Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 01:47:27 -0500
From: Miguel Sanchez <miguel_sanchez55@hotmail.com>
Subject: What Happened to Neil Ch. 4

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and that of love. Any resemblance to
actual places, events, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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I hope you enjoy this story.
Miguel Sanchez

What Happened to Neil

Chapter 4

I went to bed about eleven after checking on Neil. He was sleeping soundly
so I did my nightly business then hit the hay for some much needed rest.

I had just drifted off to sleep when Neil's vice woke me. "No leave me
alone," he was saying. "I don't know you. Help. Leave me alone."

I hurried down the steps and ran into Neil's room. I flipped on the light
switch and sat beside him. "NO, NO, STOP, PLEASE, HELP!" he cried out again.

I put my hands on his shoulders and his eyes shot open. He started to sit up
as I reached to take him in my arms. "Easy son," I said. "It's alright.
You're safe; no one is going to hurt you."

"Oh Mike," he cried.

"Easy tiger," I said softly. "Can you remember this one?"

"He nodded his head and softly whimpered, "Un huh."

I held him until he calmed down and could speak better then he said, "He was
chasing me. He kept saying come here kid, I have something for you. I was
running then he touched my shoulder and then everything went dark."

I held him as he worked himself into another crying frenzy while telling me
what had happened. "Could you see who it was?" I asked.

"Un un," he said softly. "I do know it was a kid. He was bigger than me."

"Alright son," I said as I stroked his hair. "You're safe. No one is gonna
get you here."

I felt him yawn against my chest so I laid him back down and covered him up.
I went to leave as he said, "No Mike, please don't leave me alone."

Now this was something I was totally unsure of. I'd never slept with any of
my foster sons before. While I was thinking about what to do Adam was
standing behind me. "Another nightmare," he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "This time he doesn't want me to leave him. I'm not sure
what to do."

"Well curl up with him and keep him calm," he said. "I've done that many a
time with him."

I didn't want to say no but I wasn't sure what they would think. After
hearing what Adam had said, I did feel a little better about the whole
thing. I went over and slipped in beside Neil as Adam turned off the light.
"Feel better son," I asked him as I wrapped my arms around his chest.

"Thanks Mike," he said as I felt him hold onto my arm as we drifted off to
sleep.

The next morning I was glad I was taking Neil into see Dr. Chase. As I was
heading to the hospital, there was a major accident on the highway and I had
to take detour. As I was driving Neil got a strange look on his face as I
passed a row of shops. "What is it son?" I asked as I slowed for the red
light.

"I don't know Mike," he said. "But something about that place gives me the
creeps."

I turned back and looked at the buildings and they looked run down and
deserted. "Have you ever been there before?"

"I don't think so," he said. "I can't see myself going around a place like
that."

When the light changed the next place we passed was his school. "Gateway
Private School," Neil said. "Dad said that's where I go to school. Nice
looking place."

I tried to catch a few glimpses as I kept my eyes on the road then said,
"Yeah it is. Looks like an old English school."

A few minutes later we arrived at the hospital and I got Neil into his
wheelchair. We went to the fourth floor to Dr. Chase's office and he was
waiting on us. "Hi guys," he said smiling. "And how are you doing Neil?"

"Not to good Doc," Neil said.

"Well come on inside and we'll talk about it," Dr. Chase said.

I wheeled Neil into the office and Dr. Chase closed the door, "OK, so what's
been going on."

"Not sure where to begin," Neil said. "Let's see, I had a visit from a kid
named Andrew. He said he was my best friend and that he's known me for about
5 years."

"How did that go?" Dr. Chase asked.

"OK I guess," Neil said. "He did keep looking at me and then smile. It was
OK at first but then it started getting to me."

"Well maybe he was glad to see you and that you're going to be alright?" Dr.
Chase asked.

"Maybe," Neil said. "But just before he left, he started scooting closer and
closer to me."

"You don't like body contact?" Dr. Chase asked.

"It's not like that Doc," Neil said. "I love to be held. I like it when Mike
holds me but I don't know Andrew. It was like he wanted to sit on my lap or
something."

"That can be a little disturbing for someone even if you know them," Dr.
Chase said.

"Yeah," Neil said.

He next told Dr. Chase about the nightmare he had had the night before and
that disturbed the doctor. The doctor asked, "You said you woke up when
everything went dark, is that right?"

"Yeah," Neil said.

"Can you remember why it went dark?" Dr. Chase asked.

"Umm no doc," Neil said.

"Alright Neil," Dr. Chase said.

I leaned over to Neil and whispered, "Do you want to tell him about the
other dream you had?"

Neil's head shot around and he turned red saying, "Ah Mike, do I have to?"

"He's not gong to say anything son," I said. "You're certainly not the first
boy ever to have a wet dream. It could be important; then again it could be
nothing."

"Alright Mike," Neil said. "But this is under protest."

"Understood," I said ruffling his hair.

"Uh there is something else," Neil said. "A couple of days ago I uh well
sorta had a messy dream."

Dr. Chase had to think for a second about what Neil had said then said, "Oh,
you mean you had a wet dream?"

"Ah yeah," Neil said. "I was outside and someone was lying beside me. Then
next thing I know they were running their hands over my chest and over my
crotch."

"What happened in the dream?" Dr. Chase asked. "Can you remember?"

"Yeah," Neil said. "It felt really good. I closed my eyes and it started
feeling better and better then I woke up with a mess in my boxers."

"And you couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl?" he asked.

"No," Neil replied. "But I've been thinking about that ever since it
happened and I'm not positive but I think it was a boy."

"Could it have been your best friend Andrew?" Dr. Chase asked.

"Um, I don't think so," Neil replied. "He seemed a little shorter than
Andrew."

"What would you do if was Andrew in your dream?" Dr. Chase asked.

"Probably punch him," Neil said.

"Why," the doctor asked.

"First," Neil said. "He never asked if he could touch me there and secondly
if he had, I would have said no. I can take care of that myself."

I looked at Neil and said, "Son, it does feel much different when someone
else does that for a person."

"Have you had someone do that Mike," Neil asked with a surprised look on his
face.

"As a matter of fact, I have," I said. "I wasn't much older than you are
now. And to be honest, it felt super."

"It did feel pretty good," Neil said. "I just wouldn't want it to be him
though. Not after what happened in my room."

"Well," Dr, Chase said. "If he starts getting to close again, just tell him
to move over and give you some space."

"Alight Doc," Neil said. "I'll do that."

Dr. Chase then looked at us and said, "I think the two nightmares you've had
are somehow related to what happened to you, Neil. When we've been through a
traumatic experience, like you've had, our bodies try to repress it but when
we are asleep, we relax and it starts coming back. Sometimes we'll only get
bits and pieces at first and then over time it will come back full force.
Other times, it may just be a little clue and something else will trigger it
all to come back. Now, once you remember what happened will all your
memories come back? That I don't know. The brain is a very complex organ and
there is a lot that we still don't know about it."

"So it's something that time will heal, huh Doc?" Neil asked.

"I'm afraid so son," Dr. Chase said.

I got Neil home and he took a nap after I'd fixed him lunch. That evening, I
had to go my house and go through the mountain of mail I'm sure had
accumulated. I was gone a couple of hours and when I got back, I was in for
a major surprise. Neil was sitting on the couch cuddled with his Dad. I
smiled as I entered the family room and said, "Well now isn't this a Kodak
moment?"

Neil looked up at me and said, "Hi Mike. Yeah, I wanted to sit over here for
a while. My butt was getting sore staying in that chair all the time."

Neil slept through the night without any nightmares. The next afternoon
Andrew came over again for another visit. They had been in Neil's room for
about 45 minutes when I heard Neil say, "Come on dude, give me some room.
What are you trying to do, sit on my lap or something?"

"No man," Andrew said as I walked down the hall to see what was going on.

"Then scoot over," Neil said.

"What's the matter guys?" I asked as I walked in.

"Andrew is trying to sit on me or something Mike," Neil said.

"No I'm not," Andrew said. "You used to like me sitting this close to you."

I looked at Andrew and said, "Andrew, that was then. He doesn't remember
that and forcing things won't help. Remember what I told you the first time
you came over, go slow. It's going to take time. He's only seen you twice."

"Yeah, I guess so," Andrew said scooting over. "Sorry Neil."

"No problem," Neil said.

"Well I gotta go and do my homework," Andrew said.

"That reminds me," I said. "Neil, you and I have some things to look at
too."

"Aw Mike," Neil moaned. "Do we have to?"

"Yes we do," I said getting him into his wheelchair.

We went over his math and chemistry and I was amazed. It took him a little
time with his math but soon he was right on track. Chemistry took a little
longer and he was behind there requiring my help. I had to really put on my
thinking cap to remember my high school chemistry. I had Neil knock out
several old assignments in Math and we called it a day as Adam and Barbara
came in from work.

They saw him putting his school work away and Barbara asked, "So how did you
do son?"

"Not bad," he said. "Mike says I'm doing great in math.

"That's great honey," Barbara said.

"Yeah great," Neil said sullen. "I can remember stupid math but I can't
remember you guys. That's just super great."

Now I had to get firm with him. "Neil, that's just enough. You've heard what
Dr. Chase has said. School work is learned and you did exactly how I figured
you would do."

"I just wanna remember what happened," Neil said breaking down.

Barbara went to his side and comforted him saying, "You will son. You're
trying too hard now. You did good with your school work now you're trying to
push yourself to remember things your mind has locked up. That will come to
you when it is ready to and not any sooner. Look, we're the ones that should
be upset. You're our son and you don't remember us yet each day that passes,
you treat us more and more like Mom and Dad. We're happy with what we have
son."

Neil cried in his mother's arms as Adam came around and rubbed his back. "We
love you son," Adam said, "We don't care if it takes a week or a year, so
just relax and stop pushing so hard."

Neil finally calmed down and spent time sandwiched in between Barbara and
Adam after dinner. I was sitting in a recliner totally engrossed in a movie
when suddenly I had a lap full. I came to my senses and said, "Well hello
there, nice of you to drop in."

He giggled and said, "You looked lonely."

"This is the first time any of my kids ever cuddled like this," I said.
"They would lean against me but never sit on my lap. I guess they thought
they were too old or something."

Neil stayed there for about an hour then I noticed he was asleep. The end of
the week saw us back at the hospital with Neil getting more x-rays and his
leg cast changed to a walking cast and starting physical therapy. Dr. French
did remove his arm cast and had a splint cast made for it.

Andrew was coming over about three times a week and I was happy that there
were no more incidents like the previous one.

Neil wasn't having any more nightmares or erotic dreams and his life was
pretty much normal except for his memory. It was looking like it was going
to have to return without me as I was feeling I had done all I could with
him. He was able to ambulate fairly well and I knew Adam and Barbara would
ask Social Services for their son back.

One afternoon after I'd helped Neil with his homework I was sitting in the
family room lost in thought. Neil was in his room playing his video game
when Adam and Barbara came home. I was so into my thoughts I didn't hear
them come in. "Hi Mike," Adam said. "Where's Neil?"

"Playing his video game," I said.

"What's wrong?" He asked. "You were a million miles from here when we came
in."

"Just thinking," I said. "Neil's getting stronger and he can get around
pretty well on his own."

"Yeah," Barbara said. "The therapists are doing a good job with him."

I looked at them and said, "Well, I guess you'll be asking social Services
for your son back now."

"We have been meaning to talk with you about that," Adam said.

"Ah sure," I said. "I don't see a problem with it. He's comfortable here and
he loves you both."

Barbara was a typical mother. She knew how to read people and she picked up
and my moodiness. "Are you thinking we're going to ask you to leave when
that happens?"

"Well, you are a family," I said.

"Yes we are," she said. "But he is still going to need you."

"I can take him to therapy and stay with him during the day," I said. "But
he won't need me when you're home. He has you two."

Adam sat beside me and said, "That's all true but when he has those
nightmares, he needs you. I know he hasn't had them in a while but until he
gets his memory back, he does need you."

"Where are you going Mike?" Neil asked.

I had forgotten he can walk now and he was standing behind me. "Well kiddo,
it was just looking like my time here was almost done."

"Suppose I don't want you to go yet," he asked sitting on my lap.

"Well, that up to your parents," I said.

"Oh didn't we tell you," Barbara said. "Neil normally gets what he wants
too."

He looked at me eye to eye and there was no way I could refuse him. I kissed
him on the forehead then said, "Alright kiddo, I'll stay. But you do know
that there will come a time when I'll have to go back home."

"I know," Neil said resting his head on my shoulder. "But now is not the
time. I think we will both know when it will be."

A few days later Neil woke up from a nap and said, "Mike, come here please."

I went down to his room and he had taken off his boxers. "What's the matter
son," I asked.

"Damn," he said. "It happened again."

"Another wet dream," I asked.

"Yeah," he said. "Just like the last."

I got him a clean pair of boxers as he went over to the bathroom to wash
himself. While he was doing that, there was a knock on the door. I opened
the door and Andrew was standing there. "Can I see Neil, Mike?" He asked.

I had him wait by the door until I was sure Neil was decent then I said,
"Come on in Andrew. He's in his room."

I left them alone and watched some television. Inside the two boys were
playing when Andrew said, "Hey Neil, are you still mad at me?"

"Nah man," he said. "I just wasn't used to you sitting on top of me like
that."

Andrew put his arm around Neil's shoulder and squeezed him a little then
said, "I was just hoping if I acted like I did before you'd remember it. I'm
really sorry."

"It's OK," Neil said setting the controller down. "I'll be right back, I
have to pee."

Neil got up and went to the bathroom while Andrew continued to play. When he
returned he picked up his controller and started playing again. Just then
Andrew said, "Oh before I forget, I have something for you."

Andrew pulled out his wallet and took out a photograph and handed it to
Neil. Neil gasped when he took it as Andrew said, "It's a picture of us."

"Huh," Neil said looking at the picture. "Wow man, when was this taken?"

Andrew looked at it then said, "Must be a couple of years ago. You don't
have those trunks any more."

"Oh OK," Neil said. "Thanks a lot. Andrew, I have a bit of a headache. I
want to lie down and rest if you don't mind."

Andrew turned the game off and said, "Sure Neil. I'll let Mike know you're
not feeling well on my way out."

Neil stretched out on his bed and said, "Thanks Andrew."

Andrew stopped in the family room and said, "Mike, Neil says he has a
headache and is lying down."

"Thanks Andrew," I said getting up to see how he was.

I heard the door close as I went down the hall and I saw Neil lying there
white as a ghost. I went over to the bed and sat down beside him and he was
also shaking like a leaf. I felt his forehead and said, "What's wrong son?"
Andrew said you have a headache."

He just laid there not saying a word. He started shaking more and more to
the point where I was about to call 911. I reached to feel his cheeks when
he pushed me out of the way and hurried into the bathroom. The next thing I
heard was him throwing up in the toilet. `He must have a migraine' I thought
as I went to check on him.

He finally stopped heaving then said, "Can you help me up Mike?"

I went in and got him standing, "What's wrong son?"

He went over to the sink and splashed some water on his face then rinsed his
mouth out to remove that pukey taste. Neil dried his face and hands and
returned to his room. He sat on the bed holding the picture Andrew gave him
and said, "It's him Mike, it's him."

"Who's him," I asked.

"Andrew," Neil said. "It's Andrew."

I looked at the photo and said, "Yeah son, Andrew is in the photo with you."

"No Mike," he said sounding frustrated that I wasn't understanding his
cryptic talk. "It was Andrew who did this?"

"Wait a minute son," I said. "Have you got your memory back?"

"Yeah Mike," Neil said. "Ah um well most of it."

"Let's sit out on the couch where we'll both be comfortable," I said helping
him to his feet.

Neil went to the family room while I went into the kitchen and called Adam
and Barbara. They said they were leaving right away and would be home in
about 20 minutes. I got Neil and I a soda then joined him in the family
room. "I called your parents and they are on their way home," I said sitting
beside him. "Why don't we wait until they get here so you only have to do
this once?"

"Alright Mike," Neil said as he sipped his soda.

"What makes you say he did it?" I asked.

"That's what I don't understand," he said.

"Let me ask you this," I said. "How were things between you two before the
trip?"

"Fine," Neil said. "Or, at least I thought they were."

I was about to ask another question when Adam and Barbara came in. "Neil,
you remember what happened?" Adam asked.

"Not totally," Neil said. "I saw Andrew with my wallet."

"How did he get your wallet?" Barbara asked.

"I don't know Mom," Neil said.

"I just can't believe Andrew's involved honey," she said. "He's your best
friend."

"Then how did he get my wallet?" Neil asked.

"I think we need to call Sgt. O'Farrell," I said.

"Good idea," Adam said heading for the kitchen.

Adam was on was on the phone for about 5 minutes then he came back in and
said, "I talked with him and he was just on his way home for the day. He
said he'd he be here in about 30 minutes."

The Jefferies went to change out of their work clothes when I looked at Neil
and said, "Neil, how many friends do you have at school?"

"Not many," he said. "I ride the bus and most of the other kids live in
other areas. Andrew is the only friend I have from here."

"Is there someone in any of your classes you like but doesn't live here?" I
asked.

Neil thought long and hard and said, "No. I have friends in all my classes
but I don't see them outside of school except Andrew, if that's what you
mean."

I was running out of ideas. I felt Andrew was involved but why he would do
this was beyond me. Neil and I were bouncing different things off each other
and they all led back to the same question, why.

Adam and Barbara came out of their room just as the doorbell rang. Adam
answered it and then came into the family room with Sgt. O'Farrell.

"Well there you are now lad," the sergeant said. "It's nice to see you up
and around now.

"Thanks," Neil said.

"Now what's this I hear you have your memory back?" O'Farrell said.

"Yeah, maybe," Neil said. "All I know is Andrew has my wallet. How he got it
is a good question because it's never out of my pants pocket."

"When did you see him with it?" His Dad asked.

"This afternoon," Neil said. "He pulled it out and handed me this picture."

"That's an older picture you each have copies of," Barbara said.

"Well I think it's time I had another talk with Andrew," Sgt O'Farrell said.

"Wait," Neil said.

"What," Barbara asked.

"I want to confront him," he replied. "I want to hear him tell me why he has
my wallet."

Sgt. O'Farrell asked, "Neil do you know an older boy who lives in your
neighborhood who goes to your school?"

"I don't know any of the older kids who go there period," he replied. "Like
I told Mike, Andrew is the only friend I have that lives here and goes to
school with me."

"Alright lad," the Sergeant said. "I think I'll just wait in the other room,
if you want to confront Andrew."

Adam dialed Andrew's number and handed the phone to Neil. He waited for
someone to answer then he said, "Hello is Andrew there. This is Neil."

I was listening on the extension when Andrew came to the phone. "Hi Neil,"
Andrew said. "What can I do for you?"

"Can you come over for a little bit," Neil said. "My headache's gone and I
thought you'd like to finish our game."

"Um, I dunno," he replied. "I'll have to check with my parents. Hold on a
second and I'll find out."

He came back to the phone and said, "Yeah sure. I've finished all my
homework so I can come over for a little while. I just have to be home in
time for supper."

"Cool," Neil said. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

The Sergeant was still standing with us and asked, "How do you know it's
your wallet he had?"

"That's easy," Neil said. "Mom and Dad gave me that for my 13th birthday and
I used a hot paper clip to burn the letter N on it. It's hard to see now but
I know just where it is."

"Your own personal monogram," I said. "Nice touch."

The Sergeant went down to Neil's room to hear what was going to happen. He
didn't think Andrew would get violent with me and Adam there but he felt it
would be better if he was there, just in case.

There was a knock on the door and Barbara went to let the boy in. "Hi Mrs.
Jefferies, is Neil here?"

"He's in the family room," she said. "Go right on in."

Andrew came in and saw us all sitting around. "Hey Andrew," Neil said."

"Hi," Andrew replied. "Glad you're feeling better."

"Yeah, my headache's gone," he said. "But now I have another problem."

"What is it," he asked. "You know I'll help you with anything I can, pal."

"Maybe you can answer a question for me then Andrew," Neil said.

"I'll sure try," Andrew replied.

"How did you get my wallet?" Neil asked.

"You're mistaken Neil," Andrew said.

"Let me see it, will you?" Neil asked.

"Um sure," Andrew stammered.

He reached into his back pocket and handed Neil the wallet. Neil carefully
looked at it and said, "Look here Andrew. Do you see this N right here?"

Andrew looked at then said, "Um yeah,"

"I put that there right after Mom and Dad gave that to me almost two years
ago," Neil said. "It's on the side that always faces down so no one hardly
ever sees it. Now, what are you doing with my wallet? I do remember this. I
never go anywhere without it."

Neil opened it up and in a hidden area pulled out an emergency contact card.
He held it up so Andrew could see it. Neil was standing beside me when he
said, "Why Andrew? What did I ever do to you that would make you hurt me?"

"I didn't do this Neil," he said. "I would never hurt you."

"Then how did you get my wallet, if you didn't do it?" Neil asked.

"It was given to me," Andrew said.

"Given to you?" Neil asked. "By who?"

"But the person who did hurt you," Andrew said.

"You know who did this to me and you never told the police?" Neil asked.
"Why?"

"Why?" Andrew yelled. "Why shouldn't I have done that? I'm your best friend
Neil. I've know you almost 5 years. We've slept over at each others house.
We've been through so much shit together that you're like my brother. I love
you Neil and I have for the last 3 years but all that doesn't seem to
matter. You'd rather hang around Billy Maxwell. Oh yeah, I've seen how you
look at him. I've seen you checking him out in the shower after PE class.
You can hang around him but later it's just good ole Andrew, the friend. You
never give me those looks."

"What are you talking about Andrew?" Neil asked. "Yeah, I talk with Billy in
school but there was nothing stopping you from hanging with was either. It's
true I've even looked at him in the shower, but we're just friends. He
doesn't live any where near us. If you must know, I was going to talk with
you on the trip. I'd been getting some of those feelings too but I just
didn't know what they were. Why didn't you just come and talk with me?"

Andrew was silent as Sgt. O'Farrell came out and said, "I think you'd better
come with me son."

Neil looked at Andrew and said, "If it wasn't you who hurt me, then who was
it?"

Andrew didn't answer as Sgt. O'Farrell put handcuffs on him then called for
another officer to come and pick him up. Adam called Andrew's parents and
they came right over. Mr. Walker was shocked to hear what his son had been a
part of. He even tried to get him to tell him who he got to carry out the
savage beating but he never would.

Neil's memory still hasn't totally come back surrounding the events of that
day. He can remember everything up to the point of getting off the bus at
school the day of the trip. Everything after that until he woke up in the
hospital is still a mystery.

Neil's recovery from his broken bones went remarkably smooth and after
another 4 weeks in therapy his arm and leg were almost back to full
strength.

The day Neil was released from therapy was a sad day for me. I knew when his
last day was going to be so I had Connie meet us back over at the Jefferies
house. Neil and I got there first and I even had Adam and Barbara there.
When Connie arrived I had her follow me into the family room. I made the
introductions then said, "Connie, I think it's time Neil be released from
foster care."

Connie quickly agreed then we all signed the papers transferring Neil back
to his parents. Neil looked at me and said, "Are you leaving Mike?"

I looked at him and said, "You said this day would come kiddo, didn't you?"

Tears were starting to fall when he said, "Yeah I did."

"You also said we would both know when it was time for me to leave," I
asked.

He came over and hugged me then said, "Yeah, I know it's time. But it
doesn't make it any easier."

"I know son," I said. "But look, I also said I'd keep in touch. Of all the
boys I've fostered, I've never had a one like this. I felt like I've become
part of a family. I wouldn't trade this for anything and I promise I'll be
around. I want to watch you grow up and become a man just like your parents
do."

"Do you think I could come over and see your house?" Neil asked. "Wasn't I
supposed to go there first?"

"Ok," I said. "I don't think that would be a problem."

I had my things packed the night before and sitting on the bed. I went up
and got my suitcase and as I came back down, Neil was standing at the bottom
of the staircase with tears in his eyes. We walked out together with our
arms around each other until we got to my van. I tossed my bag inside then
Neil wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. He looked at me and said,
"You know I'm going to miss you, right?"

I handed him a piece of paper with my phone number on it and said, "You
better call me son. I'll come over and spend time with you but I want you to
have some good quality time with you parents before I start coming back
around."

"I will Mike," Neil said as he hugged me tightly. "I love you. I know I
never said that much but I do. You're my second Dad and I'll never forget
you."

I tickled his ribs and said, "You better not or I'll have to come back and
get you."

We hugged again and then it was time to go. I backed out of their driveway
and headed back home to my quiet daily life. I must admit I never felt so
needed then when I was with Neil. The daily contact and caring for his needs
was something I really loved.

I gave them a month alone before I went back over and saw them. Adam told me
that Sgt O'Farrell wasn't about to give up and not find the person
responsible for injuring Neil. Working with the DA's office they got a
search warrant for the boy's house that drove Andrew to school that morning
and in the back of his closet was a baseball bat that had traces of Neil's
blood on it.

The boy who carried out the attack was 16 and was tried as an adult and
sentenced to a lengthy prison term. Andrew was sent to a juvenile facility
until he was 18. Andrew told everyone in court that Neil was gay but his
father stood up and said that he still had no right to deliberately go out
and hurt someone. Mr. Walker was truly sorry for what his son did and still
comes by from time to time to see how he's doing.

The Jefferies worked out an arrangement with the school where Neil's tuition
is waived because of their mishandling of the attendance the day of the
trip. The school felt it was better to take care of it that way rather then
the matter going to court.

I was over visiting one Saturday when Neil said, "Can I talk with you Mike?"

"Sure thing son," I said. "What's up?"

We went back onto his room and sat on the bed when he said, "Uh well, I had
another wet dream and this time I saw who it was. It was Billy Maxwell the
boy I've sorta been dreaming about."

"Have you talked with Billy?" I asked.

"Yeah," Neil said. "I talked with him last week and well, he likes me too."

"Have you two spent any time alone together?" I asked.

"Had a sleepover at his house that weekend," Neil said. "We talked and well,
he's sorta my boyfriend."

"Way to go," I said kissing him on the cheek. "Have you talked with your
parents about this?"

He smiled then hugged me when he said, "Yeah, and they don't care about
that. They just want me safe and happy. They said that you and them talked
about me some when I was in the hospital."

"Yeah son," I said. "We did. I wanted to know as much about you as I could.
They said they thought you might be gay and that's when I told them I was
too."

"You're gay Mike," Neil asked in surprise?"

"Yep," I smiled. "I have known I was for a long time now. Just take things
slow and if you have questions or need someone to talk to, you know where to
find me."

Neil and Billy have been together for a few months now and both boys seem
happy. Neil's confidence is growing each day and he's doing well in school.

I'm still working with my animals at the SPCA and fostering troubled and
special needs boys. I have had more boys but nothing like what ever happened
to Neil.

The End