Cole's Redemption By James
Disclaimer
This is a story which deals with sexual/romantic situations between consenting teenaged males. This story will also at times deal with issues such as sexual assault, child abuse, Racism, Anti-LGBT Bigotry, Hate Speech against various minorities, Ablism, Suicide and various other problematic issues. If you're unable to handle reading about such topics, then I suggest you find something else to read, or exit out of the story, as your mental health and the protection there of is deeply important. Also, if there's anyone who's offended by such material, or if you're not of the legal age to read this type of story, then please find something else to read.
Also, please remember to donate to Nifty, as it's your donations which keep this and other materials on the site free to the public.
Finally, if you like this story, and you like what I've written. The next time that you and my e-mail address jamesheady1985@gmail.com are stuck on an elevator that has stopped moving, ask if it wants you to read it a book while you wait to be freed, and when it says yes then read the graphic parts to it from the book In the Miso Soup written by Ryu Murakami.
Cole's Redemption
Chapter 18
And travellers, now, within that valley, Through the red-litten windows see Vast forms that move fantastically To a discordant melody; While, like a ghastly rapid river, Through the pale door A hideous throng rush out forever, And laugh¡ªbut smile no more. Edgar Allen Poe The Haunted Palace
Kevin
It was Friday, three days removed from Tuesday, and the horrible events of that day. We were getting through it as best we could, and it was really good to be with Cole, and have his support. I was also taking Solis in a plan I was developing. I hadn't told anyone about it as of yet, not even Cole. I began thinking about it on Tuesday evening, and then began putting it in to action on Wednesday. If I was successful, then what happened to the center would be avenged.
0000
Cole
That Friday, Kevin was staying with me, and I had went out to get some soap and shampoo which left Kevin alone for a bit, but he was taking that time to check his e-mail and to do other computer related things. I got the sense that he wanted to be alone for a bit, so that's why I was going out just by myself.
As I continued walking, I got closer to the store from which I was going to purchase the items, and when I entered the building I looked around, then was surprised to see Hellen. She saw me, and we waved then she was coming towards me.
"Hi Cole!" she said. "I didn't expect to see you here today! How are you?"
"I'm doing good," I said. "I didn't expect to see you either, and it's definitely good to see you!"
"Thanks, and I'm really glad to see you as well!" she replied as we hugged.
I told her what I was looking for, and she said that she was there getting some paper towels for the house, and then we decided to get a snack then eat it at the park. It was a nice day for it, and once seated, I told her about what had happened that Tuesday.
"That was horrible," she said. "I saw that on the news when it happened, and I couldn't believe it."
"Neither could I," I answered. "I still can't. Kevin was at the center that day, but at the time of the explosion, he wasn't in the building. That was good, but I still wished it hadn't happened,."
"I can imagine," she said. "I also wish it hadn't happened. I'm just glad that Kevin was unharmed."
"Me too," I responded.
We talked of other things after that, then I threw away our trash, then sat back down. We continued talking, then Hellen looked at her phone.
"I do need to be getting back," she said. "I wanted to make sure that you have my number so we can keep in touch. I really like talking with you."
"I really like talking with you as well," I replied. "I'll give you my number also."
We exchanged numbers, then shared a long hug. After that, she headed back home, and I returned back home, and back to Kevin.
0000
Edgar Bradly and the group sat in the compound's main building, and they all went over the plan. It was set, and it would occur later that Friday night. It would be simple, and once completed, Edgar Bradly would have his revenge. Edgar smiled to himself as he concluded the meeting, and went in to get the weapons set up and to make sure they were ready for that evening. He also got the man ready who would make it happen.
0000
Kevin
I finished the last couple of steps that were on the screen of my laptop, and then I was in. I began typing, and then I copied as well as pasted a few things, but left the rest of what I was typing basically the same. Once finished, I went in and then looked at the notes I had on my phone. After reading them over again, I then began following the other instructions. Finally I had that part of my plan completed.
After I closed the notes app on my phone, I exited out of the program I had on my laptop, then returned to the normal Windows Partition then put the computer in Sleep Mode. It was a good thing as well, for I heard the door unlock, and open at the front of the house.
Daniel and Justin had been out, and so it was either them, or Cole returning. When I looked at my phone, I saw the text, and it was from about 10 minutes ago. I saw that it was from Cole, and he said that he was on his way home, and then as I looked up from the text, Cole was standing in the doorway.
"Hey, I'm back," he said.
I stood up after putting the phone down on the desk, and we hugged.
"Did you get my text?" he asked looking at me carefully.
"Yeah, sorry," I said. "I was distracted, so didn't see it until now. I'm glad you're back though."
"Me too," he answered. "What's going on though? You seem like you've been on another planet all day today."
I knew he was concerned for me, and I was definitely in another place mentally throughout the rest of that week really, and throughout that day. I was still trying to process everything that had happened, and I was starting to see that I wasn't handling it on my own very well.
"I'm just so fucking pissed, and just so upset about what happened," I said as we sat down on the edge of the bed. "Those kids didn't deserve what happened to them, and none of us did! I talked to Danny and David last night. They've been really upset about what had happened. That place was truly a refuge for them, and it could have been for me as well!"
0000
Cole
Kevin broke down as he finished what he was saying, and up to that point I hadn't seen him cry before. I held him, and no one said anything for a while as he let out his emotions. I just held him through it all, and I felt my own outrage, and hurt. He was right, he and the others didn't deserve this at all!
"I'm here for you," I said. "I know you know that, but I want to still say it anyway. I'll always be here for you. This was a lot to go through, and I wish there was more I could do for you."
Kevin's emotions were getting under control now, and he was wiping his eyes, then he spoke again.
"You've been doing a lot just by being here with me, and for me," he said. "I love you, and I don't know how well I'd do getting through this without you."
"I'm glad I'm able to be here for you," I replied. "I love you too."
"So am I," he said.
We shared a couple of kisses, then lay down on the bed cuddling in each other's arms, and it was nice to be with him like that! He was calm now, and then he was falling asleep, and I wasn't too far behind him, then I was out as well.
We awoke a little while later, and I saw from the time that we had been out for about 20 minutes, and as I sat up, I heard Justin and Daniel in the living room. They must have gotten home by the time we were asleep. Kevin was awake now, and after he and I got ourselves a little more awake, we went out to greet them.
"We were thinking of getting take-out from somewhere tonight," Daniel said. "Do you guys know what you want?"
"I'm not sure yet," I answered.
"I'll have to give it some thought as well," Kevin answered.
"What about you Justin?" Daniel asked.
"I'm hoping it can be wings and pizza," Justin responded.
"That does sound good," I said.
"Definitely," Kevin agreed.
"Yeah, I think I could go for that as well," Daniel said.
After making sure everyone was on board, it was settled. I told them that I'd get the food once we were ready to order it later that evening, and they all agreed. I was looking forward to our dinner that night!
0000
Ben Jones watched the house, and he saw Daniel and Justin enter a little while ago, and he had also saw Cole return home. He would continue watching from where he was hidden in the trees about 20 feet from the house. He had his car parked up the street aways, but no one would think to look, as where he had it parked was in an area where it would be well-hidden. Jones then checked his things that he would need, and then he settled back down to wait to see what would happen next.
0000
Cole
Kevin was helping Daniel with cleaning up some stuff in the garage while I was helping Justin sort out a few new shirts he got. He needed to sort them by color, and so I was helping him with that.
As we got the last shirt hung on the hanger, I noticed how quiet he was throughout our being together for the few minutes we were. After I helped him with the last shirt, he sat down on the edge of his bed, and I waited, then he motioned for me to sit next to him. I did, and he scooted close to me and I put an arm around him.
"You seem quiet today," I said as he snuggled more firmly against me. "Are you alright? I know that was a lot to take in about what happened on Tuesday. I can definitely understand you having a hard time with it still."
"I just wish that hadn't happened," Justin said looking in my direction. "That place was like a second home to those kids."
"Yeah, I know," I said. "Kevin basically said the same thing."
"Then that guy who they played clips from on the news," Justin continued. "I didn't see the whole video, but they've played clips of it like I said, and what was all that crap he was talking about?"
"He's a very hateful person," I said. "He clearly doesn't have any empathy or love for other people, and if he did then it left a long time ago."
Up until that point, we hadn't really told Justin much about what I had been involved in as far as being in Edgar Bradly's group. We hadn't wanted to scare him, and we just told him that I had been involved in a group who didn't like various minorities, and at this point I wondered when I'd tell Justin the whole story, or at least more than what I had.
"The group you had been in," Justin began. "Was it like what that guy is the leader of?"
I decided that I'd answer anything he wanted to know. It wasn't like he wasn't able to understand more than most people thought anyway.
"That guy and his group were the one I was a member of," I said. "I mean, before I came to live here."
"Why did you join that group?" he asked.
At this point, I had expected Justin to move away from me, and get angry, and though there was a challenging tone in his voice, he still stayed where he was.
I told him what had gone on with my own family and I, and then there was a moment of silence, then he spoke again.
"Do you ever want to go back to Edgar Bradly and his group?"
His voice was less challenging now, and I could tell he was processing everything that I had told him.
"Never," I said as I looked deep in to his eyes. "I never want to be a part of something like that ever again, and I'll always regret being involved in that. It's nothing but hate, violence, bigotry and it doesn't lead to anything but death. Sure, prison is another result, but I think that even that is a sort of death, because you no longer have any freedom, nor do you have a life that is one that can give anything of value to anyone else."
"You're right about that," Justin answered. "I'm glad that you won't ever go back to anything like that again."
"Me too," I said. "I have Daniel, Kevin as well as you who are all in my life now, and I don't ever want to lose any of you."
"I don't ever want to lose you either," Justin said as we hugged, and he held me tightly. "I love you Cole. You're my brother, as well as my best friend, and I really am glad that you came in to our home, and in to our lives, especially mine."
"I love you too Justin," I said as we held each other. "You're my best friend and my brother as well, and I also am glad that you've come in to my life. You're really special to me, and I always treasure the time we share being with each other."
"So do I," he replied.
I kissed his cheek, and he returned the kiss. After that we stood up, and I watched as he went over to turn on his TV, and I went to find Kevin and Daniel.
We sat in the living room watching TV for a bit, then Kevin got a call from his parents, and he went in our room to take it which left Daniel and I on the couch together.
Once Kevin was out of the room, a commercial came on and I turned down the volume, and then scooted closer to Daniel, and he put an arm around me. I then told him about what Justin and I had talked about, and he listened as I told him everything.
"I think you did really well with that," he said as we shared a hug. "I'm glad that you and him were able to talk about all that, and I'm also really glad that you and him are as close as you've become."
"So am I," I answered. "I'm also really glad that you and I are as close as any father and sun. I can't ever picture my life without you in it Daniel, and you're truly the father I had always wanted all my life. I really mean that, and I always want to have you here in my life."
"That really means everything to me," he said as we hugged again. "You're another son to me, and I always want you here in my life as well. I'll always be here for you, and you can always count on me as I've told you before."
"That's really good that I can," I replied. "I want to start calling you Dad now if that's alright with you."
"That's perfectly alright with me!" he said as he held me.
"I love you Dad," I said as I sat there in his arms.
"I love you too Cole," he answered.
After we finished watching TV, I told Daniel that I wanted to go out for a bit. I told him that if the police hadn't already known of Edgar Bradly's tape to the news, then I wanted to let them know. He told me that he would take me, and so we went off to the police station. Once there, I asked for Detective Simmons, and fortunately he was in.
Once in his office, I told him what I knew.
"Well, I'm glad to see you're doing good first of all," Simmons said. "I've been hearing things about you, and so am glad to see for myself now that everything is going well for you. Also, I appreciate you coming down here to tell me about Edgar Bradly, however we had seen the tape on the news, and after going off of what you told us about him, as well as a couple of guys who had some business dealings with him, we know about Bradly, and that it was him behind the bombing. Finally, I'm really sorry to hear about what had happened. You mentioned your friend Kevin, and how he was there, but not in the building fortunately. I just wish none of it had happened."
"Same here, and thanks," I answered.
"You're welcome, and as for us, we'll continue looking for Edgar Bradly and his group," Simmons said. "I'll also let you know if I find out anything."
"Good, thanks," I answered.
"We really appreciate your time," Daniel said as him and Simmons shook hands.
"You're welcome," Simmons replied, then we left to go back home.
0000
Ben Jones followed a few cars away once again, and watched Cole and Daniel in their car as they returned home. He wondered why they had gone to the police station, and he saw them go in with Detective Simmons. He hated that sanctimonious, smug and self-righteous little Prick, and he hoped that one day he could do something about that creep.
Jones left his thoughts returning to reality as he stopped, and watched as Cole and Daniel got out of their car, then went in to the house. He then checked his watch, and saw that it was 4:30 P.M., and he continued to wait. He had heard Cole talking to Daniel as they exited the police station, and they were talking about getting take-out that night, and he heard Cole remind Daniel that he would go and pick it up. At that point, Jones decided that it would happen sometime around that time.
0000
Cole
It was now 5:30 P.M., and everyone was hungry. Once I got everyone's orders, I left and the restaurant was close to my house, and while most people drove there, I decided to walk, as it wasn't too far away. As I got closer to the destination, I noticed that I was getting really hungry, and couldn't wait to get the food then bring it back to the house. Finally, I reached the sidewalk where the restaurant was situated, and I began walking towards the doors of the establishment.
As I got a little closer, I heard a car pull up behind me, and I turned and a man motioned out his window at me.
I looked, and was disturbed to see Ben Jones staring at me.
"Cole," he yelled out his window. "I need to talk to you for a moment."
"I don't have anything to say to you," I said stepping closer to the car. "I haven't done anything wrong, and unless you're prepared to talk to my family's attorney, then I'd suggest getting lost."
"I have a message for you concerning Edgar Bradly, the guy in the video on the news on Tuesday."
"What do you mean?" I asked. "What do you know about that?"
"He's really dangerous," Jones said as his gaze drilled in to me.
"Yeah, I already figured that out a long time ago," I said. "What of it?"
"You should be careful," Jones went on.
"Are you threatening me?" I asked getting angry now.
"I'm just stating the facts," Jones replied.
"Yeah, well fuck off," I said. "I've had enough of your Bullshit."
I immediately turned, and ran towards the doors to the restaurant. Once in, I waited, then after I stepped up to the counter, I heard the doors open behind me. It was crowded in there that evening, and no one was behind the counter yet. I then heard someone behind me, and then I turned. Ben Jones stood there, and I had only a second to register that he had a gun in his hand.
"I'm sick of your Bullshit as well Fag," he said.
I then felt a punch to the right side of my chest before I felt any pain, then a second one to the middle of my chest. I was falling now, and then I touched my chest, and my hand was immediately soaked with blood. I noticed as well that I was having trouble drawing in breath. As I lay there trying to breath, I saw Jones turn, then someone screamed, and then several people ran at Jones after seeing the gun in his hand.
"I'm a police officer!" he yelled.
There were about four people including the one who screamed, and they wrestled Jones to the ground.
"Call 9-11!" the one who screamed yelled towards where one of the workers was running from behind the counter.
The worker did so, and the four people continued pinning Jones to the ground while one of them got his gun away from him. He was screaming for them to let him go, and then the worker was on the phone reporting what had happened.
The pain was upon me now, and I felt myself getting weaker as two other people were now at my side putting pressure on my wounds which hurt more than I thought it could ever hurt! I was scared now, and I was struggling not to pass out, but it wasn't working. My vision was beginning to waver now, and the lights were appearing as if I was looking at them under water, then I was falling down slowly, then faster and faster. Then it was total blackness, and nothing more!
0000
Daniel and Justin were setting the table, and Kevin came in to the kitchen. As he sat down after putting the napkins in the center of the table, he watched as Justin sat down. Daniel turned to see if Cole was almost home, and he then saw the group of black-and-whites pulling up with lights spinning.
"You guys stay here," Daniel said. "There are police cars in the driveway."
He said this last part for Justin's benefit, then he went out. Once he stepped on to the end of the driveway, he saw a man he recognized as Detective Simmons exiting the car that was at the head of the group. Simmons approached him, and he didn't look good.
"Mr. Rossington, Daniel," Simmons began. "I need to go inside with you, and we need to sit down and talk."
"What happened?" Daniel asked getting more alarmed at Simmons's grim sounding tone.
"I need to talk to you inside," he said. "It's about Cole."
"Why!" Daniel almost shouted. "What happened?"
"I need to get you inside, then I'll tell you what happened," Simmons replied.
They went inside the house, and Daniel had Kevin and Justin come in to the living room, and then he and Simmons went in Daniel's office.
"What's this about?" Daniel asked once they were seated.
"Cole has been rushed to Sangger University Hospital," Simmons began. "From what I've been able to gather thus far, he was at the counter at the pizza place he was getting food from for you guys, and he was shot. Worst of all, the shooter was identified as Ben Jones, the guy who harassed him and Hellen Larson several days ago."
"That Son of a Bitch!" Daniel exclaimed struggling to keep his voice down.
"I still have yet to learn everything," Simmons went on. "I can tell you that my gut is telling me that there's more to this story than what is being shown currently, and I will get to the bottom of it, I promise you that."
"I believe you," Daniel said as it all was sinking in now. "Do you know anything else?"
"Not at the moment," Simmons said.
Just then Simmons's phone sounded, and he excused himself to answer it, then a few minutes later he returned to the office.
"What?" Daniel asked.
"Cole got to the hospital a few minutes ago, and is in surgery now to remove the bullets as well as to see what damage has been done," Simmons answered. "I'll take you, Kevin and Justin there now."
"Thank you," Daniel said as he stood up, and returned to the living room dreading telling Justin and Kevin what had happened,.
As he neared the living room, there was a knock at the door, and when he answered it, he saw an officer next to whom stood Hellen.
"She says she knows you," the officer said.
"She does," Daniel replied. "Hellen, come in."
She came in, and began by telling Daniel that she had something for dessert, and that she wanted to surprise them all, then she stopped and put what she had down on the table.
"Daniel?" she said stepping closer to him. "What happened?"
"Come in to the living room with me," he said. "That's where I was headed when the officer escorted you to the door."
She went in the living room, and Daniel sat down on the couch next to Justin and Kevin. After they said hi to Hellen, Daniel waited for a moment.
"I have something to tell you guys," he said trying to keep his voice steady. "There's been something that has happened. Cole was shot at the restaurant a little while ago, and that's why the police are here."
"No!" Justin yelled and began crying immediately.
Kevin sat there for a moment, and then he too broke down.
It's going to be alright," Daniel said feeling more helpless at that moment than ever before. "I'm right here, and we're going to get through this."
"I don't believe this," Hellen said crying now herself.
She was on the other side of the boys now, and she had an arm around them as Daniel continued holding them, and he continued holding them as they cried.
0000
Dr. Smith and Dr. Edwards came in to the operating room, and after the Anesthesiologist Dr. Bloom gave them the signal, they got to work.
" Okay, lets get to work," Smith said. "He's already lost a massive amount of blood."
"Do you think the bullet hit an artery?" Edwards asked.
"Most likely," Smith replied. "Were it not for pressure being applied, this boy would have bled out long ago, and he's still not out of the woods, far from it."
After they readied the surgical site, Smith examined the wounds, and saw that one was directly on the right side of Cole's chest, and then the second one was in the center.
"Scalpel," Smith called, and the nurse placed it in the palm of his hand.
He made a cut down the center of Cole's chest, and then Edwards threaded a camera in to the area between a couple of Cole's ribs. He looked through the screen, then allowed for Smith to do the same.
"I see the bullet right there," Smith said. "I can't see the other one though."
"Neither can I," Edwards replied.
They looked further, and saw that the Pulmonary Artery had been hit by possibly the second bullet which they still couldn't find.
"Fuck!" Smith exclaimed. "That's why he's been bleeding so heavily! Still though, where's the other fucking bullet!"
Edwards moved the lungs aside slightly, then Smith could see something dark slightly behind them.
"There it is!" Edwards said.
"I'll get it," Smith replied.
As he worked, the nurses continued pumping blood in to Cole's body, and as they worked at that, Smith removed the second bullet, as Edwards began suturing the rip in the Pulmonary Artery. As they worked, they hoped that things would go well from that point, then the cardiac alarm sounded.
"Shit!" Smith said. "He's crashing!"
"Blood Pressure is 90/60," Dr. Bloom announced. "He's in V. Fib!"
V Fib is short for Ventricular Fibrillation, which is an arrythmia of the heart that causes blood to not get pumped throughout the body. It occurs seconds before Cardiac Arrest, and can be fatal unless treated.
They went to work, and they shocked Cole's heart once, and the flat line still appeared on the Oscilloscope.
"Up to 200 joules!" Smith called out.
"Charging," Edwards announced. "Clear!"
The shock was administered, and still nothing.
"Damn it!" Edwards yelled.
"300 Joules!" Smith called out.
"300 Joules," Edwards announced. "Charging."
"Clear!" Smith called, then the shock was administered once again.
"Blood Pressure is 100/80," Bloom called out. "We're back in Normal Sinus Rhythm."
Smith looked at the suture job of the Pulmonary Artery, then he examined the area from which the first bullet was removed. After they made sure that everything was steady again, they began closing Cole's Chest.
"We'll need to call the blood bank," Dr. Smith announced. "He's going to need more blood, and even then we don't know how good his chances are. It'll be if he makes it through the next 24 hours that will be the determining factor as to whether or not he survives."
0000
Daniel watched as the surgeon Dr. Smith came towards him. He was sitting in the waiting area near the surgery area, and Justin sat on his right, while Kevin sat to the left of him, and they were both pressed up against him. Hellen was sitting across from them, and she too looked up as the doctor approached.
"How is he?" Kevin asked, and Daniel translated.
"We got the bullets out of him, and then also gave him extra blood, but we're going to need more," Smith said. "He lost a lot of blood on the way here, and to be honest with all of you, had they not gotten him here when they did, he might not be alive right now, but he will still need more blood, and he still is critical."
"What are his chances?" Daniel asked.
"If we don't get that extra blood, he might not make it through the next day, probably not even through tonight," Dr. Smith replied.
"No," Kevin said trying to not faint.
"Please help him," Justin said close to tears again.
"We're going to do everything we can to help him," Dr. Smith answered. "I will need to see if you can give blood yourself Mr. Rossington."
"Please, call me Daniel," Daniel replied. "I'll give blood."
"So will I," Hellen added. "I mean, I know I'm not family, but'''."
"Please, do that," Daniel said looking over at her.
After Daniel and Hellen gave their blood, more blood came from the blood bank. As Smith sorted through the bags, he looked again at Cole's chart, and at his blood type which was AB Negative, then he looked at Hellen's Blood Type which was the same. He looked again, then sent the blood to be delivered to Cole's IV lines.
Once he made sure it was sent down, he looked again at the two blood types, then saw that Hellen was a patient there at the hospital under one of the other doctors, then he looked at some genetic testing she had had done that was documented in her chart, then he called her Primary Care Doctor, and once given permission, he read through the information, then he turned to a blood sample he had from Cole.
He then motioned to Maggy, the Head Nurse who was passing by.
"Maggy," he called.
"Yes Dr.," she said walking towards him.
"If there's an extra bag of Hellen Larson's blood, would you mind taking a small sample from it? I'd also like you to take this sample from Cole Hoffman. I want to check something out."
"I'd be happy to Dr.," she replied.
He then told her what he wanted done, and she took Cole's sample, as well as went off to find one of the unused bags of Hellen's blood. After his orders were followed, he waited.
0000
Cole lay in the Intensive Care Unit intubated, with an Oxygen Tube down his throat breathing for him, and heavily sedated as the blood flowed through the IVs and in to his body. His skin was almost egg-shell white, and he was weak enough as to be barely clinging to life. The nurses periodically watched him, and checked his vitals which were getting stronger, but only time would tell if he would make it through the night.
0000
Hellen exited the restroom, and as she walked towards the hallway leading back to the waiting area where Daniel, Justin and Kevin sat, she saw Dr,. Klein who was her Primary Care Doctor headed towards her.
"Dr. Klein," she called out surprised. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Hi Hellen," he said once right in front of her. "I actually didn't expect to be here tonight, but something has happened, and I'm actually here to see you."
"You're here to see me?" she said wondering what was going on now. "What's going on? I mean, I'm not sick or anything like that."
"No, it's nothing like that, but Dr. Smith and I would like to talk with you for a few minutes."
"May I ask what this is in regards to?" she asked.
"I'd rather talk in my office if you don't mind," Dr. Klein answered.
She followed him, and Dr. Smith was waiting at the entrance to Klein's office. He held an envelope in his right hand, and he waited for Dr. Klein to unlock his office.
Hellen and Dr. Klein entered the office, then as Dr. Smith walked in, he thought to himself about how amazing it was that the lab worked as quickly as they did, and how quickly they got back the results he held in his hand. He didn't know any details, but he figured that several lives would be changed that night once he revealed what was in the envelope, that is if what he suspected was true.
0000
Ben Jones had been questioned once arrested, and taken to the police station. Simmons hadn't done the interrogation, and he handed it off to two other detectives. When he found out that it was Jones who was arrested for Cole's shooting, he had talked to the manager at the restaurant, and when he told Simmons what had happened, he drove back to the station, and was enraged beyond belief.
Simmons took his job seriously, and there were two things he hated, those who offended against kids, and corrupt cops. Knowing now from what he learned initially that Jones might be a dirty cop, Simmons didn't trust himself to conduct the questioning and remain objective. It took a man with a lot of strength to admit when he might not be able to remain unemotionally involved, and fortunately Simmons was such a man to be able to understand that, and act on it.
Once Jones's interrogation was finished which was by almost 11:00 P.M. that evening, he was put in a cell, and then two other men were placed in with him. He looked, and saw that the first one Larry was one he had arrested a couple of months back, but not before he beat him up when Larry wouldn't answer him, even after he had read him his rights.
"Well well well," Larry said smiling. "Now who do we have here?"
"What brings you by here Larry," Jones asked as sarcastically as he could.
Larry had been in and out of jail for small crimes like shop-lifting, mainly from the Alcohol Section at the gas station, and he hardly deserved how Jones had been treating him, nor did he deserve the beating he gave him a while back before taking him to jail.
"Been thinking about you a lot Jones," Larry said. "Kinda hard not to, seeing as how you damn near ripped my shoulder out of place and all. That's alright though, I'm gonna be wiping the slate clean with you right now. No hard feelings?"
"Yeah, whatever," Jones said. "No hard feelings."
"Good," Larry said.
The second man Ralph who was taken in about a half-an-hour ago for beating up is girlfriend came forward, and he pinned Jones to the bed quicker than Jones could have thought possible.
"Got ya now Mother Fucker," Larry said smiling, then yanked Jones head back, and yanked the shiv across his throat opening it wide as blood jetted up towards the ceiling, and continued gushing forth as if a guizer were erupting.
"Now, let's see you try throwing hands at me now you fucking pig Cock Sucker," Larry said looking down at Jones with pure contempt. "God damned little Cunt like you should have been slaughtered a long time ago."
Jones tried gasping for breath as he continued bleeding out, and he struggled to get free of Ralph's grip, and as he struggled, he tried breathing in, then he choked once again on his own blood, and he felt himself growing weaker. He tried to push Ralph off, and then he saw the hate-filled look in the man's eyes, as well as the same look in Larry's eyes, and he felt himself falling in to blackness, and it was there he would die with Ralph's and Larry's hateful eyes burning in to his own.
0000
The night passed, and it was now morning. Daniel had slept in a bed that Dr. Smith allowed for him to use that was in one of the empty rooms close to the ICU, and Kevin's parents had taken Justin home with them and Kevin. No one slept well that night though, and on that bright and sunny Saturday Morning, Daniel stared out the window with contempt. It was if the weather was mocking him, and he wanted to break something.
Most of all though, he felt sad, and as he thought of all this, he heard a knock on the door, and when he opened it, he saw Hellen standing there. She didn't look any better than he felt, and they hugged which was unexpected, and he let go instantly.
"Hellen, I'm sorry," he began.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," she said, then he motioned for her to come in.
They sat on the edge of the bed, and then Hellen spoke again.
"I'm guessing that you didn't sleep very well," she asked. "I didn't either."
"I got hardly any," Daniel said.
"Do you have any updates on Cole?" Hellen asked.
"Not yet, but the last report I got last night around 12:00 A.M. was that Cole was stable, but still critical," he said.
"Hopefully all the blood he's been getting from all of us will help him," Hellen answered.
"I hope so as well," Daniel said.
"Did you want some coffee?" Hellen asked. "I was planning on getting some."
"I'd really love that," Daniel replied.
Hellen went and got the coffee. As she walked along, her mind played over what Dr. Smith had told her, and Dr. Klein had confirmed what Smith had told him. She couldn't believe it, and now she was trying to figure out how to tell Daniel. It would change a lot of things, and she knew that, and tried to keep that in mind.
Daniel watched as Hellen returned with the coffee, and as she sat the two cups on the bedside table, he saw that she looked deeply serious.
"Is there something else bothering you?" he asked as she sat down with her coffee. "You seem like you're dealing with something really heavy."
"You're right," she said.
"Well, I hope you know that you really can talk to me about anything," Daniel said. "I'd like to think that we've gotten close as you've been visiting with us over the last few weeks."
"Yeah, I feel comfortable around all of you, especially you," she answered.
"That's good," he answered.
"When I gave blood for Cole last night," she began. "The doctor felt the need to check it, and he also checked a sample of Cole's blood. He wanted to check it, because of the fact that I had had some testing done a few weeks ago, as well as the fact that I'm AB Negative which is a rare blood type."
"I see," Daniel answered.
"I wanted to get the genetic testing done," she explained. "Because I still would like to have children."
She then told him the story of what had happened with her first child, and Daniel couldn't believe it.
"Those Bastards!" he said feeling an even stronger urge to break something now.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive my father for what he did," Hellen said sitting closer to Daniel as he took her hand.
"That's up to you as to whether or not you forgive him," Daniel said. "Even if you never do, I sure as hell wouldn't hold it against you. What he did was monstrous!"
"Thanks," she said.
She went on to tell him the upshot of what Smith and Klein had told her last night, and Daniel felt as if the air had been sucked from his lungs, and he had to fight to stay conscious.
"This could change everything," he said still trying to process everything Hellen had told him. He wondered if anything would ever be the same again, and what would this mean? What would it mean for him and Cole, or for Cole and Justin. Most of all though, what would it mean for Cole and Kevin's relationship? He wondered all of this as he worked to process all of what she had told him.
0000
Kevin
I worked at my laptop, and I made sure that I wouldn't be disturbed before I locked myself away in my room that Saturday morning.
My parents were home that morning, and I told them that I needed to be alone for a while, and they fortunately understood, and after I struggled to get breakfast down, I then returned to my room, and that was a little after 10:00 A.M. It was now almost 1:00 P.M. and even though it was later in the day now, I felt like hell, and had since I awoke that morning a little after 8:00 A.M..
My parents had come to the hospital about an hour after we had all gotten there. They had been out with friends, and there was a traffic jam near the hospital making them an hour late, but they got there, and I let them hold me, and we all told them what had happened.
They were horrified, and after about two hours, I was able to see Cole after they wheeled him in to ICU. He looked profoundly weak, and I held his hand for a few minutes which felt cool to the touch, but warmed slightly as the blood flowed from the IVs in his veins.
I told him that I loved him, and after a few more minutes, my dad said that it was time to go home for the evening, and he was quick to add that we would be coming back the next day. That made me feel a little better, but I still felt sick with fear, sadness and worry as to what would ultimately happen with Cole's condition.
All that night before, I went in and out of dreams, all of which were bad as well as disturbing. All of them were about Cole being shot, or being hurt or dying in some other equally horrible way! I would wake up, and then fall back asleep only to have other nightmares, and then there was a brief dream in which Cole and I were together in a small cabin with a fire going in the fireplace, and when I looked out the window, it was a Winter day with snow coming down in the most extreme quantities I had ever seen!
I then awoke, and then the memory of what had happened hit me, and I started crying, and struggled to get through it.
I then got up and showered, then tried as best as I could to get through the morning. I had called Chance and Cody when we got home the night before, and so they knew, and hoped that Cole would be alright.
Now as I sat there, I typed the last of the letters I had to type, and after I confirmed all of the e-mail addresses, I then saved the e-mails until the time was right in which to send them, and then I leaned back in my desk chair for a moment feeling satisfied. I then exited out of the TOR Browser, made sure that my IP Address hadn't been traced, and then I removed the thumb drive containing the TOR program on it, then locked it away in my desk. I knew that I'd have to get rid of it once things were complete. I couldn't allow for anything to be traced back to me, and I would be sure to continue to cover my tracks and cover them well!
As I sat there, I smiled. I hadn't ever thought myself capable of something like this, and even now I had to remind myself that I had gone this far, but as I thought about it as I worked over the few days I did, I felt no guilt, nor did I feel any sense of thinking that I shouldn't be doing what I had done. I was doing what had to be done, and I wasn't going to allow any Bureaucratic Bullshit to get in the way!
0000
Edgar Bradly was pissed. He had heard from one of the guys who snuck in to the jail about Jones being killed, but that rage was short-lived, for Edgar knew that he was going to kill him that day later on so that Jones wouldn't talk, but that had already been taken care of for him, but he had also learned that Cole had survived, and that wasn't part of the plan!
Edgar smashed several plates in the kitchen, threw several glasses against the wall, and then when his wife told him to stop, he grabbed her and slammed her in to the wall.
"Shut up Bitch!" Edgar screamed so loudly at the top of his lungs that he saw red!
After that, he calmed down, and went in to his home office to think. He had wanted Cole dead, but maybe there would be a next time. He would do the job himself, and this time he would get it done correctly. He might even help himself to Cole's ass again, just for old time's sake.
0000
Six Days Later
Cole
I looked out over the gardens as Daniel and Hellen parked my wheelchair out in the back part of the hospital where patients would sometimes go to get some fresh air. I had awoken on Sunday, and I could feel the hardness of the breathing tube as it was stuck in my throat, and it took a few minutes for Dr. Smith to calm me down, and as I listened to what he had to say, I struggled to process everything that he had told me. It was after I blinked once for yes that I understood him, that he removed the breathing tube, and after a moment of coughing and getting my breathing under my own control again, I told him that I could remember the shot, but that was about it.
He went on to explain that this was normal to remember little before the event that had happened, and then he went on to tell me that I had been out since they operated on me two days before on Friday evening. I then asked him if I would make it, and he said that he was sure that I was going to be alright, but that I would have to stay in the hospital for the next week, possibly even on in to the week after. After we finished talking, and he examined me I got to visit with Kevin who held me carefully, then we talked for a few minutes, then I felt myself growing tired again. I rested, and then over the next few days I would get up and walk around which was uncomfortable the first couple of times, and by the third time, it wasn't as bad as far as physical pain went, and now by Friday, I was over the pain. Of course I didn't feel comfortable touching the area where my wounds were except with the most gentleness, but there wasn't that ache when I would sit up, or when I would stand to walk around, and I took that as a sign that I was getting better slowly; Dr. Smith agreed.
As Friday morning turned in to Friday afternoon, Detective Simmons stopped by to talk to me. We talked of simple things, and he asked how I was doing, and I could tell that he really was concerned and wanted to know. After I said I was feeling better as the days went by, he told me that he did want to get a statement from me as to what happened, and I told him all that I could remember.
He then told me that it wasn't a random attack from Ben Jones, and that Edgar Bradly had put him up to it for revenge for me leaving the group. Simmons went on to say that he feared that Edgar Bradly wasn't finished yet. That scared me, but only a little since Daniel and Hellen were there with me while Simmons and I talked. After reassuring me that he was going to work as hard as he could to find Bradly, I thanked him, then he left and after getting a nap in, I awoke and then Daniel asked if I wanted to go out for some fresh air. When I agreed, he wheeled me out, and Hellen joined us a few minutes later.
As I sat there while Daniel sat beside her, I saw that Hellen looked tired, and when she had told me a couple of days ago when visiting me that she had been there almost all of the time I was, I was truly touched. Now as I watched her, she seemed tired as I said, but she also seemed like she had something heavy on her mind, and I was about to find out.
"I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes while we're out here," she said taking my hand. "Is it alright if I tell him now Daniel?"
"Go on," he replied scooting closer to us.
"While you were in surgery, and even after they finished the procedure, you needed blood while being operated on, but even after for a few hours," Hellen explained.
"I remember Dr. Smith saying something about that," I answered looking in to her eyes.
"I was one of the people around you who gave blood," Hellen went on. "Like you, I have the same blood type which is AB Negative, and it's a rare blood type."
"I've heard that about that type before," I said waiting to see what she'd say next.
"Yes, anyway," she went on. "Because of what happened where my only child had been given up for adoption years ago, I wanted to still make sure that I could give birth. I'm far from the age where giving birth at an older age could be problematic, but I still wanted to be sure. I mean, for all I knew my father could have even told them to tie my tubes or something like that when I was under anesthesia having my baby removed from me, and I know that it sounds irrational when you think about it long enough."
"No, it actually doesn't," I replied.
"I'm glad you understand," she said. "Anyway, Dr. Smith tested a sample of my blood as well as one of yours right after they finished the surgery. He had looked at the reports from your blood sent up from the nurses, and when he read through it, and read through mine he thought something was unusual, and so he had them tested as I said. The matching rare blood type was the first thing that made him wonder.
Once he got the testing back, he and my doctor Dr. Klein sat down with me that night, and they gave me the results. I waited to tell you since you had a while before you could wake up, and even then you would still have a while before being awake and able to stay that way for longer periods of time."
"This sounds serious," I said as my curiosity grew even deeper.
"It is," she went on. "I told Daniel that night, and he hadn't said anything yet for the same reasons. We both wanted to sit down with you and tell you now."
"Tell me what?" I asked leaning closer to her now.
"I had told you that my father had illegally adopted my child out," Hellen said. "I never had any way to find out where my child was, and my father made sure of that. That being said though, the testing done on your blood sample and on mine this past Friday is a match. Cole, you're my son. You're my child that was taken from me. I'm your mother."
I looked at her, and I was trying to process what she had just said. I wasn't sure if I had heard her right, and for one insane moment, I thought that I was in a coma dream and still unconscious in my hospital room, then I looked in to Hellen's eyes, and stared back at eyes that for the first time I noticed that were grey, and then noticed that they were as grey as mine, and then I knew the truth! As I stared, words continued to escape me. This could change everything!
Author's Notes
I had said that a lot would be happening in this chapter, and while I wasn't sure if I'd be able to have it all written in time for a posting at the end of the week like usual, I was able to do it. I had more time than I thought I would to write all of what I wanted to write down here, and I know it was a lot.
I'm sure that everyone will be horrified at what happened to Cole, and I can imagine that you're all probably wondering what will happen with Kevin, and what he's planning. You'll find out in the next chapter, and I'm sure that as for Ben Jones there are probably several readers who are glad to see him get what was coming to him.
As for Hellen, I don't know how many of you saw that coming about her turning out to be Cole's mother, and I hadn't expected that turn of events until really a couple of weeks ago. When I thought about it, I felt like it would be a good twist, and so I decided to put it in the story. Now you're all going to have to wait to see what happens next in terms of if this does in fact change everything, and if so, how and to what degree will things change for all of them, and how will Cole and Kevin deal with the news, and what will this mean for them as well as their future together?
Having said all that, I hope you're all doing well, staying safe and I'll see you all in Chapter 19.