And
damn quick.  He needs you, and you need him.  You can help each other if
you'd only allow yourself to see it.  Look Ben, I don't want you to feel
like I am attacking you; that isn't my goal.  I just want to make sure that
BOTH of you are okay, and that you realize that he hasn't changed. He is
your son, and you can be proud of him.  He has a good head on his
shoulders, and that is a credit to you and Lisa both."

"I love him.  I really do.  I just don't know how to show it."  I could see
tears glistening in the streetlight.

"I know you love him.  He loves you.  And you will learn what he needs from
you.  But for God's sake, don't reject him again like you did when you
walked out."

Dad's face went pale in the glow of the street lamp, a bleak look on his
face.  "He must think I hate him.  Oh God no.  I have to get in there."  He
turned to come in the house, but paused as Danny put his hand on Dad's
shoulder.  "Ben, I want you to know I am here for both of you.  Brian and
Pete know about me.  If I can help, call me."

A crooked smile came over my dad's face.  "Now that I know about them, I'd
like it if Brian, at least, can spend some time with you, too.  You may be
able to offer him something I can't."  Danny nodded as he removed his hand,
and Dad headed for the door once more.

I scrambled out of the tub, flushed the toilet, opened the door, and walked
into the living room just as Dad and Danny walked in.

Without hesitation, he walked up to me, put his hands on my shoulders,
looked me in the eyes.  He stared intently, trying to read my soul.  I saw
in his eyes many things.  Uncertainty, pain, grief, anxiety.  But above all
of that, I saw love.

"Brian, this changes nothing.  I love you.  All I ask is that you give me
the chance to show you how much. I won't leave you, son.  Not now, not
ever."  I buried my head into his chest, and he held me tight, like a
father holding his son.