This is a fictional story that might involve sexual acts between two or more men.

If this offends you, then please do not read any further. If you are under the legal age to read sexually explicit material then do not read any further. This story in no way represents any person living or dead. Any resemblance to any real person is purely coincidental. This story is the property of the author and no copying or posting to any other website is permitted without the author's written consent.

Please help keep Nifty going by donating to the awesome service. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html Brent's Struggle Chapter 20

The man's stride was quick and confident as he strode down the hall towards the conference room. He knew he was running a couple minutes late for this meeting. Stepping into the conference room, he spotted the client. He strode to the round table setting down his briefcase. "Sean, I am sorry I am a little late. Parking spots are hard to find here."

"No problem Matt," Sean said. "I would like you to meet Frank Roberts."

Matt had been focused on the client that he had not noticed the other man in the room. It had been over a year ago since he and Frank had last worked together. The only good thing that had come from Matt having to work with Frank had been meeting the man's son Devyn. Matt had felt a connection with the teenager from almost the first minute they had started talking.

Matt had enjoyed getting to know Devyn and helping the teenager come to understand that being gay was as normal as being straight. Matt could remember running into Devyn at the mall. He could still see the teenager and his boyfriend and the chemistry the two had.

Matt pulled his mind back to the present and studied Frank. The man looked to have grown older over the past several months. Matt thought there was more grey in the brown hair and more lines around the man's eyes. Matt also thought the man looked thinner than Matt remembered.

"Frank," Sean continued. "Matt Chancellor. He is going to be the chief architect on this job."

"Um, Frank and I have worked together before," Matt said taking a seat at the conference table. "Hi Frank."

"Hi," Frank said his voice cold and his eyes glaring at Matt.

"That is great, Sean said. He did not pick up on the noticeable tension coming from Frank. "Let me show you the presentation and then we can chat more."

Matt felt the disdain coming from Frank. He listened to Sean but could not help but notice the glare from Frank.

"What do you think," Sean said at the end.

"It is going to be one nice community plaza," Matt said. "I think I have several ideas to enhance some of the structures. I think we can make it a fully accessible event facility."

"Great," Sean said. "what do you think Frank?"

"Looks and sounds expensive," Frank said. "but I guess it is what the citizens want."

"It is," Sean said. "You two stay and talk. I have another meeting I got to run to right now. Thank you both for coming in today. Between your construction company Frank and your firm Matt this is going to turn out amazing."

Sean left the room and left Matt and Frank sitting at the table. The silence drug out for long minutes. "Well, I guess we have nothing more to say to each other," Frank said getting up from the table.

"I can arrange for my firm to send a different architect," Matt said. "Maybe someone you will be more comfortable with."

"That would be helpful," Frank said and started for the door.

"Um, Frank," Matt said. Frank paused. "how is Devyn doing? He must be driving by now?"

"Devyn is dead," Frank said and walked out the door.

Matt felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. He felt his heart stop for a second. He could not believe what he had heard. "Dead?" His mind was spinning.

Matt regained his senses and hurried after Frank. "Frank, Frank," he said following Frank down the hall. "Frank please stop."

Frank stopped. He turned and stared at Matt.

"I am so sorry Frank," Matt said. He could see now that Frank had lost weight. Quite a bit of weight. The poor guy must be suffering so much. "I cannot imagine what you and your wife must have gone thru. I know that you must be hurting so much, and I am terribly sorry. Devyn was such a good kid."

"He was until you messed him up," Frank spat. "You killed him. You corrupted him. Your kind are scum and took my son from me. You are fucking faggots and all the sickness you cause. I hope you rot in hell." Frank turned and headed down the hall. People in the hall stared at Matt and Frank. The words were loud enough that anyone would have heard the exchange.

Matt followed behind Frank. He got back to his car. He could not believe it. That sweet kid. Damn what happened to him. How had he died? Matt drove home. He did not even remember half of the trip. His mind was still trying to process the terrible news.

"Hey babe," Bryan greeted as mat came into the kitchen. "How was the..." Bryan saw the shell-shocked look on his lover's face. "What is wrong?" he asked. He moved to Matt and took hold of him. "What happened."

"That meeting I had today." Matt swallowed before continuing. "Frank was the guy representing the construction company"

"Frank as in homophobe Frank?" Bryan asked.

"Yeah," Matt said.

"Sorry babe," Bryan said. "I hate that you will have to deal with him again."

"That is not it," Matt said. "Remember his son Devyn?"

"Sure." Bryan could remember the cute kid. He knew that kid was going to become one heck of a heart throb in a couple years. "He was the cute gay kid we ran into at the mall."

"Frank just told me." Matt's voice caught as he tried to say the words. He swallowed and managed to say them. "He died."

"Oh fuck." Bryan pulled Matt into his arms. Bryan knew how Matt had connected with that kid. The two had seemed to have a brother like bond. "I am so sorry babe."

"Me to," Matt rested there in the kitchen his head on Bryan's shoulder and Bryan's arms around him. He could feel the tears slipping from his eyes. "I should have tried to keep in touch with him. I just did not want to cause the kid any problems with his father. I gave him my business card and thought he would call me. It had my personal number on it. I should have called him. I should have..." Matt's voice trailed off as Bryan held him and caressed his back.

"You can't beat yourself up," Bryan said as he held his lover. "Did Frank tell you what happened?"

"He did not tell me anything except he was dead." Matt took a deep breath. "He blames me. He said I corrupted him. It sounds like Devyn came out and it did not go well. Maybe he got mixed up with drugs. Maybe he had a car accident. I just don't know."

"You know it was going to be rough on him coming out with how Frank felt," Bryan said.

"I know," Matt said. "That was why I gave him my numbers. I thought he would call me if things got to rough for him."

"What about that boyfriend of his," Bryan asked. "Wasn't his name Brent something?"

"Yes, Brent," Matt said. "But I don't know the last name. You know gay guys don't have last names."

Bryan held his lover tight. He could feel the sobs catching in Matt's throat. Matt never liked being emotional. He rarely let anyone see him break down. "There was something special about him," Matt said his voice thick.

"I know," Bryan said. His large hands slid up and down Matt's back. "I know you were worried about how his father would react to him being gay."

"There was no way Frank would be able to accept Devyn being gay. The man just did not have that in him. It never made sense to me. Devyn was smart, friendly, caring, and responsible. The kid was everything any man would want in a son. I would have loved him as a son."

"I know babe," Bryan said.

"I should have made more of an effort," Matt said and pushed away from Bryan.

"Do not blame yourself," Bryan said grabbing Matt's shoulder. "You could not have stopped this."

"Maybe I could have," Matt said. "Maybe if..."

"Don't," Bryan said. "The universe doesn't work that way. If you had been there, he might have still died. If you had been there, maybe you would have died with him."

"We don't know what happened," Matt said. "I need to know."

Bryan pulled Matt back into a hug. He kissed the man's neck. He rubbed his back. "I love you babe and am here for you." Matt held onto Bryan. He enfolded him in his arms and let his grief out.

Matt woke up after a night of tossing and turning. He showered and dressed. He left Bryan a note that he was going to work early. After a while of searching local papers, he found nothing about Devyn's death. If it had been gay related, it would have been like frank to keep it all quiet. He pulled up the company directory and found the number for Frank's construction company. He called and got an assistant. He made up some line about needing to drop off plans for Frank. He got Frank's current work location and home address.

Matt drove to the cul-de-sac and drove thru the neighborhood. He saw Frank's house. He knew he would not get far with Frank. Frank blamed him for making Devyn gay or how Devyn had died. Matt was not real sure on that point.

Matt had also looked up the local high school for the neighborhood. He figured one way or another he would find Brent. He never saw Brent come home from school. He had seen no kids enter the cul-de-sac. He remembered Devyn telling him that Brent had been the only kid that lived near him. He decided to take a chance and went to Devyn's door. He knew Frank was still at work so hopefully the wife would be more receptive. If he blew it, he would send Bryan over. Bryan knew how to charm the pants off a nun.

"Hello Mrs. Roberts," Matt said.

"Hi," Judy said. She was instantly taken with this man's amazing green eyes. They were so intense they almost made her blush.

"I, um, was actually looking for one of your neighbors but don't have the address," Matt said. "I have yours because I, um, worked with your husband a few months ago. I was looking for Brent."

"Brent?" she said with surprise.

"Yes ma'am," Matt said. He had noticed her eyes flick to the house behind him when he mentioned Brent's name. He was positive that was the house Brent lived in.

"Why would you be looking for a teenage boy?" she asked.

"Boy?" Matt said trying to act surprised. "No, he's my age. Must be Brent Senior?" Matt said adding a question to his voice.

"That would be Richard Watson," Judy said.

"My assistant must have gotten the names confused," Matt said. "I will have to speak to her again. It isn't the first time she has messed up addresses and names."

"Sounds like you need a new assistant," Judy said. "Someone who is more organized."

"" I probably need someone like you," Matt said and flashed her a warm smile. "Someone with experience running a house and taking care of a family."

"Well, hopefully I wouldn't get the names mixed up like that," she said smiling.

"Keep me in mind if you are ever looking for work," Matt said.

"The Watson's live right over there," Judy said pointing across the street.

"Thank you," Matt said, "I appreciate it."

Matt turned and headed across the street. He could feel Judy's eyes watching him. He wondered if she was just watching him or watching his ass. Matt stepped up to the door. He pressed the bell and waited. An attractive blonde lady opened the door. "Can I help you," she said.

"Hi," Matt said. "My name is Matt Chancellor. I, um, was wondering if I could speak to Brent."

"Brent?" Linda asked. "Why do you want to speak to my son?"

"I heard that he recently lost a friend and I just wanted to see how he was doing," Matt explained.

"I do not know what friend you are talking about," she said. "But Brent was injured and has been in the hospital."

"Is he alright?" Matt asked concerned.

"He will be," Linda said. "His treatments are helping him."

"That is good," Matt said. "Would it be alright if I visited him."

"He is not allowed visitors," Linda said. "It has even been a few weeks since I have seen him."

"No visitors?" Matt said not sure what kind of treatment would keep Brent away from his parents.

"Not until he is better," Linda said.

"here is my card," Matt said. "When he is better, would you please give me a call?"

"yes," Linda said taking the card.

Matt turned and headed back to his car. He felt like he had accomplished nothing. He was no closer to finding out what had happened to Devyn or how Brent was coping with it.

Matt went by the neighborhood a few more times. He never saw Brent, so he assumed that he had been told the truth about Brent being in a hospital. He decided to do a little more digging. He went back to the Robert's house. "Hi again," Matt greeted Judy smiling.

"Hello," Judy said. "You are back again?"

"Yes," Matt said. "I'm kind of on a fact-finding mission. I was hoping you can help me."

"I can try," Judy said.

"How well do you know the Watson's?" Matt asked.

"Not that well anymore," Judy said. Her eyes flashed as she looked at the house across the street.

"Do they seem like good people to you?" Matt asked.

Judy was not sure why, but she liked this man. She invited him inside to have coffee and gossip about the neighbors.

"They seemed normal enough in the beginning," Judy said. "We even took a trip together once."

"Have you seen their son lately?" Matt asked.

"No," Judy said. "Not for..." her voice trailed off. The last time she had seen Brent he was standing at the door asking to see Devyn.

Matt noticed how thin Judy looked. Her eyes seemed a little dull and her hair was not an attractive look for her face. She did not seem to be taking good care of her appearance. He remembered Devyn's attractive brown eyes. Judy may have once had those, but they held more sorrow than anything else.

"I don't remember when I last saw him," Judy finally said.

"I heard he is in the hospital," Matt said. "Do you know anything about that?"

"No," Judy said. "We aren't close the Watson's and us."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Matt said. "That must be rough if your kids were friends."

"They are the reason we do not have Devyn anymore," Judy said. Her mouth turned into a thin line. "If they had taken better care of their kid's mental condition Devyn might be here today."

"Um, what do you mean?" Matt asked.

"It is because of them and that, that boy," she said. She practically spat the word "boy" like it was a four-letter word. "If they had never moved here, we, we, we..."

Matt put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?" Matt's voice was soft and concerned.

Judy pulled herself together. "No, thank you. Devyn is gone now. What they did. Well they will have to live with that."

"It might help you if you talked about it," Matt said.

"I do not want to talk about it," Judy practically snapped. "I think you had better go."

"Um, yes," Matt said realizing he had maybe pushed her a little too much. "thank you for your help."

#

"I was so close," Matt said to Bryan later that night.

"Honey," Bryan began. "maybe you need to try and let it go for a while. You are getting a little obsessed with it."

"I have to know what happened to him," Matt said. "I need to find out where Brent is. Someday I would like to visit Devyn's grave." Matt's voice broke.

Bryan could see the tears in his love's eyes. He hugged him tight. He had never realized just how attached Matt had been to Devyn. Bryan new that Matt had instantly like the kid, but he did not realize exactly how far into Matt's heart Devyn had gotten. "I am sorry babe," Bryan finally said. "He was a good kid. I did not know how much you cared about him."

"I know," Matt started his voice cracking. He hated feeling like this. He hated letting anyone see him this emotional even if it was Bryan with whom he had no secrets. Matt began again. "I know I sound a little crazy. I know in my head I didn't know Devyn that well. We only talked those few times and each time Frank interrupted us. Well except for that time at the mall with you and Brent. I don't know why I feel this strong connection to him. He was a good kid. There was something special about him. I do not know if it was in his eyes, his heart or what. I just connected with him. Hell, in some way it is almost as if he is my son."

"I think you would have been a better father to him than Frank," Bryan said. "He was never going to be able to accept Devyn."

"I know," Matt said. "He was so narrow minded."

"Do you want kids?" Bryan asked. "You could try getting me pregnant again."

Matt smiled at that. "I have been trying for years."

"At least I got you to smile," Bryan said. "but seriously, do you want kids?"

"I don't know," Matt said. "We talked about it and at the time I didn't. Now I think I am just too old."

"Fuck that," Bryan said. "You are two years younger than me. We are not too old."

They talked about it for several more hours until they went to sleep in each other's arms. Matt dreamed of Devyn. He could see the smiling teenager with those warm chocolate eyes and the golden flecks swirling around in them. He hoped that in death that Devyn had found love and acceptance.

#

The phone ringing woke Matt. He slowly grabbed for the receiver. "Whoever it is they are persistent," Bryan said groggily.

"We should have done away with that land line," Matt muttered as his hand finally found the receiver. "Hello," he said into the phone.

"Hey, it is Brent," Brent began. "I don't have much time. I am in trouble. I need help. I, I am in this place. They are killing me. They are trying to make me not gay. I need help. He then raddled off the address. Please help me."

Matt was confused. He did not understand what was happening. He grabbed for the light and a pin. "Brent, I don't understand," Matt said into the phone.

Hearing the concern and edge of panic in Matt's voice pulled Bryan out of sleep. "What is going on?"

"It is Brent," Matt said. "He is in some sort of trouble, but he isn't making sense."

"They have raped me," Brent said his voice growing hysterical. "They are going to make me forget again. They are going to rape me again. You must help me. Please! Help me!"

Bryan was pressed against Matt trying to listen to the scared voice on the other end of the phone. "Did he say rape?"

"Please save me!" Brent's voice was frantic as he dropped the phone.

"Yes," Matt said. "Listen it is muffled. I think he put the phone down."

Both men listened intently they could make out some of the words. They could hear the panic in Brent's voice and some other boys. Then the line went dead.

"Holy fuck." Bryan's voice was filled with astonishment at what he and Matt had heard through the phone.

"What kind of hell is he going through?" Matt's voice was laced with his disbelief and concern.

"We have to help him," Bryan said. "I think it sounds like he is going thru some sort of conversion therapy."

"Gawde damn," Matt snarled.

"Did he tell you where he is," Bryan asked trying to relax his lover.

"I wrote it down," Matt said. "He only gave me an address. I hope I got it right." Matt threw back the covers and got out of bed. He grabbed for clothes.

"What are you doing?" Bryan asked also getting out. He grabbed Matt and pulled him against his naked body.

"Going to get him," Matt said.

"What?" Bryan said surprised. "How?"

"I'm going to get him out of there." Matt's voice was filled with the man's determination.

"What are you going to do just ask politely?" Bryan tried rubbing Matt's shoulders as the other man was trying to find clothes.

"I'll kick down the fucking door if I need to," Matt snapped.

"We need to do this right," Bryan said. "We need to check the place out. We need to make plans."

Matt took a deep breath. He let it out slowly. He knew his husband was correct. "You are probably right."

"Although I do love this fighting side of you," Bryan said. "It is a turn on you know."

"We need to scope the place out right," Matt said.

"Yes," Bryan said.

They both got dressed. "I'll call in sick tomorrow," Matt said. "We can start out tonight."

"I'm usually the one going off halfcocked," Bryan said.

"Did you hear the panic in his voice?" Matt had heard how scared the kid had been. He could not even imagine what kind of hell Brent must be going through. He turned to Bryan meting Bryan's eyes with his own. I lost Devyn," Matt said his voice thick. "I will not lose his best friend."

They packed bags and loaded up the car. Bryan drove heading towards the interstate. "This place is hours away," he said.

#

After driving through the night, they were pulling into the town that Brent had given them. The sun was just coming up as they drove down the street that housed the clinic.

"there it is," Bryan said driving by the clinic.

"Looks, kind of like a prison," Matt said.

"It isn't going to be easy to get him out," Bryan said. "Looks like they have a number of security guards. Bryan was in full military mode. He was analyzing the defenses of the clinic and finding its week spots.

"They are not going to let me just check him out," Matt said. "I can try and reason with his parents."

"How reasonable do you think they are going to be?" Bryan asked turning a corner and circling the clinic again. "They stuck him in that hell hole."

"I'm sure they have no idea what is going on," Matt said. "If I tell them."

"Sure, a total stranger," Bryan said skeptically.

"Well what the fuck are we going to do then?" Matt's voice was harsh as he glared out the window at the facility. He did not know how they would break in there to rescue Brent.

"We are going to call in the Marines," Bryan said. "We will get him out. I have someone that owes me a favor."

"I think trying to reason with his parents might work," Matt said hopefully. "I know they have to love their son. They can't want him to suffer."

"You can try that." Bryan did not believe Matt had much of a chance of reasoning with Brent's parents. "I will work on getting plan B put together."

Copyright 2020 by Keith yates (keith.96@att.net) all rights reserved.