Into His Own

Legal notice The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Don't read this story if, *you are not 18 years of age, *if it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, *or if you don't want to read about gay people in love or having sex.

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Into His Own Chapter 7.

Jason could hear somebody talking to him but he couldn't really pinpoint where it was coming from. Jason opened his eyes and everything was blurry like when you've been in a room in the dark for a long time and somebody turned on the lights.

"Jason, wake up. I need to talk to you - it's important."

"Huh? What?"

"I said 'I need to talk to you'."

Jason's eyes focused and Jeremy was sitting beside him on the edge of the couch. "What Jeremy? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just need to talk to you."

Jason sat up rubbing his eyes. The blanket that was wrapped around Jason fell down exposing his tan, built chest. Jason had felt warm; ya know how you feel when you're sick? That's how Jason felt, that warm only he wasn't sick. It was a good feeling.

"What time is it?"

"It's a little after twelve-thirty."

"Can't we do this in the morning?"

"No, I won't want to do it in the morning; it has to be now."

"Ok, what do you need Jeremy?"

"I need to apologize."

"For what?"

"For earlier, the way I acted, it wasn't my place. I shouldn't be worried about you and Brad. You're my best friend and I was wrong. I should feel good about you two being together - at least you're happy. And I guess what I'm trying to say is, you guys have my blessing."

This had caught Jason by surprise because he hadn't seen it coming. "Oh Jeremy, you have no idea what this means. Thank you so much." He was still half asleep.

"I'm not done yet Jason. You remember what happened a little over a year ago; what Brad did to you that night?"

Jason put his head down and pulled the blanket back up covering his chest.

"Um, yeah, I remember."

"Well I made him do those things to you; it's my fault. I made Brad do those things. I had some stuff I held over his head and I made him. Jason, you have to understand I was going through a bad time. Do you remember what happened when we were about nine at my dads house? What he had us do in front of his video camera?"

Jason had nearly forgotten about it and only remembered bits and pieces of that incident. Jeremy's dad, his real dad lived alone. Jeremy's parents divorced when Jeremy was about eight. Jeremy's dad would have Jeremy's and Brad's friends come over and he would have them do things in front of his video camera. The things he would make them do wouldn't really be sexual it was just how they did it.

Jason looked back up at Jeremy and shook his head 'yes'. The more Jason thought about the things Jeremy's dad made them do, the more he remembered. "Yes, I remember."

"When I was sixteen - in fact the day I turned sixteen - my dad took me camping. I thought we were just going to do some camping and fishing and stuff like that until I saw him take his video camera out of the bag and set it up in the tent. I still have scars from the things he made me do. I must have thrown up fifteen times that night and after I would throw up, he would drag me by my ankles kicking and screaming back into the tent and do more things to me. I still remember the way it felt when he forced me to lie on my stomach and him forcing himself into me."

Jeremy was looking away not at anything but more into the past. "I was struggling with my sexuality, Jason. I never meant to hurt you." The way Jeremy looked scared Jason. Jeremy was distant and Jason could tell Jeremy was deeply hurt by what his father did to him.

"Jeremy? Jeremy?"

Jeremy looked back at Jason as if just barely realizing he was there. Jason grabbed Jeremy into a hug and Jeremy was hugging him back. "I'm so sorry Jeremy. I had no idea. Jeremy, it's ok; you were going through a rough time - I don't blame you."

Jason and Jeremy let go and Jeremy leaned back. Jeremy was just about to say something when the front door opened and Jeremy's step dad walked in and set down his briefcase. "Hey guys, why are you still up?"

"Just talking, George."

"Well, don't you guys get all mushy and start making out."

"We won't, George."

Jeremy's step dad walked upstairs and into his mother's room.

"Jeremy, I know you had it hard. I don't blame you. I was there for some of that and I know at least partly what you were going through.

Jeremy stood up and folded his arms across his chest.

"Night Jason."

"Night Jeremy."

Jeremy walked off into his room and shut the door. Jason laid his head back thinking about what just happened. He had been so angry at Jeremy, but he had no idea what Jeremy was going through at the time and now he couldn't possible blame Jeremy completely. Jason dozed off into a deep sleep.

Jason could hear somebody shouting loudly. "Wake up, Jason! Wake up!" Jason opened his eyes slightly and looked around. Somebody was grabbing onto his shoulders and shaking him up and down violently. "Jason, wake up!"

"I'm up! I'm up!"

They stopped shaking him but they were holding his shoulders still. Jason could feel his chest and face covered in a cold sweat. He was sticky and cold. "Let go of me!"

Jason opened his eyes the rest of the way and looked around. George, Jeremy's step dad was there still holding Jason. Brad was there standing next to Jeremy and his mother. Jason looked at the clock and it was only four-thirty.

"Why are you all up? What's wrong? Please let go of me?"

George let go of Jason and stood up. They all just sat there staring at him. "What's wrong? What are you all looking at?"

George knelt down again and spoke quietly. "Jason, we've been trying to wake you up for five minutes. You've been screaming; you were having a nightmare."

Jason tried to remember his dream but it was just out of reach. Jason knew he had been dreaming but he just couldn't recall what the dream was about.

Brad leaned on the couch. "What were you dreaming about?"

Jason really didn't know. "I don't know."

Jeremy's mother Sara stepped forward. "Jeremy, can you get Jason a rag?"

"Why do I need a rag?" Jason touched his face with his hands and that's when he felt it. It was wet but not like sweat would be, it was warm. Jason looked at his hands and they were covered in red blood. "What the hell! Oh my god!" Jason stood up and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. He turned on the faucet and stuck his face in the sink. Jason could hear the muffled sounds of voices talking in the living room.

Sara was talking to Jeremy. "Don't you want to go in there and help him? George, somebody should go in there and help him."

"Dear, he's a grown boy; he can take care of himself."

"No, dad it's ok. I'll take care of him."

Jason heard everybody else go back to bed and there was a knock at the door.

"Yeah?"

"Jason, it's Jeremy - can I come in?"

"Yeah sure."

The door opened and Jeremy walked in holding a dry rag. Jeremy saw Jason standing there in his boxers with his head in the sink. "That won't work Jason. Take a seat."

Jason sat down on the toilet and Jeremy went to the sink. Jeremy turned the water to cold and held the rag under the spigot. Jeremy got it completely wet and rung it out. He sat across from Jason on the rim of the bathtub. He grabbed Jason's chin and moved his head up.

"Well, the good news is it's stopped bleeding. It must have been some dream to do something like this to you."

Jason sat there in silence while Jeremy cleaned him up. "I don't blame you, Jeremy."

Jeremy went to the sink and turned on the water to rinse out the rag. "What was that?"

"I don't blame you for what happened to me, Jeremy. In fact, I'm kind of glad it happened."

"Why would you say that?" Jeremy rung the water out the rag and then sat down again.

"What happened to me introduced me to a part of Brad I would have otherwise never met, so actually, I should be thanking you.

"Is that really how you see it?"

"Yeah. And plus it wasn't all bad, Jeremy."

"It wasn't? I thought it was pretty rough."

"Parts were but a year does a lot to a person."

Jeremy put the rag down and kind of smiled. "I think I got it all, Jason."

"Jeremy, it isn't your fault."

Jeremy put his head down and started to sob.

"Jeremy, did you hear me - it isn't your fault."

Jeremy looked up at Jason and there were tears streaming down his face. "All I have thought about is the pain I put you and Brad through. I'm so sorry! I never meant for anybody to get hurt."

Jason wrapped his arms around Jeremy and Jeremy just let himself go. He was crying out the anger, frustration, and fear he'd been holding in all this time. Jason could feel every breath he took. "Jeremy, it's ok. I'm over it.

Jeremy, go get some sleep."

Jeremy stood up and walked out of the bathroom. Jason heard him go into his room and close the door. Jason sat there for a second then stood up and looked in the mirror. Jeremy had done a great job cleaning the blood off his face. It didn't even look like Jason's nose had been bleeding.

Jason still couldn't recall the dream but he didn't think he wanted to. All he knew was that his voice was scratchy and his head felt like somebody had just parked a truck on it. Jason opened up the cabinet and took two Tylenol. Jason was tired but he didn't want to risk going back to sleep.

Jason went into the living room and sat down on the couch. He turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels. There wasn't much on: some old cartoons, animal planet, and some infomercial. Jason stopped at one of those channels with the preachers, ya know the ones with the huge black guys screaming at every one about how the entire world is evil and the only way to survive the end of the world is to join him. Jason loved to laugh at them so he stopped there and watched.

"You have to understand people, Armageddon is upon us! But you can find redemption; you can still repent! There is time my brothers and sisters we can save our souls and be granted passage into the Kingdom of heaven!

"But there is something you must not do; you must not turn away from the world - you must not turn away from your brothers and sisters - you must not turn away from the drinking, the violence, the murder, the homosexuals!

"That's a big one in the world today; they want their right, they want to be treated as equals! But they can't ladies and gentleman! Homosexuality is evil and should be stopped! If we allow homosexuality to run rampant then pretty soon it will all be out of control!

"Some people say homosexuality is ok as long as it doesn't affect me! Well people, at some point in the future you might find yourselves saying it's ok as long as it doesn't effect me, well what if you said drunk driving is ok as long as it doesn't effect me! Violence is ok as long as it doesn't affect me!

"Well, guess what? This is a picture of a six-year-old girl named Rebecca! Rebecca was raped and brutally murdered in her home in Virginia! I went down there and interviewed some people two blocks down from where Rebecca lived and do you know what one man said to me? It didn't really affect my life any!

"Well guess what people? Rebecca has a little sister that isn't old enough to understand where her sister is! It affected her! Rebecca's parents Dave and Diane! They can't ever see their daughter again. It affected them!

"Now people, ask yourself if this were your daughter would it affect you? Picture this as your daughter and now imagine never being able to see her again! Now it affects you! Now you feel what Dave and Diane feel! How is it?

"The drugs and violence will spread and we can't stop it! The rape and murder will spread and we can't stop it! The homosexuals are spreading and we can't stop it! Until now!

"People, you must reach out and help somebody. God doesn't care if it's a stranger, a friend, a relative! God doesn't care if they are black or Mexican or white. People, with God there, is not skin color. We are all his children - so reach out and help your brothers and sisters! If every person reached out and helped somebody we could abolish all of this!

"There is still time people, so lend a hand and save a soul from burning in the fiery hell that awaits so many of us! The crime, the violence and the rape of our women! A few years ago a bunch of kids walked into a school with some guns! How are our kids getting guns?"

Jason turned off the TV and laid back. The guy was a nut but why was it affecting Jason. Jason closed his eyes and just sat there thinking. What the hell was I dreaming about? Jason must have dosed off because the next thing he remembered was hearing voices talking.

"Set a place for Jason."

"What if he doesn't want to eat, Mom?"

"Well, if he doesn't want to eat, then we can take it off - just set it, please."

Jason opened his eyes and he could see carpet. He was sleeping on the floor on his stomach. He was more chilly than cold. He turned his head and could see his blanket was still on the couch. He must have gotten down on the floor at some point last night.

Jason sat up and grabbed his shirt then stretched his arms up over his head to get the blood flowing. As he lowered his arms, he pulled his shirt on over his head. He put his arms up again and it pulled his shirt up. Jason could feel the cool air on his stomach and he smiled. Jason could hear the voices in the kitchen but the way the house was set up, they couldn't see him.

Jason was startled by a hand that wrapped around him and started rubbing his belly. It was Brad. He had a glass of orange juice in his other hand and he was nuzzling Jason and kissing his neck.

"Good morning!" Brad said it in such a way that Jason just had to smile.

"Morning!" Jason turned his head and kissed Brad. "How did you sleep, Brad?"

"By myself."

They both laughed and Brad started walking into the kitchen. "Come in when you're ready. Mom made waffles."

Jason hadn't expected this because he didn't see Brad as a morning person but Brad was full of energy. Brad was wearing his usual tennis shoes, heavy black jeans, a red T-shirt and his hair was spiked up. Brad looked good this morning and Jason couldn't help but think about taking Brad into his room and having his way with him.

Jason walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Brad was giving his mother a hug and drinking his orange juice.

"Good morning, mom!" Brad patted Jeremy on the shoulder and set down his glass of orange juice. "Morning bud! Be right back!"

Brad walked out of the room and his mother smiled. "He is such a morning person. I've never seen anyone that was so happy in the morning."

Jeremy looked exhausted. Jeremy's mother was still smiling. "How did I get one that loves the morning and one that would be happy if we chained him to his bed?"

Jeremy smirked, picked up Brad's glass of orange juice and said, "Here's to the morning." and then downed the rest of Brad's OJ before setting the glass back down where he got it from.

Just then, Brad came walking into the kitchen and picked up the glass. He brought the glass to his mouth and then looked inside. Brad got a surprised look on his face like he had just been shot. His mouth hung open and he looked down at Jeremy. "Why, Jeremy, why?"

Brad reminded Jason of a little kid that just lost his teddy bear. Jason and Jeremy burst into laughter as Brad poured another glass. Jeremy's mother put a huge plate of waffles on the table and they all dug in. Brad sat down next to Jason and they joked and laughed all through breakfast.

About half way through the meal, Jason was drinking his orange juice when he felt Brad's hand on his knee. Jason nearly shot orange juice out his nose then got control of himself. Jason looked at Brad and Brad winked at him. Brad started moving his hand up Jason's thigh and Jason could feel himself getting hard. Jason was in his boxers and a T-shirt still and Brad kept moving his hand up. Brad got to Jason's boxers and went under them. Brad's hand moved down Jason's inner thigh towards his crotch. Brad pulled out his hand and put it on Jason's crotch. Jason could feel Brad massaging his balls and scrotum. Brad's hand went in through the hole in Jason's boxers and felt Jason's hard penis. It was fully hard now and ready for action.

Brad was feeling the lines in the head and how it was fatter than the rest of his penis when Brad's mom spoke up. "Well, I'm done here. Can you guys clean up?"

Brad pulled out his hand and looked at his mother. "Yeah mom, sure thing."

"I have to make a run to the post office. Are you guys sure you can handle it?"

"Yeah mom, we're sure."

"Jeremy, do you still want to do basketball next year."

"Yeah mom."

"Well you need to come with me and George so we can get you signed up."

"Let me grab my wallet." Jeremy ran into his room and grabbed his wallet and all three of them left.

"Be back in an hour."

"Ok mom."

The door closed and it was just Jason and Brad. Brad pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it away. Jason walked over and started kissing Brad. They could feel the heat from each other's bodies. It was hot and all they wanted to do was fuck. They started kissing and Jason eased Brad to the floor gently. The tile was cold but Brad really didn't care. Jason was still in his boxers and Brad was gripping his ass, hard.

"Oh yeah, you fuck!"

Brad pulled down Jason's boxers and Jason started undoing Brad's pants. Jason got the belt undone right as Brad started fingering Jason's ass.

"Oh shit, that's nice!"

Jason pulled Brad's belt and it came out of the loops. Jason undid Brad's pants and slipped them off. Jason pulled off Brad's boxers. Brad's penis was fully erect and throbbing. Jason could tell that Brad wanted him to just touch it.

Jason crossed one leg over Brad and positioned his hole over Brad's dick. Brad held it up and guided it into Jason's ass. It took a second but it slipped in all the way up Jason's ass. As it went in, Jason's whole body shuddered and he was filled with pleasure.

Jason pulled off his shirt and started riding Brad's cock, moving his body up and down using his legs. Every time Jason went up, Brad's whole body went with him and Brad moaned.

"Oh shit, it feels so good, Jason."

Brad was holding onto Jason's thighs and digging his nails in. Brad's dick was so wet and ready that Jason repositioned himself so Brad could just hump his ass. Brad was watching it move in and out of Jason's ass and Jason was moaning loudly.

"It feels so good!"

Jason bit his lip as Brad dug his nails into Jason's hips. Brad got tired and Jason took over again.

"You like that. bitch!"

"Oh yeah, I love it - fuck me, fuck me!

They were both covered in each others sweat and Brad was moaning in ecstasy.

Brad grabbed onto Jason's cock and started jerking him off. It didn't take long and Jason was at the bursting point. His body was trembling as he worked his body in unison with Brad fucking him.

"Stop! Stop!"

Jason tried to stop moving but he couldn't help but rest on Brad. Brad was fucking him hard. Jason could feel Brad's dick go in all of the way to the base of Brad's big dick as Brad's balls slammed up against Jason's ass and his pubic hair tickled Jason's nuts. Brad's dick would pull out all of the way to the head and then back in really fast.

"Hold it, Jason! Hold it!"

"I can't!"

"Just another second, Jason!"

Jason could tell Brad was concentrating as he fucked him. It felt like forever and Jason was having the biggest orgasm of his life. His whole body tingled and throbbed as they went along. Jason was looking into Brad's eyes when they started rolling into the back of his head. Brad let out a loud scream and blew his load into Jason's ass. .

Jason straightened his body and then leaned back almost completely horizontal, his back arching. Brad grabbed Jason's dick and started beating him off again. Jason released his load and it shot across Brad hitting him in the face and chest. "Don't stop fucking me, Brad!"

If anybody were in the house or outside they would have heard Jason and Brad screaming. As they finished coming, Jason and Brad's bodies went limp and they rested on each other kissing. Jason could feel the warm, sticky cum on their bodies but they just continued to kiss.

Finally, they stopped kissing and Jason rested on Brad's shoulder. Brad kissed Jason on his forehead and shut his eyes smiling. Jason looked up at Brad and smiled. "That was amazing, Brad."

Brad looked down at Jason and a tear rolled down his cheek. "I really like the time we spend together, Jason."

"Me too."

"They should be home soon and I need to get a shower."

"I'll join you, we need to get clean before they get home."

Jason leaned up and Brad reached down. Brad pulled his limp dick from Jason's ass and rubbed it for a second. They both stood up and Jason collected their clothes. Brad stood there for a second and then walked over to Jason. "Oh, let me get that."

Brad picked up Jason and started walking to the bathroom. Jason laughed and blushed. "Brad, you don't have to carry me. I am perfectly capable of walking."

"It's ok; you're still light."

"Oh, so as soon as I get fat, we can't do this?"

"I didn't say that but... yes."

They both laughed and Brad let Jason stand up in the bathroom. They both showered as fast as they could and got out. Jason put on his T-shirt and his boxers and Brad got on all of his clothes. They got out of the bathroom and Jason pulled on his pants, then they both cleaned the kitchen and walked into the living room. Right as they sat down on the couch, the front door opened and Sara, George, and Jeremy walked in.

Jeremy smiled and leaned over the couch. "So you guys have fun while we were gone?"

"Ya know cleaning - the kitchen and..."

Jeremy sniffed and smiled again. "You've both showered. Now why would you need to shower?"

Jason and Brad both blushed and Jeremy turned away laughing. George was curious to know what Jeremy was laughing about. "What's so funny, Jeremy?"

"Nothing, just felt like laughing."

"Why do I have the feeling I don't want to know?"

Sara gave a hearty giggle and winked at Jason and Brad. "If I know those boys - and I think I do - trust me, you don't want to. So what are you guys planning on doing today?"

Brad turned his head. "Well, we're all planning on going to Jason's house for a while? And we might go to a movie, if that's ok."

"Yeah, that's fine. What time are you guys going to leave?"

"Pretty soon."

"Oh ok, just be careful."

"We will, mom."

Sara walked up stairs and shut her door they could hear her talking to George but they didn't really care to know what they were talking about. For some reason right then Jason really wanted to drive his truck. Jason got up and walked to his book bag to find his keys. Jeremy came over and sat on the couch next to Brad.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to go for a drive."

"Oh ok, where we going?"

"No guys, I need this to just be me - there's something I have to do. I'll be right back."

Jason started walking to the door and Brad stopped him. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?"

Brad put his hands on Jason's hips and kissed him. "That's better."

Jeremy looked away when they kissed but he wasn't fazed by the kiss.

"Bye."

"Bye. I'll be right back."

Jason walked outside and started down the street to his truck. He knew where he was going; he just didn't know what he was going to do when he got there. Jason climbed into his truck, then started it up, shifted and started out slowly.

It took Jason about fifteen minutes to actually stop at his destination because he kept driving past it. He would get to the last turn and start to pull in, but then loose his nerve and go on down the road. Jason just couldn't bring himself to turn the wheel. He knew what he had to do; he just didn't feel strong enough to do it.

Jason finally gathered up his nerve and pulled in. He got out of the truck and started the long walk to the front door. It was a big, white house with pillars on both sides of the front door and a lovely flower garden out front. The garage was open about two feet and a car could be seen inside.

The path was cobblestone and Jason tried to concentrate on counting them as he made his way up. Jason got to eight and ran out of stones. There was a big brown doormat that Jason stood on. It said WELCOME in big bold letters and had flowers around the edge. Jason looked at the door and then at the doorbell. When he pressed it, he heard it ring inside. Jason felt dizzy and wanted to turn and run away - even abandoning his truck in the driveway.

Jason had just made up his mind to take off running when the door opened. It was a tall, thin woman with brown curly hair. She had blue eyes and she just kind of stood there holding a pile of towels staring at Jason. Jason tried to talk but he couldn't speak. Jason tried again and he managed to get a few words out. "Is Ashley here?"

"Ashley, the door is for you."

The woman walked away and Jason thought if he ran for it, he could manage to get away just in time and escape to freedom. The door was slowly swinging closed as doors do when a hand suddenly grasped the edge from behind the door.

"Thanks mom."

The door was pulled open and Ashley was standing there. Ashley was a beautiful young woman. Ashley had long blond hair and green eyes. She was shorter than he was by an inch or two. And her mouth dropped open as she saw him.

"Hi Ashley, I was wondering if..."

"Jason!"

"Um yeah, it's me."

Ashley bolted through the doorway and grabbed Jason in a hug. She was squeezing him and nearly crying. "Jason, you're awake; it's unbelievable; I can't believe it. I never thought you'd wake up but now you're up and wow!"

Ashley was cutting off Jason's air and he managed to wheeze out, "Ashley, I can't breath."

"Oh sorry." Ashley let go and stepped back. "You're so tall. You can't see that when you're lying in a hospital bed."

"You came to see me?"

"Yeah, almost every day for three months. Do you want to come in?"

"Yeah sure."

They walked inside and stood behind the couch. Ashley's mother was standing in front of the couch folding clothes. "Mom, I'd like you to meet Jason."

Ashley's mother stopped and turned around. "You mean the comma boy?"

"Mom!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's good to meet you, Jason. I'm surprised you're awake. That doesn't usually happen after a year."

"Yeah, well it caught us all by surprise."

"I'm sure; well you two have a lot of catching up to do."

"We'll be upstairs."

"Ok, leave your door open."

Ashley and Jason walked upstairs and into Ashley's room. They both sat down on the bed and Jason sat a little ways away from her. "I can't believe you're up."

"Yea it threw everybody for a loop. So what have you been up to, Ashley?"

"Oh, not much just hanging out."

"You?"

"Oh same, same. Ashley, what we talked about that day in gym, I wanted to talk to you about it."

Ashley kind of looked down and blushed. "Jason, that was a long time ago. I'm seeing somebody now."

Jason was relieved that she wasn't hung up about it. "Oh, that's great. I was thinking that you might be... you know, hung up on it."

"Well, I was for a while but then I met somebody."

"That's good so you're seeing somebody?"

"Yeah, he's great. Are you seeing anybody Jason?"

"Well yeah."

"What do you mean 'well yeah', you don't sound to sure? Do I know them?"

"Well you've met them before."

"So who is it? Is it Nicole, or Brandi, oh no wait, its Shannon."

Jason was cautious to tell her but thought that she would be ok with it. "It's Jeremy Bell's brother, Brad."

Ashley just sat there for a second kind of dumfounded. "Wait, did you say Jeremy's brother?"

"Yeah, I did."

"You're gay?"

"Yeah, I think I am."

Ashley stood up and walked over to her window. "How long have you known that?"

"Um, I had the idea for um... well, I started really thinking about it the day before that day in gym."

"Well you could have told me then."

"I wanted to but I..."

"You know what? It doesn't matter. I'm just sorry to see you leave our side, Jason. You were always too good to be true. So does he make you happy?"

"Yeah, he does. And do you guys...?"

"Um, yeah."

"Yeah - and how is that?"

"I don't think I really want to talk about it."

"Oh ok. So who's the lucky guy you're seeing."

"Well, we've been seeing each other for a little over a year and he's great.

Do you remember that kid, Brandon that went to school with us? The one that got hurt real bad that day."

Jason couldn't believe that Ashley hadn't heard that it was Jason and Brandon that had fought that day. "Brandon?"

"Yeah, he's so fun, you know. He should be here any minute, you can stay and see him again."

Jason had to go and he had to go now. Jason jumped up and headed for the door. "I have to go, something's come up."

"What? Oh come on, he'll be here any minute."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"What do you mean?"

Jason headed down the stairs and went around the wall toward the front door.

Ashley's mother was standing there with the door open. Jason recognized Brandon. He had three or four big scars: one under his eye, one on his chin, one on the left side of his face and one on his upper lip.

Ashley's mother stepped aside and motioned to Jason. "Oh Brandon, have you met Jason yet?"

Brandon stepped in and towards Jason. Ashley walked up behind Jason and smiled. "Brandon, have you met..."

"What's he doing here?"

"What do you mean, Brandon?"

Jason didn't want to start anything.

"Brandon, I didn't know you two were..."

"Shut up, just shut the fuck up!"

"Brandon!" Ashley shouted.

"Please stay out of this Ashley?"

"Don't even dare talk to her!"

Brandon charged at Jason and they both went over the couch. Brandon had his hands around Jason's neck and was slamming his head on the ground. "You fuck, you did this to me! It's your fault!"

Ashley and her mother were trying to pull him off but he was fighting them both off. Brandon pushed Ashley's mother and she fell into Ashley.

"Brandon, please!? I don't want to fight you! It was a long time ago we were both mad!"

"Mad, mad - you want to see mad?" Brandon tightened his grip on Jason's neck and Jason could see that everything was going fuzzy. Jason couldn't breath no matter how hard he tried. Jason turned his head looking for something to defend himself with.

"Brandon! Stop it! He's turning blue! Ashley, go call the police!"

Jason saw the fireplace and grabbed for the fire poker. Jason gripped it in his right hand and swung. It connected with Brandon's temple and Brandon went limp. Jason dropped the fire poker and pushed Brandon off of him. Jason knelt up and looked at Brandon. There was a huge goose egg on the side of Brandon's face and he was out cold.

Jason hovered over Brandon and was checking to see if he was breathing but there was no sign of air movement and it scared Jason. Jason knelt down by him and laid him straight. Jason had done CPR in boy scouts so he knew what he was doing. Jason tipped back his head and plugged Brad's nose. Jason connected his mouth to Brandon's and blew. Jason pulled back and put his hands on top of each other, palms down, on Brandon's chest. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Jason connected again and pushed more air into Brandon's lungs.

"Oh my god. Now he's doing CPR! Brandon isn't breathing. He isn't breathing! " Jason could hear Ashley on the phone. When Jason pulled off his mouth, Brandon started to cough.

Jason could still hear Ashley in the background. "He's breathing. he's breathing!" Jason started to get up and walk away when he heard Ashley's mother scream. Jason felt a sharp pain in his leg. Brandon had slammed the fire poker against Jason's leg and it felt like his ankle was broken. Jason fell to the ground screaming and grabbing his leg. Over his screaming, Jason could hear sirens outside the house.

Ashley was bent over Jason and holding his ankle. "It's ok, Jason, you'll be ok."

Then, Brandon jumped on top of Jason and tried to hit him but Jason grabbed his hands and wouldn't let him connect. "Knock it off, Brandon - stop it!"

Two cops came in the door and pulled Brandon off. Brandon was kicking and screaming as they dragged him out the door. "Fuck you, Jason! You haven't won! Fuck you!"

A medic came in the door and bent over Jason. Jason watched as the cops put Brandon in the back of a police car and drove away. "Ok, what happened here?"

Ashley looked at the medic then back at Jason. "That guy that was here saw Jason and went off on him; he hit him in the leg with the fire poker."

"And why did he do that? Jason is your name, right?"

"We had a fight a year ago and I gave him some scars."

Ashley looked at Jason horror struck. "That was you?"

"We had a fight and it got out of hand. I wanted to tell you Ashley."

"I have to go." Ashley got up and walked up stairs.

The medic looked at Jason and grabbed his ankle. "Jason, can you move your ankle?"

"No."

"Ok, does this hurt?"

The medic moved Jason's ankle and Jason jumped. "Yes."

"Ok, I don't think it's broken but it might be sprained." The medic put an ankle brace on Jason and they put him on a stretcher. They took Jason to the hospital and put a cast on his ankle. The doctors told Jason that he could walk around but he had to use crutches.

Jason was in the hospital for about fifteen minutes when an officer Jason recognized came in. "Jason, I don't know if you remember me but my name is Officer Porter."

"I remember you."

"I'm just here to see if you want to press charges."

Jason hadn't really even thought about it but he already knew his answer. "No, I don't."

"You don't?"

"No Brandon was mad at me and I'm not going to press charges."

"Well, ok then, I guess my work here is done it was good seeing you again." Jason and the cop shook hands and Officer Porter left the room. Jason couldn't help but feel he had done this before.

Jason was playing solitaire when his brother walked in. "Paul? What are you doing here?"

"Mom and dad wanted to give you some space - they didn't want to crowd you."

Paul sat down on the edge of the bed with his hands on his knees and gazed in the direction of the door. "Jason, we're all pretty messed up about mom being pregnant and dad's cancer, but turning our backs on it isn't going to do anybody any good. You have to go home Jason, mom and dad rely on you more than you know; they need you."

"Paul, you don't get it. They dropped that bomb on me like that."

"Jason, we all had it like that. They sat us down and did it the same way. They don't know how else to do it. This is new for all of us Jason, except there was one difference - when we heard about it, we were still worrying about you. I mean, do you know how it is to have your little brother in a comma and there isn't anything you can do about it? Jason, we all went through hell for a year because nobody knew why you weren't waking up. Right after you woke up, mom and dad said something pretty interesting. I mean they said it at different times when they weren't even around each other. They said that it was little Jason that woke you up. They might be right, Jason, it just seems like too much of a coincidence that you woke up like fifteen minutes after he was born. It seemed too easy."

"Paul, can I go home now?"

"Yeah, there releasing you to me. We can go now."

"I need to go get my truck."

"Where is it?"

"Ashley, this girl I went to school with, it's at her house."

"Jason, about that, are you going to go back to school this year or wait until next year?"

"I haven't really thought about it - looking at how much school is left in this year, I'll probably wait until next year."

"Yeah, it's probably better that way."

"So should we go?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here."

Paul helped Jason off the bed and into his clothes. Jason grabbed his crutches and made for the door. They got out and walked past the same room Jason had been in for a year. Walking with the crutches was weird but fun at the same time. He could move faster than walking or so it felt. Paul signed some paperwork and they went out to Paul's car.

Jason explained what had happened and how it was related to last year. Paul listened spellbound and interjecting 'no way' and 'are you serious?' in appropriate places. Jason gave Paul instructions on how to get back to Ashley's house and they parked across the street.

Jason hopped out and made his way quickly to his truck. He didn't want another confrontation with Ashley so he decided the faster he got out of there the better. Jason threw in the crutches and climbed in. Jason saw Ashley's front door open as he started the engine. Jason pulled out of the driveway right as Ashley stepped outside. Their eyes met and Ashley had tears in her eyes. Jason gunned it.

It was hard for Jason to drive with the cast on his foot but he managed. Jason stopped the car down the road from his house because it was late and he didn't want to wake anybody up. It took Jason about five minutes to get to his front door. Jason knew he couldn't take the ladder up to his room so he used his spare key to unlock the door.

Jason stepped inside trying to make as little noise as possible. He got to the stairs and started going up to his room when his left crutch slipped out from under him. Jason tried to grab onto it but it clattered to the floor. When Jason grabbed for the falling crutch, he lost his balance too and he fell, slamming his head into the corner of the wall.

Jason laid there on the ground holding his head. A light turned on in the living room but Jason couldn't see who was there because the couch was in the way so they couldn't see him either.

"Jason? " It was Jason's dad. "Jason, is that you?"

Jason didn't want his dad to find him like this so he just laid there in silence, concealed by the couch. Time seemed to slow as Jason laid there. With much difficulty, Jason was trying to quiet his breathing. Jason could feel his heart beat, it sounded so loud, and Jason just hoped his father couldn't hear it.

The light turned off and Jason climbed to his hands and knees. It took almost all of his strength just to get to that point. Jason put one hand on the stairs and one on the wall. Jason pushed up with all his might. Jason got on his feet just as it hit him that he hadn't heard his dad walk up the stairs. Jason picked up his crutch and wedged it under his armpit. Jason could feel the presence of his father standing behind him. He didn't know where but he could feel him.

"Hey Jason?"

Jason didn't turn around but turned his head slightly. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the shadow of his father. "Hi dad."

"Jason, I just want you to know I..."

Tears started to well up in Jason's eyes and he brushed them away with his shoulder. "I'm going to bed, dad."

Jason started climbing the stairs to his room leaving his father still standing there in the dark. "Can I help you, Jason?"

"No dad, I can get it."

Jason opened his bedroom door, walked in and closed the door behind him. He sat down on the edge of his bed and laid the crutches on the floor within reach. Jason pulled off his shirt and unfastened his pants and then lay back on the bed and pushed his pants down. He sat up and pulled his pants off over the cast, then swung around and got under the covers.

Jason lay in bed wondering, 'How much longer am I going to have my dad?' Jason started to sob as tears started streaming down his face. Jason hugged his blankets and rolled up in a ball. Jason cried himself to sleep and was out about fifteen minutes later. Jason didn't want to wake up; he wanted to just sleep forever.