Yesterday's End Chapter 127
Yesterday's End-127
The following story is fictional and is intended for an adult audience with an open mind.
It is not meant to suggest anything about the sexuality of the celebrities included in this story.
This story is fiction, meaning not real.
It's all for fun and enjoyment.
If you are under age, or it is illegal in your country, or you don't like stories about gay sex, please stop reading this immediately.
Chapter 127
"Good afternoon, everyone. Morgan Sheppard here, standing outside Los Angeles General Hospital.
Lucas Carver, singer and suspected murderer, has been taken here after today's revealing, dramatic courtroom shooting.
If you've just heard the news, or haven't, Lucas Carver-Belmont--as he now states himself to be--was wounded today in the Los Angeles courtroom where his murder trial was taking place.
It has been revealed that he wasn't the murderer of Jacob Addison, his one time lover and former bandmate.
A man by the name of Raymond Harris, a police detective of the Los Angeles twelfth precinct, was revealed to be the murderer and unknown brother of the murder victim.
When it was revealed that he was the one who in fact had beaten Jacob Addison to death with a baseball bat, the said detective pulled his gun on the judge and tried to escape from the courtroom.
A gunfight ensued and Lucas Carver-Belmont was shot, the detective then shot by his own other brother, one Levi Strassman, lawyer to the already known murder victim.
It's an unravelling situation here with a lot of mystery surrounding this case.
What Lucas Carver's involvement was in all this is still not totally known.
I was in the courtroom and I'll give a detailed analysis of all that happened later in my feature report this evening on Channel 7's local news hour at seven o'clock.
It's a tale of surprise, mystery, murder and apparent suicide.
It was a surprising day surrounding a surprising, mysterious young man.
There still seems to be a shadow of mystery around this young rising star in the music world.
Trust in me to sort it all out for you and get some well needed answers.
As of right now, Lucas Carver is fighting for his life inside.
Close friends Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, and JC Chasez arrived here moments ago as well; the young man surrounded by them and other celebrities, friends and his own mysterious family.
Oh to be a fly on that wall of famous concern.
I'm hoping to get into that close knit group and see what's really going on.
For now this is Morgan Sheppard signing off from L.A. General Hospital."
Josh paced the waiting room, everyone quietly looking at him.
Justin rose from his seat, the man stopping Josh in his tracks, both staring at each other.
"You need to sit down, Joshy. You're tired, and pacing isn't helping." Justin said, his arms going around his friend, Josh's blue eyes staring into his.
"What's going on in there, Jus? It's been over four hours since they took my Lucas to surgery." he said, Justin kissing his cheek.
"Lucas is going to be okay, Joshy. He lost a lot of blood but he's strong. We all know the truth of that. The doctors will remove the bullets and he'll be okay." Justin said, Josh's head going against his chest, Justin holding him close, rubbing his back.
"I know, Jus. I just want him to be okay. But I still feel his love deep within me. I know he's alive." Josh said, everyone smiling softly at him.
Savannah rose from her seat, walking up to the two men.
"I'll help him as well, Joshua. My healing magic can do wonders for him. He'll be right as rain soon enough. I still feel his love as well."
Josh smiled at her, breaking his hold on Justin, the man hugging Lucas' mother, she patting Josh's back.
Colton's blue eyes went around the room, his uncle seated beside him, his arm around him.
"What we heard in there! The. . .the truth we heard. Jacob's death. . .his planned suicide. . .those men!" Finn said, his blue eyes looking around at everyone, Skyler's arm around him.
"Lucas solved it all. I sense he's known the truth for quite some time." Tristan said, looking towards Gideon.
"He had, Tristan." Gideon said, everyone looking at the young lawyer.
Josh moved, walking over towards him, sitting down beside him, his arm going around the young lawyer, Colton staring at both men.
"Thank you for what you did in there, Gideon. You are one shrewd, calm, fantastic lawyer. Thank you for showing my Lucas' innocence." Josh said, Gideon smiling softly at him.
"Lucas is my friend, Josh. I love him. I would always do anything to aid him. He asked for that today. I gave all for him. I welcomed his love in easily." the young man said, everyone seeing the glistening tears in his blue eyes.
"And his magic." a new voice said, Gideon's blue eyes raising, staring into Grayson's blue eyes, the older lawyer having just walked into the waiting room, Joey and Chris behind him carrying trays of coffee, Piney quietly closing the door behind them all.
"Any word yet?" Grayson said, looking into Emerson's green pools, the older man's arms around his wife.
Joey and Chris walked around the full waiting room, everyone taking coffee from the trays, Josh passing on it.
"Nothing yet, Gray. No one's updated us on his condition. Where did you disappear to?" Emerson said, Josh looking towards Lucas' grandfather.
"Just had to make a few telephone calls." the older lawyer said, softly smiling around at everyone.
Justin's blue eyes met Grayson's blue, the singer standing up again, walking up to him.
"What did you mean about magic, Grayson?" Justin said, Grayson looking towards Gideon, then his blue eyes meeting Josh's again.
"Do you remember the day Lucas revealed Sheridan's hurt towards Justin, Josh?" Grayson said, Josh nodding, looking towards his friend, Justin staring at him and Grayson.
"Yes, what of it?" Josh said, everyone looking at the distinguished older lawyer.
"On that day he said something that triggered my own remembered past that day. And today as well. He told me that the eyes are the gateways to the soul. From those words I remembered on that day the eyes of my former nephew, the deceitful Sherman also known as Sheridan. Lucas drew out the truth that day in his calm words."
Justin and Josh both nodded their heads, remembering Lucas' words.
Josh looked at Grayson again.
"And what of today? What did it trigger today?" he said, Grayson softly smiling at him.
"It triggered the truth within my own eyes. I don't think the boy's ever said anything more truer. For today I saw the gateway to his own soul. And I saw it in a surprising place."
Everyone looked confused, Grayson staring at Gideon.
The young lawyer stared at him, Colton rising from his arms, Gideon staring up at his nephew.
"I feel your love for our Lucas, Grayson. I feel your protective love for all of his family. And I feel your own heart. And its hidden truth. As Lucas did." Colton said, his blue eyes staring around at everyone with mesmerizing clarity.
Those two blue pools met Grayson's blue again, the older man's blue pools softly glowing.
"You feel my magic, don't you? You and Lucas always have?" he said, Colton smiling, nodding his head, Emerson staring at his friend, the older man rising from his seat, Francesca rising as well.
"You. . .you still have the magic, Gray?" Emerson said, his face showing soft surprise.
"You only need to remember our own past, Em, to see the validity of that statement." the lawyer said, Emerson walking up to him.
"My. . .my interaction within your past?" he said, Grayson nodding.
"You gave me life, Emerson. And you awakened more than my heart."
The two stared at each other, Lance rising from his seat, staring at both men.
"What's going on here? And what does it have to do with our Lucas?" he said, Josh feeling Lance's love for his soulmate.
The two older men looked at Lance, the lawyer sighing, patting Emerson's shoulder.
"Sit down again, my friends. I will try to enlighten all of you to what I've seen today. I sense you, young man, know even more." Grayson said, staring at Colton.
The young man nodded, Josh's arm going around him.
"What's going on, Colt?" Josh said, Colton smiling up into his blue pools.
"Dad's love as always, Papa." he said, Josh smiling softly at his cherished love for his soulmate showing.
Josh's eyes met Grayson's steely blue pools.
"Sit down, Josh. I think we have some time to pass in quiet reflection. And truth." the lawyer said, everyone returning to their seats, Finn offering Grayson a chair he pulled out from a table by the door.
The lawyer nodded his thanks, sitting down in front of all of them.
"The eyes are indeed the gateway to the soul. And today I saw Lucas' soul. But it wasn't shining out of his own eyes, as usual."
Josh stared at the older man with surprise, remembering the darkness he saw in his soulmate's violet pools just before Lucas had collapsed.
The young man hadn't regained consciousness, the man now in surgery to remove the bullets.
Everyone else was staring at the lawyer with confusion, Colton sitting down beside his uncle again.
Grayson's blue pools were staring at one man.
"We all saw Lucas defend his own honor today. For I saw his violet pools shining in your own eyes, Gideon. It wasn't you standing up there today drawing the truth out of those two men. It was Lucas, wasn't it?"
Everyone looked shocked, staring at the young lawyer.
His blue intense eyes were staring at Grayson.
"You are very perceptive, Grayson. Lucas said you would probably be the only one to figure it out." he said, the older man smiling at him.
"I am honored by his acknowledging my perception. But I believe in my heart he was more perceptive. At the moment just before you called Levi Strassman to the stand you stared at me. I saw a violet hue shining in your eyes. I saw the soul of Lucas staring back at me. His loving eyes are singular in their intensity and love. He was indeed inside you, wasn't he? That's why he was so quiet, so calm and motionless in the courtroom beside me. His body sat in quiet reflection. His soul wasn't inside himself. It was inside you." the older lawyer said, everyone looking shocked, staring at the young man, their own thoughts on the quietness they had indeed observed in Lucas all afternoon in the courtroom.
Lucas had remained seated and quiet throughout the whole testimony.
Josh stared at Gideon, the young man's blue eyes moving and meeting his blue.
"Are. . .are you still in there, Lucky?" Josh softly said, Gideon's arm going around Josh now.
"No, Josh. I'm sorry, but Lucas has left my soul. The light of his love I do not feel anymore. I actually miss it. It. . .it was so intense." the young lawyer said, Grayson staring at him.
"Why would Lucas want to do that?" Josh said, his thoughts on his soulmate.
"Because Lucas has a soul of unending love, Josh." Colton said, Josh and everyone looking at him.
"Lucas felt in his heart that it was he alone that was standing against the evil, the evil brought out against himself. He took it upon his giving soul to meet that evil head on. He alone stood against it, drawing out its truth. A truth I do believe he indeed did formulate. Or reasoned out not long ago. His giving heart wouldn't let anyone else face that danger."
Josh teared up, knowing Colton was right.
"He asked me to give into the magic. To give into the magic of his love." Gideon said, Josh's eyes meeting his.
"He showed Colton and myself the evidence in that portfolio, when we talked alone. The truth of who Levi and Harris were. He said he'd figured it out yesterday. At the funeral home." Gideon said, everyone staring at him.
"At the funeral home, Gid?" Harry said, Alain's arms around him.
"Yes, Harry. He told me he'd asked the director--when he was alone with him--if anyone had visited Jake. The man said that only two people had paid their respects. Levi Strassman had visited every day, for the duration. Detective Harris had visited yesterday, his only appearance." Gideon said, everyone realizing the truth Lucas had reasoned out.
Jake's two brothers had shown themselves, Levi the more loving and caring of the two.
"I still can't believe it. That Jake had planned his own suicide. That he let his brother end his life." Finn said, Skyler rubbing his back.
"And that he hated Lucas so much that he wanted to end his happiness by implicating him." she said, Trish staring at her, their eyes meeting.
"Jake was lost to the pain. To the pain of the illness consuming him. I think Lucas had it right." Colton said, everyone looking at him again.
"Had what right, Colt?" Vivian said, staring at her cousin.
"That Jake was indeed lost under the pain. That the man who hated him wasn't the man he'd once been at the dawning of their relationship. Even at the end of his life he couldn't see the beauty and love that Lucas was. That's perhaps the greatest tragedy in all this. Jake was lost in himself. In the pain consuming himself. He couldn't see the love reaching out to him. Lucas forgave him a long time ago. Lucas' love and friendship were always there for him. He just couldn't see it."
Everyone nodded, thinking that perhaps Lucas had been right.
"My son is so intelligent, so giving." Tristan said, his father smiling softly at him.
"He is Lucas, Tristan. He is and always will be love." Emerson said, Francesca kissing her husband's cheek.
"So Lucas himself drew all of that amazing deceit out today. Through you, Gideon." Finn said, Gideon nodding his head.
"Through his own love and magic, Finn. Lucas asked me in that closed room to give into his magic. To open my heart to his soul. He asked me to be a vessel to his courage. So that he could face the deception. So he could draw out the lies."
"When you had the guard play the video, you sat back down at our table, Gideon. I saw you put your hand upon Lucas' shoulder. I saw Lucas' violet pools suddenly sparkle brightly. I believe he transferred his soul back into himself again at that moment. I then saw you tremble, then look into his eyes. You then yourself stood up and declared Lucas' innocence in Jacob's death, by Jacob's own admission."
Gideon nodded, looking around the room.
"Remarkable. He's so remarkable. He sees so much. Showing and hidden." Grayson softly said, his blue eyes looking around at everyone.
"It was Lucas himself at the end who charged at Detective Harris. He saw the desperation and emotion in that sinister man's eyes. He saw everyone was in danger. But I think the transference back weakened him. That's why he stumbled. And then he walked between the judge and Harris. He risked his own life to save Judge Navarro. To save. . ." Grayson said, his last words softly ending, everyone hearing the emotion in his voice, his eyes lowering.
Colton rose from his seat again, walking over to the man, his hand going on the older man's shoulder.
"To save he that you lost. He that you never stopped loving."
Everyone looked totally shocked, staring at the older lawyer's lowered face.
Grayson's head rose, everyone seeing the soft tears in his eyes, those blue pools meeting Colton's blue.
"He knew, didn't he?"
Colton softly smiled, his arm going around the older man, gently hugging him, his blue eyes looking around the room.
"Lucas is nothing if not watchful, Grayson. He seeks out love, hidden or otherwise. We've all seen that in his eyes. And in the drawing out of the love surrounding him. Just look at Usher and Adam to see that truth. And the other couples joined here."
Everyone softly smiled, their eyes on the older man in Colton's arms.
"You. . .you knew Judge Navarro?" Chris said, looking with soft surprise at Lucas' grandfather's old friend.
"Yes, Gray knows me very well."
Everyone's eyes moved, Judge Gabriel Navarro standing in the open doorway.
Grayson stared at the judge, the man softly staring at Grayson, then around at everyone in the room.
"How is Mr. Carver-Belmont?" he said, walking into the room, the door closing behind him.
Josh stood up, looking at the man.
"We. . .we have had no word yet." he said, the judge nodding.
"No word perhaps is good word." he said, looking around at everyone, Grayson rising from his chair.
"Hello, Gabriel. Thank you for coming." Grayson said, the judge nodding.
"I assume the truth is at hand?" he said, Grayson softly smiling.
"Truth has a way of going full circle, my friend." Grayson said, everyone quietly looking at the two men staring at each other.
"Yes, that it does. And the past has a way of walking back into our lives." Judge Navarro said, everyone looking at him.
"Hello, Francesca and Emerson. And Tristan. It's been a long time." he said, looking at Lucas' grandparents, Emerson rising from his seat, Francesca joining him.
Everyone looked surprised, taking in the people staring at each other.
"Yes it has been, Gabriel." Francesca said, Tristan rising from his seat as well.
"Hello, Gabriel. Your beauty still shines. We were all surprised to see you walk out of that chamber, Gabriel." he said, staring at the judge, the man smiling at him.
"You all know each other?" Henderson said, his arm around his wife Vivian.
"Gabriel we knew many years ago, everyone. He at one time was Grayson's junior law partner." Tristan said, Grayson nodding his head, looking at Gabriel.
"I think he was more than that, sir." Colton said, Grayson staring at the young man, Gabriel staring at him with surprise as well.
"And who is this young man?" the judge said, regaining his composure, Colton softly smiling at him.
"I am Lucas' cousin, and friend." he smiled, Gideon smiling at him, the young lawyer standing up now as well.
"He's also my nephew, Judge Navarro." he said, the judge nodding his head, looking at the young lawyer.
"You are thick within Mr. Carver-Belmont's past, Mr. Carlisle." Judge Navarro said, Gideon smiling at him.
"I hold Lucas as one of my dearest friends. He's done so much for my family, and myself." Gideon smiled, Colton smiling at him, his uncle walking up to him, his arm going around Colton.
"Mr. Carver-Belmont I see is a remarkable man." the judge said, Grayson staring at him.
"He is love, Gabriel. The greatest personification of it." he said, Gabriel Navarro nodding, staring at Grayson.
"We all have our understandings of what love is." the judge said, Grayson lowering his eyes.
Emerson stared at his old friend, then at Judge Navarro.
Gideon walked up to the judge, Colton quietly staring at the older man.
"Let me introduce you to everyone, Your Honor." Gideon said, the judge nodding his head, Gideon walking the man around, the judge shaking everyone's hands, smiling at the celebrities and Lucas' family and friends.
"I see Lucas is surrounded by more than celebrities. I see a joined group of friends and family." he said, Josh smiling at him, he the last to be introduced to Judge Navarro.
"We all love Lucas, Your Honor." Josh said, Judge Navarro smiling at him.
"Court is adjourned, Mr. Chasez. I'm just Gabriel Navarro now. Or just Gabriel." he said, Josh nodding his head.
"What happens now, sir? In regards to Lucas' trial?" Josh said, the judge quietly staring at him, seeing the concern in Josh's blue pools, the man sensing Josh was deeply worried about Lucas.
"Mr. Carver-Belmont is free, Mr. Chasez. All charges have been dropped. Jacob Addison's own confession sealed that guarantee." he said, Josh smiling with relief.
"Wonderful news, sir." he said, Judge Navarro smiling at him.
"I think you're waiting for better news, Mr. Chasez. I see the love and worry in your eyes, young man." he said, Josh smiling at him, the judge seeing the shining truth in Josh's blue pools.
"I love him, sir. He's my life."
The judge nodded, smiling at Josh.
"Understood. You have my discretion. And I think Mr. Carver-Belmont is indeed lucky."
"I'm the lucky one, sir. He's my Lucky. And I'm just Josh. And I know he'd want you to just call him Lucas as well."
The judge nodded, smiling around at everyone.
Everyone smiled back, liking this new look on his face, it more welcoming than the stern judicial courtroom look.
His face took on a softer compassionate look now.
"Detective Harris--or Ravid Ackerman as he's now known to be--passed away about an hour ago. The bullet severed his main artery, there was no chance of saving him. Levi Strassman has been booked on second degree murder charges, but that will probably be reduced to justifiable homicide as the man was threatening all of us, himself included. I think he also did it for his own peace of soul. His brother was nothing if not dangerous. Mr. Strassman will also be charged in regards to Jacob Addison's death and his accessory to that."
Everyone nodded, remembering the emotional state of the young man in the courtroom.
"Your friend is cleared of all charges. Lucas will be a free man once he recovers." Judge Navarro said, Gideon nodding at him.
"Thank you, Your Honor. For all you've done for him."
The judge lowered his eyes for a moment, then met Grayson's blue pools.
"I think the one that should be thanked is Lucas, Mr. Carlisle. That young man is remarkable. In the truth he uncovered, in the amazing clarity of his quiet resolve. And in the courage he showed at the end. I have my own life to thank him for."
"He will not need that thanks, Your Honor. . .I mean Gabriel. Lucas reacts with his love." Josh said, Gabriel nodding, his eyes meeting Grayson's again.
"You were correct, Gray." Gabriel said, Grayson nodding.
"Yes, Gabriel. The young man is nothing if not surprising."
The judge nodded, looking around at everyone.
"Please sit down everyone. I'd like to relay to you just how surprising that young man is." he said, Grayson's blue eyes meeting his blue.
"Sit down, Gray. You need to hear this most of all." he said, Colton's arm going around the older man.
Their eyes met, Colton smiling at him.
"Lucas' love walks on many paths, Grayson. I think he's walking yours now." the young man said, Grayson looking surprised.
The man sat down again, guided to his chair by Colton, everyone else sitting down again, all trading looks, the only ones left standing were Judge Navarro and Colton.
The young man smiled at the judge, the older man staring into his blue eyes.
"Unburden your soul, Gabriel. The Messenger of God always needs to give his message. And I believe Lucas gave you yours." the young man said, leaning against the room's wall, staring at the judge.
The judge looked surprised by Colton's words, the man pulling out something from his front suit pocket.
The man's judicial robe was gone, Gabriel wearing a three-piece dark grey suit, his face handsome and rugged, more youthful looking now even though he was in his late forties.
He held in his hand a white envelope, the man looking around at everyone.
"I found an envelope on my desk this afternoon when I returned to my chambers after the shootings today. I don't know who left it there. I didn't notice it before. I don't know how long it resided there." he said, everyone looking at the envelope.
"It couldn't have been Lucas. He never really left us all day, except for when he talked to Colton and Gideon alone just before this afternoon's continuation." Lance said, the judge nodding at him.
"It was myself, Gabriel."
All eyes went to Grayson, the lawyer looking at the judge.
"You, Gray?" he said, the man nodding his head.
"Yes, Gabriel. Lucas asked me to leave it in your chambers. But. . .but that's not. . .?" he said, Gabriel nodding his head.
"It's not the larger envelope you left?"
Grayson nodded, the judge staring at him.
"This envelope was sealed within the slightly larger envelope you left, along with a folded letter. The letter was to myself, detailing who this envelope was for."
Everyone looked puzzled, staring at the envelope and the judge.
The judge's blue eyes looked at Colton, the young man smiling softly at him.
"Lucas is as you all stated, a man of giving love. For today he gave me the truth. The truth of my own crushing soul. The truth I didn't know of. The truth that cost me the man that I loved." the judge said, staring at only Grayson.
Grayson's eyes lowered, looking away from the judge.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth, Gray? That day long ago, or even yesterday when you walked into my chambers?" the judge said, everyone looking at each other.
Grayson raised his eyes, staring at the younger man.
He looked around at everyone, the judge softly sighing.
"Grayson and Mr. Carlisle came to my chambers yesterday as Gideon testified in the courtroom. It was Grayson who asked for the court order to search Jacob's condominium. I believe Lucas was behind that?" he said, Grayson nodding.
"Yes, he was." the older lawyer said, everyone staring at him.
The judge walked forward, his hand extending before him.
"This envelope is for you, Gray. Lucas asked me to give it to you." the man said, Grayson staring at it with surprise, then meeting the younger man's eyes.
"What. . .what is. . .what's in it?" he said, Gabriel staring at him.
"I don't know, Gray. All he wrote in the letter to me was that I was to give it to you as a seed to plant the truth. The truth of what your soul needs." the judge said, Grayson looking confused.
The older man slowly reached out, taking the envelope from Gabriel's hand, the two staring at each other.
Grayson looked at the envelope, seeing his name written across its front, another sentence written below it.
"You can open that after I tell you what I have to say." the judge said, looking at his watch.
"We should get to it. We may not have much time." he said, the man softly smiling.
He folded his hands in front of him, his blue pools staring at Grayson.
"As you've all seen, Grayson and I know each other. We met a long time ago, over twenty-five years ago. He hired me right after my graduation from law school. I fell under the spell of his judicial intelligence, the man so knowledgeable, cunning and resourceful. He became a great mentor and an even greater friend. His mentorship guided me to my career. And from that came an even greater surprise." the judge said, Grayson staring at him, everyone silently staring at the two men.
"Out of that partnership came a greater love. I fell in love with this wonderful man. Yes, he was almost twenty years my senior. But his love was so youthful, so giving and beautiful. Age is nothing but an illusion against the heart's need." the man said, Josh smiling at him.
"Lucas has said that same thing to myself." he said, the judge smiling at him, Grayson smiling as well.
"He wrote those same words in his letter to myself. Forgive me for borrowing them, they were so poignant in their truth." the judge said, Josh nodding his head with a smile, the judge looking at Grayson again.
"As I said, Grayson and I fell in love. His love was returned, and it was the breath that was my life." the man said, Grayson tearing up, staring at the younger man.
"It was the same for myself then, Gabriel."
The judge showed soft tears in his soft blue eyes, Grayson's lowering again.
"And then I destroyed that love." Grayson said, the judge staring at him.
"No you didn't, Gray. That was the assumption we both held in our hearts that night. I now have the answer to that reality. The answer to the deception we both were given. An answer I should have been given many years ago, from yourself. I would never have walked away from your love if I had only known." he said, Grayson lowering his eyes.
"I hurt you, Gabriel. I hurt that love you held so dear."
Gabriel Navarro walked across the room, standing in front of Grayson's seated form.
"I found the answer to that lie in that photograph Gideon gave me this afternoon, Gray." he said, Grayson's eyes raising, staring into the man's blue pools.
"The photograph, Gabriel?" Gideon said, the judge looking at him.
"Yes, Mr. Carlisle." he said, Gideon's blue pools meeting his.
"It's Gideon, Gabriel."
"Alright, Gideon." Gabriel said, smiling at the lawyer.
His blue eyes moved back to Grayson.
"I saw the truth of the past in the face staring back at me, Gray. His face. That handsome rogue who played all of us."
"Haven."
Gabriel's blue eyes met Colton's blue, the young man having spoken, everyone looking surprised.
"Yes, how did you know that?" he said, the young man smiling.
"I have the magic, sir." Colton said, Gabriel's eyes moving to Grayson's blue.
"He is magical as well, Gray?" he said, Emerson looking at the judge and his old friend.
"Our family on all sides bears the mark of magic, Gabriel." Emerson said, Gabriel nodding, staring at Gray again.
"The magic of beauty, love and destiny. It only ever enhanced the beauty of our intimacy." he softly said, Grayson tearing up.
"You seem well-learned in regards to the Belmont family, sir." Alain said, Gabriel smiling at the young black man, his blue eyes meeting Tristan's green.
"I was Tristan Belmont's best friend for a time. I saw all the magic of the Belmont soul." he said, Tristan smiling at him.
"It is good to see your smile again, Gabe. Now, to only see Uncle Gray's again. Your beauty and love always enhanced it." he said, Grayson looking at the younger Belmont.
"I destroyed that, Tristan. The past can't be unchanged." the older man said, Gabriel looking down at him.
"He is the greatest of the magic, Gray. I saw that today. I saw it in his violet pools." he said, looking towards Gideon.
"In the violet pools staring back at me from your now blue eyes, Gideon."
Everyone looked surprised, no more than Gideon.
"You knew I had Lucas within myself?" he said, the judge nodding.
"I surmised as much, when I saw who his family was. I sensed the greater gift he possessed. And just before you summoned Raymond Harris to his judgment your eyes changed to violet when you looked at me. I saw a great soul of shining love about to lead someone to justice."
Everyone looked at the judge, seeing the calm awe in his handsome face.
"It seems Lucas shone for specific people." Francesca said, Grayson and Gideon looking at her, Gabriel smiling at her.
"Indeed he did." Gabriel said, staring at Grayson.
His blue pools went back to Grayson's blue, their intensity shining with love.
"Lucas wrote to me of the truth, Gray. How he learned that truth, I know not. But it is too unfathomable to not be just that. Why didn't you tell me the truth?"
Grayson's eyes lowered, the younger man kneeling down in front of him.
"Talk to me, my love." Gabriel said, the older man's eyes rising upwards, staring into his blue pools.
"My. . .my love? Oh God! I'm sorry, Gabriel! I. . .I had to do it!"
"I know you did, Grayson. For you did it because of your love for me."
The older man's body trembled, a soft sob coming out of him.
Emerson stared at his friend, seeing the distress he was in.
Gabriel moved forward, his arms going around the older man, Grayson sinking into his chest.
"I'm sorry, Gabe! I'm sorry for being so weak!" he cried, everyone silently staring at the two.
"You were not weak, Gray. I have never known you to ever be weak. It is I who should apologize. I am the one who walked away when I should have saved you." he said, his blue pools staring at Tristan, the younger man moving towards him.
"Why did you walk away, Gabe? We all loved you. And. . .and what did you have to save Uncle Gray from?" he said, the judge breaking his hold on Grayson, staring at the younger man looking down at him.
"I was deceived, Tristan. Grayson and I were both deceived." he said, Grayson staring at him.
The man rose from his chair, Gabriel rising from his knees as well.
"I was not deceived, Gabriel. It was only you that was deceived. By myself."
"You told me the truth to spare me the danger, Grayson. I finally know that truth." he said, Grayson stepping back a bit, surprise showing on his face.
"What. . .what are you talking about?"
Gabriel sighed, looking around at everyone.
"As I said, Grayson and I were in love. Tristan, Francesca and Emerson all knew that. And someone else did as well." he said, Josh's eyes meeting his.
"Haven?"
The man nodded, looking at Grayson, his eyes lowering.
"Haven Marlowe, when I knew him, was a selfish, brooding monster. It was he that destroyed Grayson's and my love. Only because he couldn't have my love."
Grayson looked surprised, Gabriel looking at him.
"He made a pass at me, Gray. One afternoon in the pool. I had to physically strike him to get him to back off. I told him that I loved you, and he was nothing against that love."
Grayson teared up, staring at the younger judge.
"That happened two weeks before I left. Before I. . ." He said, his eyes lowering, Colton moving from the wall, walking up beside him, his hand going to the older man's shoulder.
"Before you walked in on Grayson and Haven together in bed?"
Everyone looked surprised, Grayson's eyes lowering.
"You. . .you cheated on him?" Emerson said, looking at Grayson with shock.
"Yes, yes I did. I was weak, I was. . .I was so needful." Grayson said, not looking at Gabriel.
"You were no such thing, Gray. Look at me, Grayson." Gabriel said, Grayson's blue eyes slowly moving, looking into Gabriel's own blue pools.
The younger man sighed, pulling out a folded piece of paper from his pocket.
"Your son is so outspoken, Tristan. He holds so many of your own beautiful qualities in his soul. I saw that the first moment I stared into his violet pools that first day in the courtroom. For I saw shining behind him the identical green pools of his father." Gabriel said, Tristan smiling at him.
His blue eyes met Grayson's again.
"Lucas unravelled the truth, Gray. A truth I never knew. Let me read you that truth." he said, Grayson's eyes lowering.
The man unfolded the letter, looking around at everyone, his eyes going to the letter, perusing it, finding what he needed.
His voice filled the silent room, Lucas' words showing their truth.
"You walked away from love, a love you felt never existed.
You were wrong, sir.
For that love only existed and always existed in one place.
The hearts of the two of you.
That day when you looked upon the defilement of that love, you were deceived by love.
Not the truth of the scene before you, but by the truth of the love hidden from you.
The love of your heart sacrificed his own love to keep you safe.
Safe from the danger surrounding you.
From the evilness of the man who then owned him.
In body and soul.
In magic and in deception.
For he was as deceived as you.
And the magic that enslaved him I myself have now destroyed.
Tell him that from your own soul.
My gift for both of you.
For he will now feel your true love.
Give him the love you always had for him.
It never died, it never waned.
I have felt it in both your souls.
He's carried your love as a shadow upon his heart that he felt he'd never have again.
He only needs to realize that he'd never lost it.
You've carried it upon your soul as well.
The defilement of Haven's devious plots and magic can't stand against the love you both have.
Haven's hold is gone, the greater hold upon both of you is the love you have for each other.
Grayson gave into Haven's desires knowing you'd walk into that room that night.
Knowing you'd leave him, therefore removing yourself from the danger.
From the danger Haven told Grayson himself.
The danger of his life-ending magic.
Haven was going to end your life that very night unless Grayson gave into his needs.
The showing truth would be the salvation of your life, as Haven told him.
Grayson gave into that when the answer was your life.
For your life and love he would sacrifice all.
Gabriel's eyes raised, staring into Grayson's tearing blue pools.
His own blue pools were shedding tears down his cheeks, their eyes locked on each other.
"I. . .I had to do it, Gabriel. He. . .he was going to destroy you. Your. . .your life I had to save." Grayson sobbed, Gabriel pulling him close, everyone tearfully staring at them, Gabriel's arms holding Grayson close.
"I know, my love. I now know. Why didn't you tell me? I would have believed you!" he said, kissing Grayson's neck, the man trembling in his arms.
The two broke their embrace, Grayson staring at him.
"That night. . .the vileness of Haven's wanton desires. He. . .he used magic, Gabriel. I felt my mind lost, my control gone. I thought he'd do the same to you. . .he said he'd eat your heart! That he'd have your desires first, then your life!"
"I love you, Gray. I never stopped loving you!" Gabriel said, his voice filled with emotion.
"I had to save you. I had to make you leave! I'm sorry. . .I. . ."
"You loved me enough to lose me, to save me. You sacrificed everything for me." Gabriel said, Grayson nodding.
"Oh, my love. Your love I never lost. And mine is now here again for you." Gabriel said, Grayson sobbing again, the two moving together, their lips meeting.
Everyone stood in silence, taking in the quiet joining love of two lost men.
The two broke their kiss, staring into each other's blue eyes.
"I love you, Gabriel. I never loved anyone as I loved you, as I now love you." Grayson said, Gabriel smiling, wiping the older man's cheeks.
"We've both gotten older, Grayson. But I still see the beauty of your smile." Gabriel said, Grayson smiling.
Tristan smiled, looking at his father's old friend.
"There's that smile. Uncle Gray's back with us." he said, Grayson smiling at him and Tristan's parents.
His eyes met Gabriel's again.
"And you're as beautiful as the last day I saw your beauty."
Gabriel smiled, softly blushing.
"Still an old smoothie. That charm." he said, Grayson laughing.
Colton smiled, walking up to the two men, everyone smiling at them as well.
"Your love is whole again, Grayson. Welcome back onto your true path." he said, Grayson staring at him.
"Lucas did this? For. . .for me?" he softly said, Colton smiling.
"For both of you. His love is all continuing. And unending." Colton said, smiling at both men.
Grayson smiled at him, his arm going around Gabriel, staring at him.
"You can now open your envelope, Gray." he said, Grayson nodding, pulling the envelope out of his pocket, having placed it there, his eyes staring at the words written on it.
"What does it say?" Chris said, Piney smiling at him, seeing the awed wonder on his man's face.
"It says, For you, Grayson: Old of being, young of love."
Gabriel smiled, Grayson breaking the envelope open, pulling out a single sheet of paper.
He opened the sheet, his blue eyes scanning the words written there, everyone quietly watching him read the note in silence.
They all saw his blue eyes softly glow for a moment, a wetness suddenly showing on his cheeks.
He quietly closed the note putting it back into the envelope, the envelope again going into his pocket.
"What did he say to you, Gray?" Gabriel asked, their eyes meeting again, Gabriel seeing a deep joy in those shining oyster blue eyes.
"He has given me a private truth, Gabriel. He has returned your love to me. His words I'll live by." he said, Gabriel smiling at him.
"You haven't changed, Gray. So beautiful and mysterious."
The man smiled, looking around at everyone.
"It's a private moment between Lucas and myself. His love I'd like to keep close to my heart for now." he said, everyone nodding, Gabriel staring at him.
"I love you, Gabriel. I need your love again." Grayson said, everyone seeing the deep smile upon his now younger looking face.
"You have it, Grayson." he said, the two men smiling at each other.
"We have so much to talk about, Gabe." Grayson said, Gabriel nodding.
"But first you need our love." Francesca said, smiling and opening her arms, Grayson smiling as she embraced him.
The two men were welcomed and hugged by everyone, Emerson the last to hug his old friend.
"The past returns to our hearts. The love shines anew." he said, Grayson smiling at him.
"And your grandson is the beacon to all of it." he said, Emerson nodding his head.
"That he is." Gabriel said, Grayson softy smiling at him, their hands going together.
Josh softly smiled, Gabriel looking at him.
"To have his love would be the greatest gift. You are indeed lucky, Josh." he said, Josh nodding.
"Now I only need to have him safe." he said, Colton moving, his arms going around Josh's waist, Josh's arms going around him.
"He is safe, Papa. Our love is around him." he said, Josh smiling.
Their closeness was interrupted by the door of the room opening, a young doctor walking into the room, the man wearing a green operating smock.
"Good evening. I'm Dr. Welby. Mr. Carver's surgeon." he said, everyone looking towards the young doctor.
"It isn't Marcus is it?" Chris said, Piney rolling his eyes, slapping his man's shoulder, Chris blushing.
The young doctor smiled, looking around at everyone.
"No, he's my grandfather. My name is Pierce." the man smiled, Joey lightly chuckling, Josh looking at the doctor, Justin seeing his concern.
"How is Lucas, Dr. Welby?" Justin said, the doctor smiling at him.
"Good evening, Mr. Timberlake. Big fan here. For your music and your former group's." he said, smiling at Josh, Lance and then Chris and Joey.
"Thank you, Doctor." Lance said, his face showing worry.
"As to your question, Mr. Carver is resting comfortably at the moment. We've removed both bullets. He's out of immediate danger." the doctor said, everyone breathing a sigh of relief.
Savannah and Tristan walked up to the doctor, the young man smiling at both.
"We're his parents, sir. Can we see him?" Tristan said, the man smiling softly.
"Certainly, sir. He's in recovery at the moment, we just finished surgery about half an hour ago. He will be moved to a private room in about half an hour. He's still unconscious, the drugs will take a while to dissipate." the young man said, looking at Lucas' parents.
"There is some concern though, I'm afraid." the young doctor said, Savannah looking worried, Tristan's arm going around her.
"Please tell us, Doctor." Tristan said, Justin's arm going around Josh.
"We removed the two bullets as I said. One was lodged just under his left lung about an inch from his heart. There was no damage to his heart or his lung, his breathing and heart rate have stabilized."
"And the second bullet, Dr. Welby?" Emerson said, his arm around Francesca, the young doctor staring at Emerson.
"I am Lucas' grandfather." he said, the young doctor nodding.
"The second bullet was our greater concern. It was lodged in his spinal column. We removed it from between his second and third vertebrae. The spinal cord received some damage." the doctor said, everyone's face changing to worry.
"I'm sorry, but it's too early to tell what that damage will concur. In most cases there could be severe paralysis. We won't know until Mr. Carver comes out of his sleep. I wish I could be more optimistic, but the spine is a delicate part of our central nervous system. Any injury could be grave. All we can do is wait."
Josh nodded his head, looking at the young doctor, his blue eyes staring at him.
"I need to see him." he said, Tristan's arm going around him as well as his wife.
"We're all Lucas' family, Dr. Welby."
The young doctor nodded, Josh staring at him.
"Mr. Carver is a lucky man. I see a lot of love shining for him." he said, smiling at Josh.
"I understand the delicacy of your privacy, Mr. Chasez. I am discreet. You'll have full access as well as his close family."
Josh softly smiled, thanking the doctor.
"I have some rounds to make, I'll come back when Lucas is settled. It shouldn't be too long."
Josh shook the young man's hand, the man smiling at him.
"Thank you, Dr. Welby."
"Thank my grandfather. I loved the reruns."
Joey laughed, Chris joining him, everyone smiling at the doctor, the young man walking out of the room.
Tristan felt Josh tremble against him, the man looking him in the eyes.
"He's going to be alright, Josh. I refuse to believe anything different from our son. His magic and love will heal him."
Josh nodded, Tristan kissing his cheek.
"Let's rest for a bit. We need to be strong and rested. He's going to need all our love when he wakes up." Savannah said, Josh smiling at her.
The two Belmonts guided Josh back to the sofa, the three sitting down together.
Everyone sat down, the room quiet again.
Grayson sat with Gabriel, everyone seeing their hands go together.
Gabriel smiled at Grayson, the older man smiling softly back.
His mind was on the young man they all loved.
And the message he'd given him.
End of Chapter 127
Did ya all see that coming?
Here comes the judge!
Here comes the judge!
Lol.
Seems the old tigers of judicial fortitude may have some kick left in them.
Lucas has healed Grayson's lost heart.
And his former love has walked back into his life.
Seems Haven's been a monster for quite some time.
Hurting many to satisfy his own needs.
How long will Lucas let him remain unanswered for his past?
Lucas is alive, but perhaps not whole.
Only time and his love will show the answer to that.
The love in that waiting room awaits him.
Perhaps love is the best medicine.
Hugs, Angel.
email: music-fan-1@hotmail.com