This is a work of fiction, from my over-fertile mind, based on a scenario I dreamed up and made note of some time ago. Writing works that way for me, a lot.
Writing for Nifty is new to me. I love the service, though, and hope everyone donates whatever they can to help support it.
If you're not supposed to be reading male-male sex stories, don't read any further. If it's illegal to read erotic material where you live, please leave.
Everyone else, have fun.
Positive comments are welcome at briarwriter@gmail.com
Gary's Problem Chapter 5
As I drove into our driveway, it occurred to me that we might have a battle for privacy on our hands...with people.
Once inside, I went directly to Gary's room and revealed the incident to Gary and the doctor.
The doctor pulled out his cell phone. Into it, he said, "Warren, it's started. Can you plant a car at the driveway. Yup, everybody's going to want to interview these boys. Yea, I know...Darby Toms is there? Hang on."
To us, he asked, "Do either of you know who Darby Toms is?" Neither of us did. "Colonel Darby Toms?" Same response. "Darby Toms is a quadriplegic, like you, Gary. I'd bet he's here to help you. He's good, too. He wants to know if he can come talk to you."
I looked to Gary. "This is your ball game, babe. You want to meet him?"
He looked into my eyes and smiled, "Yea, I do."
"OK then. Where is he" I asked.
"At Sheriff Collin's station, I guess." the doctor said.
Gary spoke, "Can he come now?"
The doctor spoke into the phone.
"He's already on his way!" he said.
Realizing I didn't know the name of the man helping us, I asked, "What is your name sir?" as I held out my hand.
"Why, I'm Dr. Cardon, Mr Hobbs."
"Well, thank you Doctor Caron."
"You are very welcome, Mr Hobbs. May I say that I have doctor/client privilege with Gary, but he's told me a lot and I just want you to know-before everyone gets here-that I'm in full support of you two, and your privacy, and I think you're incredible to...meet Gary head on."
I smiled. "Glad you approve. Now then, tell me who Darby Toms really is."
"Yea, he's a quad, really?" Gary asked.
"Really." Dr Cardon replied. "He helps other quads and amps deal with the madness that always builds around vets who are quads. I've seen him work. He's one of the good guys."
"Thanks, again." I said.
"You boys don't realize, yet, that people are in awe of both of you. You survived a bomb, for god's sake...and now you're caring for each other. People don't often do that!"
"So we're a human interest story?" Gary asked.
"Definitely!" Doc said.
"But what if the vets are sleeping together?" I asked.
"Maybe, even more so. I don't know. Times are changing. If you'll allow me, I'd like to speak to an old friend of mine, another doctor, about you. He's also a writer and I think he'd very much hope to talk to you. He's a gay man, too."
"Is that what we are? Are we gay?" I asked.
"If you sleep and fuck together, it's a foregone conclusion, I think," he said, "at least that's how the media will see you."
"Media!" Gary said with disgust, just as two cars pulled up.
A man, a nice looking man, got out first, without an arm. But he stood, and as he walked toward the house, I noticed that he was on prosthetic legs and that his arm was also prosthetic.
"Hello," he said, smiling, as I opened the door..
"You must be Mr Toms," I said."
"Darby, if you please, and you must be Mr Hobbs."
"Ben, if you please, and welcome to our home," I said. "Come in." To the sheriff, who was standing with him, I added, "No disrespect, Sheriff Collins. We appreciate everything you're doing, but Gary considers this a private meeting. I'm sorry." There were other guys out there, too, people that looked like they might be with Darby, but I shut them out, too.
"That was slick," Darby said smiling at me. "I should take you along with me!"
I wasn't sure to what he was referring but he turned anyway, and found Gary immediately.
"Hi Gary, my name is Darby Toms. I'm hearing great things about you, son."
"Thank you sir. I hear you're here to help us out," good ol' Gary. always straight to the point.
"If you'll let me, yes I am. American people get really strange when one of their boys comes home mangled...all kinds of guilt. And they can't understand that we can't relate to them for a while. Some won't accept that and believe that they have the right to talk with you, and some are just stupid when they get around somebody special. These are the people: media, religious nuts, people with agendas, you name it, will want to get to you. You're unique. I can help...want to help...it's what I do."
Gary and I caught each other's eye and smiled. "The Marines have landed," I said.
"Mmm, actually Army Regular, formerly," Darby said proudly "I've got Marines with me, though, if you'd like to meet them."
"Maybe in a while," Gary said. "What are we into, here, Colonel?"
"Darby, Gary. Nothing or anything, gentlemen. What do you need?" he asked.
Gary looked to me. I said, "We don't really know. It's all happening so quickly."
"I can offer some suggestions that I took in as we drove up." he offered.
"Sure," I said, "What ya' got?"
"A fence, for starters-to the water, electric gate at the entrance, cameras on the perimeter, maybe some voice activated alarms for Gary...Government gettin' you one of the computers?" he asked to Gary.
"So they tell me," he replied.
"Sweet," Darby replied. " I hear the newer ones even give blow-jobs."
"I'm good there, but that's good to know." Gary smiled broadly, I blushed, and Darby said, "All right, dude!" and tossed his stub into the air for a high-five, "Oh yea, can't do that anymore, huh?" We all laughed like crazy. Gary too. It was good.
" Your other idea sounds good," I said to Darby, "but we don't have that kind of money. "
"That's where we can help you." Darby said. "I represent a funded vet's group that assesses need and provides whatever is needed to get it done. You sirs, are a special case, and are hereby authorized for some pretty impressive stuff, all contributed by the Veterans' Association and even some of those people out there that you shocked at the store today."
"Yea, that wasn't my finest hour, but I felt strangled by some of them. I had to set immediate boundaries."
"That's your training. That's good, though. I'm told you handled it well anyway,"
"Gawd, I hope so," I said.
"The intelligent people will understand, son. It's the others I worry about. Now, about the fence...
"Yea, I guess," I said.
He rose, went to the door and said, "Start the fence, Handy, and don't destroy the flowers," and closed it again.
Coming back to us, he said, "Here's what I propose, gentlemen. Allow my team and I to set up camp on your lawn, and we can do the whole thing in 4 days. I have electricians coming to do the security tomorrow, and we'll talk about some other stuff in the morning if you want. What do you think?"
I looked to Gary, "Do it, Darby, and thanks." he said.
"This is just a little thanks for your service, Ben and Gary, and all you gave up to be here." And he saluted us. I saluted back for us. "God bless you, boys," he said and joined his men.
Just Gary, Doc Cardon, and I were left. "What a day!" I said.
"It has been, hasn't it? Doc Cardon said, smiling. "To Gary, he said, "well sir, if there's nothing else, I'll bet you're ready for a nap. I'm going to leave you boys to it."
"Thanks for everything, sir." Gary said.'
"Yea, it's all so overwhelming." I noted.
"It's all for the good, though," he said as he also went to the door. "Good night, gentlemen."