This is a fictional story that may involve sexual acts between two or more males.

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.

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Character is much easier kept than recovered. Thomas Paine

Brent's Struggle Chapter 26

Brent stood at the window in his room looking out at the trees. He missed being able to look out and see Devyn's house. He missed having that picture of Devyn to look at. It was one thing that Dr. Wilson had taken from Brent. She might have taken the picture but she did not take the memories. Now that Brent had them back, he was not going to let go of them again.

Brent moved back to the bed. He flopped down onto his back. He knew he needed to get up and get dressed. He had another appointment with Dr. Drake. He just did not feel like seeing the doctor again. He knew the doctor was going to pressure him to talk about the clinic and Brent did not want to do that.

Brent heard the soft knock on his door. He pulled the cover over his almost naked body. Brent had not gotten dressed and was still only wearing his green briefs. "Yes," Brent called after covering himself.

The door opened and Bryan stepped into the room. "Come on sleepy boy. We are going to have to leave soon to meet Matt."

"Oh, did he go to work today?" Brent had liked having both Matt and Bryan around. They had gone for a long walk through the woods yesterday. It had reminded Brent of the camping trip when he and Devyn first slept together. Now that his memory was back, he could remember them wrestling on the bed and their almost naked teenage bodies grinding together. They had both made a mess in their briefs that night.

"He did," Bryan said. "He's going to meet us for lunch and then go to the appointment with Dr. Drake."

"he's missing a lot of work because of me, isn't he?" Brent looked at Bryan and then at the cover.

Bryan took a few steps towards brent. "Don't worry about Matt missing work. He will just put in some extra hours over the weekend or one night this week. He's got a flexible schedule."

"He's not going to get into any trouble, right?" Brent knew he was more trouble than either of the men had bargained for.

"No," Bryan said and moved sitting down next to Brent. "He's got it all under control."

"What about you?" Brent asked. So far Bryan had not gone to work at all.

"I'm lucky." Reaching out Bryan brushes the blonde hair back off Brent's attractive face. He tries not to let Brent's flinching at the touch hurt him. He knows the boy cannot help it. "I get to be the stay-at-home dad."

Looking at Bryan's blonde hair and blue eyes, Brent realizes that they look more like father and son than he and his own dad. Brent had gotten his Mom's blue eyes and blonde hair. Brent wondered what it would be like to have Bryan as a dad. Bryan who never minded showing Brent physical affection with a touch or a hug. At least Bryan tried to show Brent. Brent would always end up ruining those moments by flinching or pulling away. It did not stop Bryan from trying though. "Now come on and get a move on," Bryan said as he was getting up from the bed. "We do not want to be late."

"Um, Bryan?" Brent's voice was soft and serious.

"Yeah Brent?" Bryan had stopped and was looking at the teenager.

"Is there any chance of skipping these appointments?" Brent did not like talking to the doctor and he did not want Matt and Bryan to hear what had happened at the clinic.

"Not really Brent." Bryan took the few steps back to stand beside Brent's bed. "We need the doctor's report for the hearing. If you want to stay with us, then you will have to go to the appointments."

"I guess," Brent said softly.

"It's not that bad," Bryan said. "I go to a doctor for my PTSD. Now come on and get a move on. No going back to sleep." Quickly grabbing the edge of the cover and top sheet Bryan jerks the covers off Brent. He tosses them onto the floor at the foot of the bed.

"HEY!" Brent cries at the sudden movement and being exposed.

"Like I said no going back to sleep." Bryan smiles at the almost naked teenager. "Get your ass up soldier!"

"Yes sir!" Brent sits up on the edge of the bed.

"Next week we are going to start working out together. It will help with your depression."

"What?" Brent is surprised.

"You heard me," Bryan said. "I think a good Marine style workout would do you good. It will clear the cobwebs out of your brain. It will release a lot of good endorphins. Now get going before I throw a bucket of water on you."

Brent watches Bryan leave the room. Brent's lips curve up into a smile. It could be fun working out with Bryan. He wonders just what he might get to see of the man's sexy body. At the thought of seeing Bryan naked a shiver runs down Brent's spine. He flashes back to Dr. Wilson and the pain she would cause while showing Brent pictures of naked men. He tries to push the memory away. He focuses instead on getting dressed and getting ready to go to the appointment with Dr. Drake.

#

Matt was still trying to get caught up on work. He was looking at the computer trying to work out a design issue but found it hard to concentrate. The news story about the clinic had broken. Matt and Bryan had watched the coverage on CNN. It looked like due to the number of teenagers involved the story had some national coverage.

Matt was going to go have lunch with Brent and Bryan and then they were going to a follow-up appointment with Dr. Drake. Brent was still reluctant to open to the doctor. He also would not talk to Matt or Bryan about the clinic. Matt was worried about pushing the boy but thought that maybe they needed to push Brent a little bit. It would be for the boy's own good.

Matt stopped looking at the computer and picked up the stack of messages that had been piling up while he had been off from work. He needed to call some of these back. He started to sort them but then gave up. He turned back to the computer and tried to focus on the design.

Unable to concentrate Matt rose from his desk. He moved to the window and looked out. He studied the skyline. He wished he knew the right thing to do for Brent. He wished Devyn were alive. He knew Devyn would know how to reach Brent. They still had not told Brent about Devyn being deceased. How were they going to add that to Brent's already fragile state?

Matt and Bryan had talked about telling Brent but had decided they needed to wait. Neither of them liked keeping it from Brent but they also did not want to hurt the boy more than he already was. They had agreed that after another visit or two to Dr. Drake they would tell brent.

Matt's mind was pulled back from his thought at a commotion outside his office. He turned towards the door. He could hear his assistant state he was going to call security. Then the door burst open. Matt was surprised to see Brent's parents pushing passed Albert and into his office.

"Where is my son!" Richard demanded.

"I'm sorry Matt," Albert said.

Is Brent with you?" Linda's voice was filled with her concern and hope that Brent was alright. "Is he alright?" Her blue eyes were pleading with Matt to tell her Brent was safe.

"It's alright Albert," Matt said. "Just call Bryan and let him know I won't make lunch but will meet him at the appointment."

Closing the door albert left Matt with Brent's parents. "Please have a seat." Matt indicated the chairs in front of his desk.

Richard took a step towards Matt. "I want my son."

"Just tell me he is alright," Linda said her eyes imploring.

"Yes, Brent is fine." Matt wanted to put Linda's fear to rest.

"Thank you." The relief was clear in Linda's voice.

"What did you do to my son?" Richard was stepping closer demanding an answer.

"Please sit," Matt said. "I'll explain."

After getting both Richard and Linda to sit he gave them the story that everyone had agreed to. Brent and Steven ran away from the clinic and called Matt for help. Matt did not provide Steven's name to Richard and Linda. He figured they did not need to know anything about steven.

"He's been staying with you and you did not even call us!" Richard's voice was getting louder. "I'll have you arrested!"

"Richard, the important thing is Brent is safe and well." Linda was obviously concerned for Brent. "I hope he has not been any trouble. If you just give us the address, we will go pick him up."

Matt looked from Richard to Linda and then back again. He could see that Linda was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. He guess having Brent missing for a couple of days had been hard on her. Richard on the other hand looked like he was about to explode. "He has been no trouble. Brent is an amazing kid."

"Yes, he is," Linda agreed. "We can go pick him up right now. We just need your address."

Matt took a deep breath. "Brent has asked to stay with us."

"Stay with you?" Linda said confused.

"Brent has asked and Bryan and I have agreed that Brent can stay with us for as long as he likes," Matt said.

"That is not happening!" Richard barked.

"Brent is having a hard time adjusting after the trauma of the clinic." Matt was looking at Linda and was keeping his voice calm. "He feels more comfortable right now staying with us."

"I want my son right now!" Richard said.

"Bryan and I want to do what is best for Brent." Matt paused looking from Linda's concerned face to the angry face of Richard. If the man grew any more angry, he just might have a stroke. "I've talked to an attorney and due to the circumstances, we are going to petition the courts to become Brent's guardians."

"You what?" Linda was shocked. Her mind not able to fully process what Matt was saying.

"You mother-fucker!" Jumping up from the chair. Richard moved quickly towards Matt and grabbed him by his shirt. He force Matt back a step. "You fucking faggot!"

"This is why you aren't fit to be Brent's guardian," Matt said pushing Richard back. He was prepared for the punch and moved out of the way. Richard charged Matt again grabbing the man by his shirt.

"Richard!" Linda shouted.

Grabbing Richard's arm, Matt spun him around. He pulled Richard's arm up behind the man's back and pressed him against the wall. "You need to calm down."

"Take your fucking hands off of me!" Richard was struggling to break Matt's grip.

"Yu need to think about your son," Matt said trying to hold the struggling man. "We need to do what is best for Brent."

Albert came through the doorway. "Matt are you alright?"

"I'm fine Albert," Matt said.

"Security is on the way." Albert was glaring at Richard. Albert had placed the call to security as soon as he had left Matt alone with the intruders. He had been listening to see if Matt needed any assistance with the angry couple.

"Mr. and Mrs. Watson were just getting ready to leave," Matt said through gritted teeth, as he was still pinning the struggling Richard against the wall.

"Is there a problem Mr. chancellor?" The security guard said coming into Matt's office.

Releasing Richard Matt stepped back. "Would you just show them out."

"Yes sir," the guard said.

"Thanks Mike," Matt said.

"I'll be back with the police!" Richard shouted in Matt's face.

"I'll have my attorney serve the guardianship papers this afternoon," Matt said.

"Come with me," the guard said gripping Richard's arm and pulling him towards the office door.

"Please have Brent call us," Linda said looking at Matt.

"I'll ask him to," Matt said.

"Thank you," she said.

"I'll have your faggot ass arrested!" Richard was yelling even as Mike was pulling him from the office.

"They seem to really like you," Albert said once richard and Linda were out of the office.

Matt was straightening his shirt. "thanks Albert."

"No problem," Albert moved closer to Matt. "Looks like you are missing a button." Reaching out Albert gripped the dress shirt showing Matt where the button had been torn off.

"Were you able to reach Bryan?" Matt looked down at the shirt. He would have to see about getting the button sown back on.

"Yes, he said they will meet you there." Albert let go of Matt's shirt. "I can probably fix that for you."

"You can?" Matt asked.

"Sure. Just take off the shirt and I will have it fixed in a couple minutes. I've got a sewing kit in my desk."

Matt began unbuttoning the shirt. "You are the best Albert."

"Any good AA would be able to fix this." He takes the shirt from Matt. Albert cannot stop himself from looking at the undershirt stretched tight across Matt's defined chest. Albert's tongue flicks across his lips as he is looking at Matt's defined arms.

"You are the best administrative assistant there is," Matt said gripping Alberts's shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

"Just doing my job," Albert said. "I've got to take care of you."

"" Would you also get my attorney on the phone?" Matt moved to his desk. "He's going to need to get the Watson's served today."

"You may want to get a restraining order against that fuck-tard," Albert said.

"Maybe," Matt said sitting down at the desk. He spots the pile of messages. "Oh, and could you go through these messages? Would you figure out which ones are important and I'll call them back tomorrow."

"Of course." Albert took the stack of messages. He then headed to the outer office to fix Matt's shirt.

#

"Is everything alright?" Bryan asked when Matt joined him and Brent at Dr. Drake's office.

"Yes, I'll explain it later." Matt had barely gotten sat down before they were shown into Dr. Drake's office. The session was progressing about like the first one. Brent was reluctant to share anything about the clinic or anything else. Dr. Drake thought Brent might be more comfortable opening to him if Matt and Bryan were not in the room.

"Brent," Dr. Drake said studying the blonde teenager, "how would you feel about talking to me without Matt and Bryan present?"

"I um, don't know." It was obvious that Brent was apprehensive about being left alone with Dr. Drake.

The doctor could understand that after what Brent had been through with his last therapist. "They will be right outside," he said at seeing the distressed look on Brent's face at being asked to be alone with him.

"We won't go anywhere," Matt reassured the boy. "If you need us just yell."

Brent watched as Matt and Bryan left him alone with Dr. Drake. Brent kept reminding himself that Dr. Drake was not the bitch and that Matt and Bryan were not his parents. He knew they were better than his parents. They cared about him even if he was gay.

"You have developed a strong bond with those two men," Dr. Drake said after Matt and Bryan had left the room.

"I do not know what would have happened without them." Brent knew he would still be in hell with Dr. wilson and her treatments. "They saved me."

"I suspect that part of your hesitation about talking about what happened to you is that you don't want Matt and Bryan to know." Dr. Drake was watching Brent closely. He could tell the teenager was in emotional turmoil.

Brent looked down at the soft gray carpet. "They might not want me if they know how fucked up I am."

"Young man," Dr. Drake's voice was stern as he spoke. "Those two men care deeply for you. Both want to protect you. The next person that harms you in any manner is going to find out just how protective those men are of you."

"Bryan was a Marine. He just sometimes looks fiercer than he really is." Having Dr. Drake confirm for Brent that Matt and Bryan did care about him gave Brent a warm feeling inside. He had hoped that it was true but was glad that someone else believed it as well.

"I suspect that is true," Dr. Drake said. "However, I believe Matt is the one they need to watch out for." Brent looked up at Dr. Drake. His eyes finally meeting the doctor's. "He's like a lion protecting his cub. He hovers right there ready to defend you. I have seen him almost touch you several times to reassure you but he pulls back. He sees you tense up and flinch at the slightest physical contact. You know it hurts him when you do that."

"It does?" Brent looked down again at the floor and his Nike shoes. The shoes Matt had bought him. Brent had picked out a cheaper pair but Matt had insisted on the better shoes. Brent could remember that shopping trip. It had been fun trying on clothes with the two men. They picked out clothes and had Brent try them on. He had thought he would just get a couple shirts and jeans but he had ended up with both jeans, shorts, shoes, underwear and bags and bags of more clothes. They had stopped and had pizza and that had reminded Brent of the Christmas shopping trip when he and Devyn and ran into Matt and Bryan. They had eaten pizza that afternoon and had fun joking and talking to the men. The only thing missing this time was Devyn. Dr. Drake's voice pulled Brent's thoughts back.

"He loves you, Brent." Dr. Drake's voice was soft but firm. "I can see it in his eyes. It is evident in his every movement concerning you."

Brent bit on his lower lip. He knew Matt was a nice guy. Matt had come when Brent had called for help. Matt had dropped everything to get him out of the clinic. Matt had risked his job, his friends and even going to jail to save Brent.

"Do you not feel it?" Dr. Drake asked watching the blonde teenager.

Brent felt his throat getting tight. He could feel his eyes filling with tears as he replayed events of the past weeks. He knew he owed Matt for so much. Both Matt and Bryan had been more than just friends. "I, um, never thought about it." Brent's voice was thick with emotion. "I just thought they were, um, being nice or doing it out of some sort of loyalty to a friend."

"They do it because they care deeply for you Brent," Dr. Drake said. "I think you are feeling a whole in their lives that they did not even know they had until you came into their world."

"But if I disappoint them, if they know what happened, if they know how fucked up, I am, they won't want me anymore." Brent's voice cracked as he was talking, he was trying to push his emotions under some sort of control but was not managing it very well. He could feel the tears starting to slide down his face.

Dr. Drake passed Brent a box of tissues. "Do you really believe that?"

"My parents did not want me once they knew." Brent wiped his eyes and then his nose. He hated crying. He hated having anyone see him like this. "They locked me away. They dumped me. Matt and Bryan might do that. Hell, I'm not even their kid. I'm just a fucked-up mess.

"I do not see either of them turning their back on you like that," Dr. Drake said. "They are going to fight with everything they have to help you. I talked to Matt before we started our sessions. His biggest concern is keeping you safe. He only wants you to be healthy both physically and emotionally. He loves you, Brent."

Brent blew his noes again. He wiped at his eyes. "I don't understand it. Before they got me out of that hell hole, we had only met once. They really do not know me that well."

"I think they know enough," Dr. Drake said. "I think they see a bit of themselves in you."

"I wished they had been my parents," Brent said. "I wished I had..."

"What do you wish Brent?" Dr. Drake asked softly.

"I want to turn back time," Brent said softly. His voice began to gain strength as he talked. "I wish I had gone with Devyn that day he showed up at my door. I wish I had ran away with him." for Brent it was kind of like the flood gates had opened. He began talking telling the doctor about Devyn and his parents' reaction to them being gay.

Dr. Drake sat and listened as Brent finally began to open to him. He let the boy talk and tried to point out the assumptions and transference Brent was making. "It is not fair for you to compare Matt and Bryan to your parents. They are gay after all. They are not going to be upset with you being gay."

They talked for two hours. Dr. Drake not wanting to stop the session when the first hour was up. Now that he had Brent talking, he wanted the boy to keep going. He wanted the boy to get his feelings out.

#

While Brent was in with Dr. Drake Matt explained to Bryan about the visit from Brent's parents. "Linda seems genuinely concerned for Brent. Richard just seem to be concerned that Brent is around a couple of queers."

"It sounds like Richard needs therapy more than Brent does." Bryan was relieved that Matt had not been injured by Richard.

"I wish we could find a clinic to stick Richard in," Matt said. "I called the attorney before leaving to come to the appointment. He is going to have them served today. If Richard's aggressiveness continues, we may need a restraining order."

"If he shows up at the house, he's going to be sorry." Bryan's voice was cold as he spoke.

"He's just an angry man," Matt said.

"He needs to treat his son better," Bryan said. "I can see Brent loves them. He's hurting because of how they feel about him."

"I know," Matt said looking down at the carpet and then back at Bryan's eyes. "I know it hits a little close to home for you."

"I just want Brent to have the support he deserves," Bryan said.

"He does from us." Matt moved closer and gripping Bryan's shoulder he gives it a squeeze. "You will make an awesome dad. Hell with both of you having blue eyes and blonde hair, people will probably think he's your kid."

"I'd be happy to have Brent as my boy," Bryan said looking into Matt's green eyes. "As long as I also have you as my man."

"You've got me," Matt said. "That is not ever changing."

Bryan smiled at Matt. Even with the stress of Brent's situation, Bryan was still more happy with Matt than he had been at any other point in his life. "Does the attorney think we will be able to keep Brent?"

"He thinks with Brent's age that we have a good chance." Matt glances at the closed office door. He wonders how Brent and the doctor are doing. "He's going to get us in front of a judge as soon as he can. I do not want this hanging over our heads."

#

Brent was quiet on the way home from the appointment. Talking to Dr. Drake had made him realize that some of the concerns he had about Matt and Bryan were stupid. He had been so obsessed with going back to the clinic that he had been worried that Matt and Bryan would walk away from him like his parents had.

"Is everything alright?" Matt asked Brent as they were going into the house. "You were really quiet on the drive home."

"I, um, was just, um, thinking about what Dr. Drake and I talked about." Brent looked down at his shoes. He felt better but also worse. He felt guilty about how he had been shutting Matt and Bryan out.

"You can talk to us about anything," Matt said. He started to reach out and touch Brent but then stopped. He knew the physical contact cause Brent some distress. He let his hand drop back to his side.

"Dr. Drake said I should open up to you two more," Brent said. He looked up to Meet Matt's green eyes. "He reminded me that you two aren't my parents. You are not going to dump me in some conversion clinic."

You are never going back to that sort of place," Matt said stepping closer. He crossed his arms over his chest to keep from trying to hug Brent.

"Thanks Matt," Brent said softly. "Dr. Drake said I needed to be more open with both of you." Brent's eyes moved from Matt to Bryan. "I'm going to work on that."

"We are here whenever you want to talk," Matt said.

"How about we order pizza," Bryan said. "I think it is always easier to talk over pizza."

"Sounds good to me," Brent said.

"Me too. I'll get some wine." Matt moved towards the wine cabinet. "You want a soda, Brent?"

"Yes, thanks," Brent said.

"Beer for me," Bryan said.

"Great," Matt said his voice laced with sarcasm. "It means more wine for me."

They sat eating Pizza and talking. Brent still was not ready to open up but he was being a little more relaxed with the two men.

It did not take long for the three to finish off the pizzas. "There is something I should tell you Brent."

Brent could hear the serious note in Matt's voice. He took a drink of his soda to wash down the last bit of pizza.

"Your parents came to my office today." Matt was watching Brent closely.

"We knew it was just a matter of time before they would find you." Reaching over Bryan gave Brent's shoulder a squeeze. He felt the teenager tense up at the contact.

"What, what did they want?" Brent could feel the fear beginning to build in his belly. "Are you sending me back to them?"

Matt could see the distressed look in Brent's eyes. He knew one of the boy's fears had to be going back to his parents. "Brent, we will never send you away. You can stay here for as long as you want."

"Thanks," Brent said looking down at the table and his empty plate. "I am just afraid of living with them and them sending me to another place like that clinic of Dr. Wilson's."

"Not going to happen," Bryan said forcefully.

"They do want you back but I told them you were staying here." Matt could see the boy relax just a little. "I hope that is alright?"

"Yes," Brent said. "I want to stay with you guys." Brent's voice got a little thick. "I, um, like it here. I mean you two have been, um, awesome." Brent was trying to push down his emotions. He did not want Matt and Bryan to see him tiering up.

"We like having you here," Bryan said. He wanted to reach out and comfort the boy but he also knew that would just cause Brent more stress.

"We want you to stay for as long as you like." Matt looked from Brent to Bryan and then back to Brent. "Our attorney is having them served with the papers today. They probably already have them. He's going to get us in court so we can get this settled and you can stay here."

"This is your home no matter what Brent," Bryan said. "Don't ever worry about that."

Brent managed to hold back the tears and get his emotions under control. "Thanks guys." He felt a little better with Matt and Bryan's reassurance but just a little. He knew his parents had legal rights and he knew it was not going to be as easy as Matt and Bryan made it sound. "I'm sorry..."

"Do not apologize." Matt cut Brent off. "Nothing that has happened is because of you. Do not take responsibility for something that is not your fault."

"Thanks." Brent forced a little smile. "I think I'm going to go and watch a little TV."

"You sure you don't want more pizza?" Bryan asked.

"No, I'm feeling kind of tired," Brent got up from the table. "Um, thanks again.

"Brent, there is one more thing," Matt's voice was soft as he spoke. "Your Mom asked for you to call her."

"She did?" Brent was not sure how he should feel. "Did, um, did my Dad ask me to call too?"

"Your Mom asked," Matt said trying to pick his words carefully. "They both want to talk to you. They want to make sure you are alright."

"Do you think I should?" Brent was not sure what he should do. He did not want to talk to his parents but he thought maybe it was expected.

"It is up to you," Bryan said. "We are not going to push you in either direction."

"We understand if you still need some time before reaching out to them," Matt said.

"I'll, um, think about it." Slowly Brent left the table heading towards his room.

The two men watched as Brent headed to his room. They saw him close the door and then heard the television turned on.

"I wish I knew the right words to say to him." Matt was looking at the closed bedroom door.

"Me too babe." Bryan slid his arm around Matt's shoulders. "Once we get the legal stuff settle it will be easier for him."

"I hope you are right about that," Matt said. "I so desperately want to just hug him. Every time he gets so emotional, I want to hold him."

"Me to babe," Bryan said. "I have to hold back that impulse. It only seems to cause him more stress."

"The bitch really did a number on him." Matt's anger was evident in his voice. "I hope someday he will be able to let someone touch him again."

"It will take time," Bryan said. "He's going to need a really understanding boyfriend."

"Devyn would have been that for him," Matt said with confidence. "I need to find out what happened to him and we need to tell Brent."

"We should talk to the doctor about that," Bryan said. "Maybe he can tell us when Brent will be ready to handle that news."

"If he is ever ready for that," Matt said.

Copyright 2021 by Keith yates (keith.96@att.net) all rights reserved.

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

Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. Thomas Paine

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

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