Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction. Certain characters are based loosely on people known to the author, other similarities to actual persons, places, and events are purely coincidental. This story also includes graphic homosexual acts, some by minors. If this material offends you or is illegal in your area please stop now. The name Aquatic Rescue Response has been used with permission of Aquatic Rescue Response of Maine, a Division of R and G Enterprises. Thank you.
Chapter Six: Awakening
Slowly the haze cleared into a blinding white light, as his eyes continued to focus Pete could make out the grid work of ceiling tiles above his bed, breathing he smelled that sticky antiseptic smell readily associated with hospitals and nursing homes. His throat was raw. Trying to speak his request for water came out as nothing more then a rasp. The figure beside the bed stirred, stood up, and materialized into John.
Don't try to talk, they just took the breathing tube out this morning. You want some water?
John nodded. Pete reached to the bedside table, poured a cup of water, dipped his finger in the water, and wet John's dried lips. He then dropped a straw in the water and placed it in John's mouth , John sucked hard.
EASY! Don't drown yourself, there's plenty more!
John released the straw, breathed hard for a few seconds, then drank again. He looked up as Pete set the empty cup on the bedside table. John managed a very horse thanks as Pete sat on the left edge of the bed and took his hand. Pete reached up with his free hand and touched John's brow as if to brush back the bangs that were never there, as John always kept his hair short. That was when John realized his hair was long enough to be over his forehead!
Wha..? How..?
Three weeks John. They kept you drugged `cause of the burns in your throat and lungs so you couldn't rip the breathing tube out.
Three weeks! My god!, thought John. That meant, he quickly calculated, that summer was nearly over and school was starting soon!
A light rap on the door broke John from his thoughts. A nurse had heard Pete talking and was looking in to make sure all was well.
Well! Good afternoon, Mr. Cole! I'll be right back with the doctor, he'd like to speak with you.
With that she left only to return a moment later with a tall man in a white lab coat. The doctor, who was easily six foot eight, stooped coming through the door so as not to strike his steely gray crewcut on the jam. John noticed that his shoulders nearly skimmed both sides of the door as well.
Good afternoon, Mr. Cole. I'm Dr. Epson, I've been taking care of you.
The doctor extended his left hand to John, who immediately realized that the doctor was being courteous of his still bandaged right arm. John let go of Pete's hand and reached up to shake the doctor's. >From the iron grip of the handshake John decided the doctor could easily crush his hand to powder if he wanted, but Dr. Epson's eyes revealed a warmth and softness usually reserved for mothers gazing upon a newborn. Releasing the mammoth hand which dwarfed his own, John again took Pete's hand.
I'm going to ask you a few yes or no questions. I want you to just nod the answers, I'd rather you didn't try to say more then a word or two until tomorrow since we just took your breathing tube out this morning, ok?
John nodded his head up and down once.
Good. Is your throat sore?
John tilted his head to the side and shrugged.
A little? Has Pete given you water? I told him he could if you woke up.
John nodded, smiled, and squeezed Pete's Hand.
Do you know what happened?
John shook his head. The doctor turned to Pete.
Why don't you tell him up to the point when you two got out of the water.
Pete nodded and turned back to face John.
We were going along in the boat when the engine started acting up, revving then sputtering then revving again. You were just turning us back to camp when it blew up. The fire ball hit you on the right arm and shoulder and something must have hit your head `cause you were pretty dazed. Most of the boat was on fire so we had to jump out. I grabbed two lifejackets on the way and once I got us away from the boat I stuffed one under you as best I could and put mine on. We were floating for a few minutes when I heard that helicopter we saw the day before coming. It came right over us, the guy jumped out, took you from me, loaded you into a basket, they pulled you in, and flew off. The guy, Brad, stayed with me until the boat came and they got me out of the water. Oh, yeah, Brad and his boyfriend Luke have been coming in to check up on you and when I turn eighteen next month I'm joining A.R.R., I've already started training!
John's eyes lit. The boat had exploded?!?! It was a wonder he wasn't dead and from the sound of it he would have been had Pete not pulled him to safety. Now it was the doctor's turn to fill in the gaps.
When the medic got you aboard the helicopter you were in pretty rough shape. Your right arm, shoulder, and chest was basically one big second and in some places third degree burn. Your lips and throat were burnt too so they inserted an endotracheal tube and breathed pure oxygen to you. They started an IV in your left arm and gave you some ativan for the pain, that stuff's better the morphine, a real nineteen sixties trip^Å anyway, they kept you stable and flew you directly here. We had to cut away quite a bit of charred tissue over the past few weeks but you cleaned up well and the grafts all seem to have taken nicely.
The doctor paused to let things sink in.
I think you should make a nearly full if not full recovery. All you need is time and, now that you're off the ventilator, some physical therapy, which Pete can help you with since you both swim.
Yeah, Babe, that cute little ass of yours is getting flabby just lying around here!
John let go of Pete's hand and swatted him. Dr. Epson chuckled.
Well, at least you're in high sprits! I'm going to go now, I think you should rest, this has been a lot to absorb. I'll see you both later.
With that the doctor left, leaving the boys alone again. Pete leaned in to kiss John but was interrupted by another knock at the door. Pete went to the door, opening it he met what he considered the second best looking couple in the world, behind John and himself of course. Brad and Luke walked into the room.
Hi John! Good to see you're awake. Do you remember Brad and I?
John nodded in the affirmative.
Guys, the doc doesn't want him talking yet.
Oh that's right, we saw him in the hall, but he did say we could give you this.
Luke produced a freeze pop from behind his back. John's mouth watered as he went to take it from him. Pete intercepted the pop and peeled off the wrapper before handing it to John who virtually inhaled it. The other three in the room laughed. Pete looked at John and his freeze pop.
Well! Maybe we should leave you two alone!
The three laughed again, John blushed, tugged Pete off balance so he had to sit on the edge of the bed to catch himself, then reached up and took the pop out of his mouth. He leaned over and kissed Pete briefly on the lips.
Actually we do need to be going. Luke and I are on the nightshift tonight.
Ok, thanks for stopping in guys, I'm sure John thanks you too.
John smiled and raised his freeze pop as if to toast. Brad and Luke exchanged their good-byes with the boys who were finally alone again. Pete leaned over and lightly tasted his lover's lips and a hint of remaining cherry flavor. John ran his good hand up under Pete's untucked T-shirt, he caressed the rippled chest, and gently rolled the hardening nipple between his fingers.
OOOWWW!!! Oh Baby I missed you so much! I thought I was going to lose you!
The boys kissed again John saying how much he had missed Pete without words. Released from the embrace John yawned.
Wearing you out Baby? It has been kind of a big day for you, I should let you sleep.
Pete went to get up but John stopped him, pulling him back onto the bed indicating that he wanted Pete to lay beside him. Pete smiled, held up one finger, got up and shut off the lights, and returned to John's bed. Lying back down, Pete cuddled up next to John, draping his arm across his lovers chest careful of the bandages still there, he softly professed his love, kissed John's neck and shut his eyes.
Thank you for reading at least this far. This has is my first story I have been confident enough of to post online. Feedback and comments are welcome, however if you feel the need to flame I will, as the firefighter I am, assume that you are on fire and take appropriate action comenserate with my training. Thank you again.
Merman_Resq@yahoo.com