This is a fictional story involving sexual acts between two or more men. If this offends you, why are you here? 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

To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture. Thomas Paine

I'm looking forward to reading your comments. Please send them to me at keith.96@att.net.

Brent's Struggle Chapter 22

After checking out the clinic where Brent was being held, Matt and Bryan drove to a nearby hotel. They checked into a room and Bryan started making phone calls. He wanted to reach a friend that owed him a favor and that Bryan thought would be able to help rescue Brent.

"I think it's faster if I try the parents," Matt said after Bryan had left a voice mail for his friend to call him back.

"I would say that is worth a try," Bryan said, "but I don't hold out much hope of that working. I think we are better breaking the boy out of there and then figuring out a long-term plan."

"I just hate to think of him being held in there for another day or two while we make plans." In his frustration Matt was pacing from one end of the hotel room to the other. "Plus breaking him out feels a bit like kidnapping and breaking a bunch of laws."

"Oh, it is definitely illegal," Bryan said. He watched as Matt paused and looked at him. "Oh, please babe, you knew it would be."

Matt sighed and knew Bryan was right. He just had not let himself consider all the legal or illegal aspects. "I would just call family services and let them investigate but Brent would be suffering while they did their paper pushing." Matt and Bryan had talked about that and knew that the longer it took to get Brent out the more possible mental damage would be done to the teenager.

"Just try and relax." Bryan wrapped his arms around Matt and kissed the back of Matt's neck. "We will get him out. If it takes an entire platoon of Marines, we will break him out of there."

"Your pal had that much influence?" Matt asked.

"Probably more than even I know," Bryan said. "I'm just hoping he's not on an operation somewhere. If he is..."

"We are on our own?" Matt said.

"Not entirely," Bryan said and gave matt a half smile. "I have some other options."

"The fastest way would still to just have Brent's parents get him out though?" Matt ended with a question but both men knew that would be the fastest and easiest way to get Brent out.

"Try it babe," Bryan said and kissed Matt again. "I'll work on plan B."

"Thanks babe," Matt said. "I'll call you if I get anywhere with them."

Matt moved to the door. He paused and moved back to Bryan who was sitting at the desk opening his laptop. "I love you." Matt bent down and kissed Bryan's lips.

"I love you to babe," Bryan said. "Be careful."

#

As Matt drove towards Brent's neighborhood, he tried to decide what he needed to say to get Brent's parents to pull Brent out of that clinic. He was optimistic that once he told them about the fear and panic in Brent's voice that they would go and get him. He could not imagine loving parents leaving their kid in that sort of place.

Matt pulled up in front of the Watson's house. He could not stop himself from looking over at Devyn's house. He still wanted to find out what had happened to Devyn. Once they got the Brent situation under control, he would dig into what had happened to Devyn. He still could not believe that the sweet and friendly boy had died.

Matt took several deep breaths before getting out of his car and walking to the Watson's front door. He rang the bell and waited.

Linda was friendly enough when she opened the door to him. "Hello."

"Hi Mrs. Watson," Matt said.

"Brent is not home," she said.

"I'm glad you remember me," Matt said. "Do you mind if I come inside so we can talk?"

"I'm not sure why you are so interested in my son," she said.

"He called me last night," Matt said.

"He what?" Linda said.

"Can I come in and explain," Matt said.

Stepping back Linda allowed Matt in the house. She led him into the living room. "Please explain what you mean about Brent calling you. He is not really allowed to contact people during his treatment."

"I am very concerned about Brent," Matt began once inside. "He sounded very scared last night.

"I have visited Brent at the clinic and he seems to be adjusting," Linda told Matt. "He's made remarkable strides in his recovery. I do not know what we would have done without Dr. Wilson."

"Mrs. Watson," Matt was trying to pick his words carefully. "I am not sure you understand exactly what kind of clinic this is. I believe they are performing some sort of conversion Therapy on him. Brent sounded frantic last night when he called me."

"They are treating him for his memory loss and some behavior issues. You just misunderstood the call. I'm sure he is safe."

Matt could tell that Linda cared about her son. He could see the love there in her eyes that were like Brent's. "Mrs. Watson Brent is not safe. If you had heard his voice you would understand."

"If Brent was in trouble, he would have called us," she said. "They are taking very good care of him and he is getting better."

"From the way Brent sounded, they are making any condition he has worse." Matt knew he just needed to say the right thing and she would go get her son out of there. He wished he could let her hear the panic and fear in Brent's voice. That phone call would have been enough to convince this woman. "Just go check on him. Go visit him today."

Linda was considering Matt's words. She felt a sincerity in the man's words and in the man's eyes. She had been wanting to visit Brent anyway. She felt it had been too long since they had talked to him.

Matt could see it her eyes. He could see she was going to go. He was almost ready to hug her. "I could drive you there myself. My car is right out front."

"That is generous of you," Linda said. "But not necessary."

They both turned when the front door opened and Richard came into the house. "Hello," he said looking at Matt and his wife.

"Hi honey," Linda said. "You are home early."

"I thought I would take you to lunch," he said. "I did not expect company."

"Hello Mr. Watson," Matt said holding out his hand. "I'm Matt Chancellor." The two men grasped hands. "I was just explaining to Mrs. Watson..."

"He's concerned about Brent," Linda said explaining to her husband.

"I think your son is in trouble," Matt said.

"Brent is fine," Richard said looking from Matt to Linda.

"He called me last night," Matt explained. Matt could see the guarded look on Richard's face. "He told me about being in the clinic. He was very scared."

"Just how is it you know my son?" Richard asked as his stance was moving to one of guarded defensiveness.

"We met a few months ago," Matt explained. Looking from Linda to Richard. "His friend Devyn introduced us." Matt knew as soon as he uttered Devyn's name that it had been the wrong thing to say. He could see the opportunity evaporating before Richard ever spoke.

"That kid is the reason Brent is in the state he is," Richard said. "If it weren't for that boy Brent would be here right now. It is because of that Roberts kid that we had to send Brent for treatment."

"I'm not sure you understand what kind of treatment he is having," Matt said. "They are performing conversion therapy on him."

Matt received blank looks from both of Brent's parents. "They are going to help him cope with his disorder," Linda said.

"They are going to cure him of what, what that boy did to him," Richard said.

"I'm guessing that you mean Devyn," Matt said looking from Richard to Linda.

"Yes," Richard said the disgusting predator.

"I'm a little confused," Matt said.

"You do not need to know our affairs," Richard said crossing his arms.

"You are right," Matt said. "Right now, we need to concentrate on Brent and right now he is being abused."

"Abused," Linda said shocked. Her left hand flying to her mouth.

"Yes," Matt said. "From the panic I heard from Brent and the muffled conversation it sounds very drastic. You need to get him out of there right now."

"We will not," Richard said. "We need our son back. We need our normal son back."

"Conversion therapy doesn't work," Matt said. "If you think you are treating him for being gay then you are sicker than the doctors at this clinic."

"Oh, are you one of those progressive accepting of diversity nuts."

"No," Matt said his green eyes flashing. "I am one of those homosexuals that knows there is nothing wrong with me. Brent would know that two if you had supported him instead of turning him over to be abused."

"Fucking gay!" Richard almost roared. "How could you let him in our house?" He yelled and turned-on Linda.

"Richard," she began, "He's just concerned about Brent."

"Are you the one that started this," Richard yelled turning back to Matt.

"God started this by making Brent gay," Matt said. "He is a wonderful kid. He does not need anything but understanding and love."

"Get out!" Richard yelled.

"You need to help your son." Matt knew he was losing the battle but he had to keep trying. He had to make them understand. "Just get him out of there. Find some other doctor to help Brent." Matt was hoping that another doctor would tell them that there was nothing wrong with their son. "Just help him and love him."

"Brent is getting the treatment he needs." Richard's voice was low and the vanes along his neck were pulsing with every beat. "You need to mind your own business."

"Put aside your prejudice and help Brent." Matt was almost begging the man to help the boy.

"Get out of my house!" Richard's voice almost echoed in the living room. "Get the hell out of here."

"Your son his being tortured and raped," Matt yelled back. "You need to put aside your narrow-minded bigoted views and help your kid. You need to get him out of there. You need to save him."

"They will let us know when he is better," Richard said. "Now you get out of my house. You get out and don't ever come around here again."

"Your Son," Matt began but was cut off.

"And stay away from my son!" Richard yelled.

Matt clenched his hand into a fist. "You are a pathetic excuse for a father," Matt said his voice cold. "You have no right to have a son like Brent."

Richard took two steps forward and was in Matt's face. "You have no idea what my son means to me."

"then show him." Matt was not backing down. He met Richard's Icey glare and stood his ground. "Go get him. Bring him home. Love him."

"He needs help," Richard yelled in Matt's face.

"He needs love," Matt spat back.

"Not from a fucking faggot like you," Richard said.

Matt's fist slammed into Richard's jaw. Richard swung back but Matt moved and the blow missed him. He turned and in one quick movement swept Richard's feet from under him. He looked down at the man. Matt's green eyes conveying his disgust.

"Get out!" Linda yelled. "Get out before I call the police!"

Matt could not believe what he had done. He was not usually the impulsive one. That was normally Bryan. He took a deep breath trying to regain his composure.

Linda had already pulled her cell phone from her pocket. "I'm calling them right now."

That was all Matt needed was to be arrested. Turning he met Linda's eyes. "Mothers are supposed to protect their children. You have turned your son over to rapists and torturers. I hope you are happy."

Spinning Matt stormed from the living room. Slamming the front door so hard he caused the pain of glass to crack. He slammed his car door and for one brief moment he thought of driving the car right through their front door and into their living room.

#

Matt was pacing back and forth in the hotel room. He was still more mad than he could ever remember being in his life. Adding to Matt's anger was that they were only a few miles from the clinic where Brent was being held.

"I can't believe how useless his parents were," Matt said again. "If I had not lost my temper..." Matt's voice trailed off. He had replayed the conversation countless times. He knew he should have been able to articulate how serious it was to get Brent out of the facility.

"Don't worry babe," Bryan's arms wrapped around Matt from behind. He pulled the man tight to his chest. He lightly kissed the back of Matt's neck. "It is all set up. The cavalry will be here in a couple hours."

"How did you pull that together and who is this guy?" Matt asked relaxing in the embrace of his lover.

"Just a guy that owes me a favor," Bryan said. "A guy who can get things done. He'll put together a plan to get Brent out of there. He fights injustice daily."

"I hope you are right and he can help us," Matt said.

#

"Matt, meet Red," Bryan said as the former marine showed another man into the hotel suite.

Matt was surprised at how handsome the man was. His face seemed chiseled by one of the great Greek sculptures. His emerald green eyes seemed to x ray you as he talked to you. Add to that the red hair, the guy's height at six foot four, the broad shoulders, the powerful chest and narrow waist and he was any gay man's wet dream. His deep voice was both powerful and reassuring.

"Red? Is that a nick name?" Matt was feeling a bit nervous about what they might end up doing to rescue Brent.

"It's short for my code name," Red said. "Which you do not need to know. This is Miguel," Red indicated the shorter guy that had followed him into the hotel room.

Matt was struck by Miguel as well. His dark curly hair and Latin good looks made him a striking contrast to the other man. He was shorter than Red by half a foot but his shoulders were broad and well-muscled. The black t-shirt was stretched tight over his chest and showed off every muscle.

"We were able to pull up the blueprints on the way here," Red said. Miguel moved to the desk and started unpacking a laptop. He sat at the desk and as soon as the laptop was booted up, his fingers started flying across the keyboard.

"Thanks for coming so fast," Bryan told Red while Miguel was working on the computer. "I do appreciate it."

"Not a problem buddy," Red said. "I owe you one anyway. You are just lucky I wasn't on an assignment."

"I'm in," Miguel said.

"That was fast," Red said.

"In?" Matt asked. "In what?"

"I hacked their system," Miguel explained.

"You guys don't waste any time do you," Matt said looking from the taller man and then at the other man. "Just what do you mean by, um, hack?"

"I mean, I have access to all of their files, security system and pretty much everything else." The guy flashed Matt and impish smile that made the guy look younger and a little innocent. Matt knew that the guy was probably anything but innocent. "It really was not a very secure system."

"Don't worry," Red said reassuring Matt. "Miguel knows his stuff. They will never even know they were hacked.

"Here's a list of the patients," Miguel said. "You said his name was Brent?"

"Yes, Matt said moving to the younger man's side. "His last name is Watson."

Miguel's fingers danced across the keyboard. Turning the monitor to Matt he said, "Is this him."

Matt saw Brent's blonde hair and blue eyes looking back at him. "Yes."

"We have two options here," Red said. "We can get the department of Children's Services to start an investigation. I'm sure that the practices that this clinic is exercising are not legal."

Matt looked from Red to Bryan. "We already talked about that," Bryan said.

"That could take months." Matt knew they did not have that long to wait. Brent needed their help now.

"The other option is to just go in and get him," Red said.

"You mean break in and kidnap him?" Bryan said already knowing the answer.

"You got it Bry," Red said.

"Let's break him out." Matt had known that was going to be their best course of action. He had determined that as he was driving back from the Watson's house.

"I thought you would want to go that way," Red said.

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and making plans. "What about the guards?" Matt asked.

"They are amateurs," Miguel said.

"Just average rent-a-cops," Red said. "They pose no problem."

"What happens to the other kids?" Matt was concerned that after they rescued Brent the other kids would continue to suffer.

"Then we let Children Services investigate them and get the other kids out," Red explained.

Matt was not sure he liked that as it would mean the other kids would continue to suffer. He wished he could just snatch them all out of the hele whole.

"You know the place might not be as bad as Brent made it sound," Red said. "He might have exaggerated to get your help."

"You did not hear his voice," Matt said meeting the green eyes. "He was terrified."

"He really was," Bryan said backing up Matt.

"Then we get him out and take the place down," Red said.

"Looks like we might have some help there," Miguel said. "This lead doctor is already under investigation. "It looks like the FBI has been investigating her for a while. I think if Red can use one of his contacts at the FBI and let them know that Dr. Wilkerson has become Dr. Wilson. They might be willing to get this place shut down sooner.

"Can you pull up the FBI file?" Red asked.

"Of course," Miguel said. In a few minutes he had the file in front of him. "Looks like she had her license removed for experimenting on her patients. It appears this is not the first time she has abused teenagers. According to this she seems to have a particular fondness for blonde teenagers. Some of this stuff sounds damn close to torture."

"Brent said he had been raped," Matt said.

"If this shit is true," Miguel said, "I think rape might be one of the better acts committed against him.

Leaning over Miguel's shoulder, Red read through the file. His eyes quickly took in the heinous acts that the doctor had committed in the past. "I'll make the call." Red's voice was hard and cold after reading the facts. "I'll get them on this but we get the boy out tonight." Red knew that no matter how many favors he called in, that it would still take time for the FBI to get the place shut down and get the boy out. He was not going to wait for that to happen. He had read through Brent's Patient file and was not going to let him go through that for a couple more days.

#

They were parked a few blocks from the clinic. They had rehearsed the plan several times in the hotel room. Each man knew what their roll was going to be. Miguel and Red were the distraction and Matt and Bryan were the rescue.

"He will know the two of you and hopefully trust you more than me or Miguel," Red had explained.

It had all made sense to Matt. He sat there in the dark car in his black clothes. He could not believe he was doing this. He could not believe that it had ended up coming to this.

"You alright babe?" Bryan asked squeezing Matt's knee.

"Yes," Matt said.

"Nervous?" Red asked. "Because you should be. We are about to pop your breaking and entering cherry."

"Not to mention that kidnapping cherry," Miguel added.

Matt could hear the humor in the two men's voices. He knew they were trying to help him relax. He let out a breath that he had not realized he was holding. "I think you two horn dogs just like thinking about my cherry."

"Let's go," Red said.

They slipped from the car and through the night. In the shadows on the north side of the facility they climbed over the fence. They slipped silently across the grounds. Miguel and Red headed in a different direction than that of Matt and Bryan. Matt and Bryan slid by hind a couple dumpsters that were near the rear emergency exit. "Now we wait," Bryan said into Matt's ear.

Matt could feel sweat trickling down his back. He could feel his heart racing and was not sure what he had gotten himself into.

Bryan glanced at his watch and then tapped Matt's shoulder. They moved to the exit in silence. Matt kept a watch as Bryan placed something on the door. Matt heard the loud click as the electronic lock was released. It appeared Miguel knew his shit when it came to electronics. Bryan pulled the door open and slipped into the dark stairway. It was light only by dim emergency lighting.

The two men slipped silently down the stairs. According to the patient files, Brent was in a lower-level room. He had been moved down their shortly after he had made the phone call to Matt.

Silently they pushed open the door and slipped into the hall. Bryan's eyes looked up at the security camera. He knew Miguel had already taken care of all the cameras. Every one of them was on a continuous loop of the past hour. If they were lucky none of the guards would be aware that they were just re-watching footage of the past hour.

Silently the two men moved down the hall. They moved to the room that the files had indicated was Brent's room. "it's locked," Bryan said as he tried the door.

"Of course, it is," Matt muttered.

Bryan once again attached Miguel's device to the door. Miguel had called it his dildo because it knew how to hit all the right electronic spots.

It seemed to take forever but Matt heard the click of the lock being disengaged. The two men slipped into the room and approached the sleeping teenager. The boy's back was to them and the room was dark except for the dim light coming in from the half open door. Matt placed a hand on the teenager. "Brent." Matt's voice was barely a whisper as he spoke and shook the shoulder.

The boy jumped and rolled over scooting towards the wall. "Who are you?"

Bryan pulled the door open a little wider to let in a little more light from the hall. It gave Matt just enough light to see that this boy was not Brent. The teenager looked young and scared. His red hair and green eyes reminded Bryan a little bit of red. "I'm looking for brent."

"Who, who are you?" The boy's voice shook as he tried to speak. He was pressed back into the corner. His legs were drawn up against him as he tried to stay as far away from Matt as he could. "I am not going to hurt you." Matt's voice was soft and he hoped calming as he spoke. "I am looking for Brent Watson. Do you know him?"

"Yes," the boy said.

"Can you tell me your name?" Matt wanted this boy to trust him. He wanted to help this kid as much as he wanted to help Brent.

"Steven," the teenager said.

Matt was struck by how thin the boy was. He was only wearing a thin hospital style gown. His pale legs and arms looked frail. "Steven can you tell me where Brent is?" Matt did not want to risk going from room to room. They did not have time for that. They had to get Brent and get out of there.

"Brent said you would come," Steven said. "You are who he called right?"

"Yes," Matt said. "I'm here to get him out."

"He's in the room next door," Steven said.

"Thank you, Steven," Matt said. He started to back away from the bed.

"Please," Steven said grabbing Matt. "Please help me."

Matt's decision had been made before the boy had spoken. He had made his decision when he had seen the fear in those green eyes.

"Take me with you," Steven begged. "Please. I can't take it any longer. I can't take it."

The boy started to sob then and Matt pulled him closer. Steven melted into his arms. He held the teenager as the boy sobbed. His hand slid up and down the smooth skin of Steven's back. The gown the boy had been wearing was open in the back exposing the soft skin.

"We don't have time for this," Bryan said. "We got to go."

"Steven," Matt said. "Pull yourself together. We still have to get out of here."

Pulling on some reserve of inner strength Steven calmed his sobs. "Thank you." He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Brent is right next door."

The three slipped silently from the room and Bryan once again attached Miguel's dildo to the lock. It clicked and the two men slipped into the room. "Keep watch," Bryan told Steven. "Do you think you can do that?"

"But if I'm caught?" It was obvious Steven was afraid.

"You won't set off an instant alarm," Bryan said. "We will only be a minute. Don't worry we will not leave without you."

Matt moved to the bed and touch the back of the sleeping form. Like Steven Brent was clad in only one of those hospital gowns. Matt could only guess at why the boys would be so exposed.

"What!" Brent almost shouted and pulled away.

"Not so loud," Matt said placing a reassuring hand on Brent's bare leg. He was surprised at how cool the skin was and the way Brent flinched when Matt touched him.

"Don't touch me," Brent said and moved back further into the corner.

"Brent it's Matt." Matt could tell the boy was scared. He could see the fear and panic in those eyes. "You called us and we came."

"Matt," Brent said finally understanding. "You came. You came!" Brent through himself at Matt. "You came!"

"We got here as soon as we could," Matt said holding the teenager tight.

"If I'm dreaming, I never want to wake up." Brent clung to Matt hoping beyond hope that this time it was not a dream. Matt had come to get him out. Matt would get him out.

"You are not dreaming." Matt rubbed the boy's bare back. The hospital gown Brent was wearing was like Steven's it did not really close in the back. "We are getting you out of here."

Brent took in a shaky breath. He could not believe it. After all the months here and then these last few days in this basement hell. "I can't believe it. I wasn't sure you would come."

"Come on," Bryan said. "We got to go." He glanced at his watch and knew they needed to be closer to the exit before Red and Miguel started the fire works. "Time is short."

"Come on," Matt said taking Brent's hand and pulling the scared teenager from the bed.

They joined steven in the hall. They headed towards the stairs. They were almost to the door when it opened. One of the night guards on his rounds stepped out. He staired for a second in disbelief. That was his mistake.

Bryan reacted. He covered the last few feet and slammed his full weight into the man. His fist slamming into the man's jaw. In moments, the man was out cold. A gash on the side of his head was bleeding from where it had hit the door handle on the man's way down.

After checking the stairwell, Bryan motioned for the other three to come. He was leading the way up the flight of stairs. His ears listening for any movement. He paused at the door that he and Matt had entered earlier. Matt was bringing up the rear with the two boys right in front of them. He was a little surprised to see that the boys did not have anything on under the hospital gowns. He had expected them to at least be wearing underwear.

"We wait now," Matt told the two teenagers as he pressed them back against the wall to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Checking his watch, Bryan knew that Red and Miguel were already in place. It was only seconds from Red beginning the distraction.

Matt almost jumped at the sound of the alarms. He had known it was coming and it still sent his heart racing.

"Follow me." Bryan burst through the exit his eyes scanning for guards. "Come on." He motioned for the boys and Matt to come out.

"Go guys," Matt watched the two boys dart through the door. The back of their hospital gowns flapping as they were following Bryan. "This way," Bryan said leading them towards the fence.

Brent could remember being at this fence only a few days ago. They were not in the same location but the fence looked the same. He could also remember the guards grabbing him and dragging him back to Dr. Wilson. "Do we have to climb it?"

"Come on we will get you over," Bryan said and grabbed the nearest teenager and lifted him up. "Grab and pull."

Steven grabbed the metal and pulled himself up and over he dropped to the ground his flimsy hospital gown catching on the pointed metal of the fence and tearing.

Matt lifted Brent up and let the blond grab the iron cross bar and pull himself up. He slipped and nearly impaled himself on the spike but managed to drop to the ground landing with a thud and momentarily stunned.

Matt and Bryan pulled themselves over the fence dropping down by the two boys. "you alright?" Matt placed a hand on Brent's bare back.

Brent could feel the cool night air against his bare skin. The hospital gown had fallen completely open leaving his entire backside exposed to the night. "I think so." Brent pushed back to his feet. He shrugged the gown back into position. It was a bit nerve racking to be practically naked on a public street with two men that he had only met once before.

"Sorry we never thought to bring clothes for you guys," Bryan said helping Steven to his feet. Steven's torn gown was barely staying on his slender frame.

"We had better get moving," Matt said.

The four started off towards the SUV that was parked just a couple blocks away. They were slipping quietly through the night making their way down the street. They were trying to stay in the shadows to avoid detection.

"It isn't much further," Matt said. It was then they heard the sirens. They could tell they were getting closer.

"Shit they are coming this way," Bryan said and pulled Steven over into the dark shadows. "Get down."

Matt and Brent squatted down in the shadows. They watched as two cars sped by them.

"Do you think Red and Miguel got caught?" Matt asked Bryan.

"Red does not get caught," Bryan said his voice confident. They started moving again towards the SUV.

"Was that gun shots?" Matt asked hearing the popping sounds.

"It wasn't a car backfiring," Bryan said.

They reached the SUV and the boys slid into the back seat. "What do we do?" Matt was worried about Red and Miguel. Miguel was just a kid himself and did not deserve to be caught up in a kidnapping.

"You drive," Bryan said. "I'll ride shot gun. We may need to rescue them."

"I thought he doesn't get caught?" Matt said starting the SUV.

"He won't," Bryan said but we also have to be there to make sure he doesn't."

"I'm sure there is logic in that statement somewhere," Matt said his voice laced with sarcasm.

Bryan Felt his phone vibrating and answered it. "Did you get him?"

"Yes," Bryan answered. "We are back at the SUV."

"We need an extraction," Miguel said.

"Which gate?" Bryan asked.

"West," Miguel said.

"West Gate," Bryan told Matt and punch it."

Matt gunned the car taking the turn to fast and swerving but regained control and took the next turn. There was a loud explosion as they were approaching the west side of the clinic.

"What the hell was that?" Matt asked.

"I think Red is having a little fun," Bryan said.

"Blowing stuff up?" Matt said and slowed noticing the gates were closed.

"Nope don't slow down," Bryan said, "Just drive through them."

Matt punched the gas and the SUV shot forward slamming through the gates. Matt spotted Miguel running from a building. Matt slammed on the breaks bringing the SUV to a sudden stop.

The back doors were pulled open and Miguel and Red slid into the backseat next to the boys.

"We need to get out of here," Red said.

As soon as the two men were in, Matt hit reverse and spun the car around. He was getting the hang of this crazy driving. He shot off down the street.

"Um, you know you guys kidnapped two kids?" Miguel said.

"We could not leave him behind," Matt said.

"You were only supposed to get the one kid." There was a disapproving tone in Red's voice. "The FBI was going to be in there in just a couple more days."

"His room was right next to Brent's," Bryan was explaining. "He was probably receiving a similar treatment."

"We really couldn't just leave him," Matt said.

"You won't make me go, back will you?" Steven's voice was soft and the sound of tears was just above the surface.

"No," Red said. "You are never going back there."

"See you are just a big marshmallow," Miguel said his voice light.

"Keep it up little man and you might just feel how hard this marshmallow is," Red said his deep voice menacing.

"Promises, Promises," Miguel said.

The mood was lighter now that they were driving away from the facility. Matt was able to breathe a little easier.

"You might want to slow down a bit," Bryan said and gave Matt's leg a squeeze. "We don't want to get pulled over with two almost naked boys in the back seat.

"Right," Matt said easing off the gas. He had not realized how fast he had been driving. He only knew he wanted to get as far away from that clinic as fast as he could.

The men had checked out of the hotel near the clinic before starting the rescue mission. Red had made reservation at a different hotel that was about an hour away.

"There almost naked?" Miguel said and for the first time looked closely at the two boys squished between him and Red. From the lights of the dash and the street he could see the boys were in pale blue hospital gowns.

"That is exactly how we found them," Bryan said.

"It will be alright guys," Miguel said wanting to reassure the two boys. "You are safe now." The men joked and Miguel Bryan and Red teased each other about past poor judgements. The boys remained silent as the men talked and Matt drove. It was obvious the men wanted to keep the mood light to put the boys at ease. They could tell that the teenagers were shell shocked.

#

Matt only began to relax once they were checked into their rooms. He put Steven and Brent in the room that adjoined his and Bryan's. Miguel and Red were in the room across the hall.

"Matt," Brent said hesitantly after they were alone. Bryan was in the adjoining room.

"Yes Brent?" Matt studied the teenager. The boy looked drained. His blue eyes did not have the sparkle that Matt remembered.

"I'm sorry for all of this trouble," Brent said. "I just didn't know who else to call."

"It is alright," Matt said tenderly. "I'm glad you called me." He lightly brushed back the blonde locks and Felt Brent flinch away.

"You guys get some rest," Matt said not sure exactly what they were going to do with the two boys. His only plan had been to rescue Brent. He had not planned anything beyond that. "We will get you guys some clothes in the morning."

Matt closed the door between the two rooms and let out a long breath. He honestly had no idea what he was going to do and how he was going to deal with the possible kidnapping charges.

"I fixed you a drink," Bryan said passing Matt the glass. "The bar was not well stocked but it had a couple items."

"Thanks," Matt said taking the drink from Bryan.

"Congratulations babe," Bryan said holding his glass up to clink Matt's. He saw the puzzled look on Matt's face. "It's a boy. Hell, its twins."

Matt laughed and found he could not stop. The stress of the night had caught up with him. He laughed until tears came to his eyes. Once he got it under control, he took a long drink. "Babe, you have no idea how much I needed that."

"I do know." Bryan pulled Matt into his arms. He felt Matt rest his head on his shoulder. "It is over now. We will figure the rest out together."

Matt knew he would be able to face whatever the consequences were as long as he had Bryan. He was only regretting not being able to help Devyn. He still did not understand why Devyn had not reached out to him like Brent had. He was hoping that Brent would be able to explain that. He was hoping Brent would be able to tell him exactly what had happened to Devyn.

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

No copying, reposting, or distributing is permitted without the author's written consent.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. Thomas Paine