The wedding was over. John and Luka slept as the plane made its way
to San Francisco. Eschewing beach resorts and the like, both grooms
wanted to go to a place where two men could register together in a
hotel, have dinner, go dancing, and there would be no comments made.
Despite the tragic impact of the AIDS pandemic, San Francisco was
still a gay old town.
Shortly after boarding, the steward set out soft drinks and snacks
and made it very clear that they would be on their own for the
duration of the flight. The lights in the spacious cabin were dimmed.
John and Luka strapped themselves in as the jet taxied to the runway.
"It was a wonderful party." John observed yawning. They'd been up
since dawn.
"It was." Luka agreed stretching out his long legs. He could get used
to travelling in private jets.
"I hate to say it, but if I don't get some sleep, I'm going to need
the paddles to keep me awake." John yawned again.
"You looked magnificent today. I'll be the envy of everyone now that
you're officially mine." Luka leaned over and kissed his brand-new
husband.
"It's love, my love. All grooms are gorgeous." John grinned. "Kiss me
again, please."
"Any special reason?"
"Yes. I want to see what it feels like to combine your 'elevator
effect' with a jet taking off."
"*That's* my favorite researcher." Luka leaned over again, placing
his mouth on John's. They'd been in the air some minutes before
either man could speak.
"Wow." John said quietly.
"Amen." Luka looked at him in wonder. "You feel like that everytime I
kiss you?"
"Oh yeah. I sometimes think I don't need food or water, just a steady
diet of your kisses." John admitted.
"Thank you, Janaskja for loving me." Luka said softly as he undid
John's seat belt and pulled him into his lap.
"Thank you for loving *me*." John murmured, he was wide awake now. He
loved being in Luka's arms. He'd never received enough hugs as a
child and his need to be held, caressed, comforted; was finally being
satisfied. He sighed contentedly then gasped as Luka's hand rubbed
his chest, stroking the erect buds through the silk shirt. Reaching
down, John unbuckled Luka then stood.
"Where are you going?" Luka looked around. They were alone.
"Follow me. We're about to become members of the mile-high club...
orgasms at twenty thousand feet." John smiled taking Luka's hand
leading him to a screened-off section at the rear of the aircraft. As
they rounded the partition, Luka grinned at the sight of a double
bed. "You don't think my father sleeps sitting up on trans-
continental flights do you? Sometimes, money has its uses."
"Come here, Janaskja."
"Only if you come with me."
"It's a deal." Luka began to remove John's clothing, kissing him
after removing each article. When it was his turn, John did the same.
They got into the bed and turned out the cabin lights. Luka took John
into his arms and simply held him. John wriggled closer and kissed
Luka's shoulder, then his chest, then he moved on top of his lover,
smiling as he massaged the warm skin covering Luka's shoulders.
"Please, beloved. I want to feel you inside me." Luka's breaths were
coming faster as John continued his massage.
"Your wish is my command." Naked, John got up and went to where their
luggage was stacked. Rummaging through his backpack he found the
lubricant and a box of condoms. He returned to the bed. "Lift your
hips, my love." Luka complied thinking that no one else on earth was
a beautiful as the man he'd just married.
John began to apply the lubricant using feather-light strokes of his
tapering fingers. Each time they grazed Luka's testicles, his partner
twitched. John, fully aware that Luka was watching his every move,
slowly stroked his own erect penis before putting on the condom. He
suggestively smoothed lubricant on himself then moved into position.
"Now, John."
"Shhhh. What's your hurry? We have the rest of our lives..." John
gently probed Luka's anus with two slender fingers, stretching the
muscle walls first in one direction, then another. Just when Luka
thought he'd would scream from frustrated desire, John slid home in
one prolonged thrust. He remained still for a few minutes to calm
himself. Being in Luka, hell, merely *thinking* about being in Luka
was more than enough stimulation. Silently he listed the bones in the
hand as he began to withdraw then thrust; making each stroke last as
long as he possible could.
Luka's mind was aflame. The feelings John produced were maddening.
His eyelids fluttered closed but not before John observed Luka's eyes
roll upwards. Smiling, John moved a little faster, eliciting a long
drawn out moan. As he continued reviewing basic anatomy, John heard
the moans change into shouts. On every third stroke, John moved
laterally, dragging the tip of his penis across Luka's prostate. Luka
began to buck and heave beneath him. John placed his hands on Luka's
waist, holding him still; and continued.
Finally, after what seemed like forever to Luka, John's pace
increased. The restraining hands were gone. Luka's body moved of its
own accord, meeting John's thrusts as he shouted. Luka came first,
and the entire bed shook. As he regained his senses, he felt the
sudden warmth of John's semen as it filled the condom. Blindly, he
reached for him, pulling him close. Chests heaving, they lay
exhausted.
* * * * *
All too soon, the pilot's voice on the intercom woke Luka. Yawning,
he nudged John whose snores were rivalling the engines for the top
decibel levels. John opened one eye. "Have we landed?"
"No. Not for another twenty minutes. Come on, Janaskja. We've got to
get dressed."
"I've got a better idea. Why don't we re-fuel in mid-air and just
keep flying?" John patted the bed with a leer.
"Don't you want to see San Francisco?"
"Nope. I'm looking at the only thing I want to see."
"Well, you can look at me all you like, but with your clothes on,
while we land."
"I married a tyrant." John threw off the bed clothes and headed to
the bathroom.
"Shameless hussy. You're a closet exhibitionist." Luka grinned as he
hunted for his socks. While he dressed, he realized that John's
blushes were more in reaction to what he imagined others were
thinking; not shame or embarrasment on his own part. Since they'd
been reunited, John had made no effort to down-play or act shy about
their relationship. Two hands over his eyes startled him out of his
reverie.
"Guess who?"
"The man I love more than my life?"
"Holed it in one." John kissed the back of Luka's neck before
sprawling across the bed to reach for his clothes.
A discreet knock heralded the entry of the steward. Luka was having
trouble with his tie and John was trying to help.
"I give up, Sascha. I'm no valet."
"If you will permit me, sir.", the steward offered.
"Be my guest." Luka replied.
John threw up his hands. "Jilted on my honeymoon. I can see
the 'Enquirer' now: 'These are the new ties that bind me, says groom
as he spurns husband.'"
The steward laughed as he finished arranging Luka's tie. "I'll get
the bags before your spouse calls his lawyer."
"Thank you." Luka grinned at John who was doing his best to look put
out. Laughing, they took their seats just as the pilot called for
belts to be fastened.
Looking back, Luka didn't know which aspect of their trip he enjoyed
most. In the Castro, while they shopped for presents for their
friends, Luka revelled in being able to walk down the street holding
John's hand. During the day, they played tourist. As evening fell,
they would return to their hotel, make love, then dress for dinner.
The sight of two handsome men in Armani suits never failed to draw
benevolent attention from everyone.
The night before they were scheduled to return to Chicago, they came
back to the hotel to find Charles and Cyril waiting in the lobby.
Reluctantly, Luka abandoned his hopes for a cinq a sept with John as
the four of them headed for the cocktail lounge.
"First of all, thanks you two for everything you did to help with our
wedding and reception. It was wonderful." John said smiling at the
younger couple.
"Actually, that's why we're here. Somehow, the manager of the San
Francisco Opera happened to be invited. He liked what he saw and
offered Charles a job. We're moving here." Cyril explained.
"That was my grandmother." John laughed.
"Bless St. Millicent." Charles raised his cocktail. "So how have you
guys been? You look great."
They chatted over a leisurely dinner then Charles and Cyril made
their farewells. John and Luka returned to their suite and headed to
its luxurious bathroom. John turned on the water in the tub and added
some apple scented gel while Luka lit candles they'd purchased on
their first day in the city.
Turning out the lights, Luka drew back the curtains covering the
large window. The lights of the city shone, flickering in
counterpoint to the candles. Both men undressed in silence. John
packed their dress suits and when he returned to the bathroom, Luka
had opened a small bottle of sparkling grape juice. Filling two
flutes, he stepped into the warm water and sat down. John followed,
positioning himself between Luka's legs. They sipped their drinks and
enjoyed the quiet at the end of a busy day.
"You know, it's funny. I've had a marvellous time, but I'm actually
looking forward to getting back to work." John remarked.
"Me too. I guess that's another blessing. We both enjoy what we do
for a living." Luka agreed softly. He put down his glass and took
John in his arms, kissing his cheek. "I love you very, very much."
John placed his glass on the floor and slid around in the large tub
until he was resting in Luka's lap. The feel of his skin rubbing
against his mate produced the usual reaction in both men. Putting his
arms around Luka's neck, John kissed him slowly, using his tongue to
savor every trace of the beverage on Luka's lips, tongue, and teeth.
Sighing, he waited for the dizziness to subside.
"Every time, huh?" Luka observed quietly.
"Every time is like that first time when I thought my heart would
jump out of chest. I'd just about given up on ever being able to tell
you how I felt, let alone having my feelings returned. So each time,
I remember the overwhelming joy and surprise and I ..." John stopped
speaking as Luka kissed him again. The sensation of free-falling was
even stronger. John put his head on Luka's shoulder.
"Thank you for loving me, Luka." John whispered. Luka stroked John's
cheek. They sat there until the water cooled then headed for the
bedroom wearing the hotel's terry robes. While John turned back the
bed, Luka extinguished the candles in the bathroom.
"The last thing we want to do is set off the fire alarm.", he said
grinning when he returned. He stood behind John and slipped the thick
robe from his slender shoulders, kissing the sweet-smelling skin as
he went. John turned to face his husband and slid his hands under the
soft material, massaging Luka's sides and back as he pushed the thick
terry material off and onto the floor. Trading kisses, they shuffled
to the bed, where Luka sat and removed John's robe. He picked up a
condom and slowly placed it on John's quivering penis. Then he took
John into his mouth.
John gave in happily to the sensations emanating from his husband's
attentions. Luka's teeth lightly grazed the ridge of John's
circumcision scar making John's legs quiver involuntarily. Placing
one hand on Luka's shoulder, John commenced moving his hips,
thrusting gently into a vortex of delight. Luka grasped John's
buttocks with both hands, kneading the hard muscle beneath skin that
felt like silk. John threw his head back, moaning as Luka's cheeks
hollowed with the power of his inhalations. Dear heavens, was the man
trying to pull the organ from his body? He couldn't help it: John's
moans increased in volume as he put his other hand on Luka. He needed
both to keep from falling through the floor. Suddenly, his orgasm
exploded into his conciousness causing him to shout aloud. Luka
ceased his ministrations but kept John's penis in his mouth as the
condom grew warmer.
Standing up, Luka held John as his body shook. Slowly, John's brain
began to function again. He put his arms around Luka's neck and
kissed him. He had no words to describe what had just happened and he
knew better than to try. Silently, he thanked God that Luka was his;
that Luka loved him; and that he was able to love Luka in return.
"Please Luka, if I don't lie down I'm going to fall down." John
mumbled after awhile. Luka gently lowered his partner onto the king-
sized mattress, deftly removing the condom. He planned to show John
just how much he loved making love to him. The evening was just
getting started. John felt totally limp. It was as if the heat of his
climax had melted every bone in his body. He smiled lazily as Luka
stretched out next to him then jumped; startled, when Luka's finger
tips began lightly tracing patterns on his chest. The patterns ranged
wider, and the tracing intensified into a strenuous massage.
Luka took a position straddling John's hips as he continued to caress
him. At the point where John felt the beginnings of drowsiness coming
over him again, he nearly shouted aloud as Luka's lips and teeth
latched on to his right nipple. Luka sucked hungrily trying to pull
as much of the erectile tissue into his mouth as he could. John began
to writhe in response to these new feelings. Luka turned his
attentions to the other nipple while massaging the abandoned one.
John arched his back. "Please Luka, please, I want to be one with
you."
"Quiet, Janaskja. I'm in charge here. I'm going to love you as you
deserve." Luka whispered in response then put his lips back to their
task. He bathed John's skin with his tongue, occasionally taking
tender bites which produced involuntary shivers. John was aching for
the feel of Luka's penis inside him. When he begged for this, Luka
silenced him with a kiss. The resulting disorientation gave Luka time
to continue his slow tour of the body that had haunted his dreams. An
inch at a time, he moved lower.
By now, John's skin glistened with perspiration and Luka's saliva.
Luka took John's testicles into his mouth, savoring their salty taste
as he sucked gently. He felt John's hips begin to move as he tried to
rub himself against source of this maddening pleasure. Luka sat up
and began to massage the long slender legs that had just recently
been twitching against his cheeks. Privately, Luka thought John
resembled the Byzantine-style icons in the churches of his home. The
large dark eyes, long tapering hands and feet... everything was
reminiscent of those solemn saints, including skin that was the color
of antique ivory.
"Please Luka, I'll die if you don't have me." John's voice seemed to
come from the depths of his body. "Please."
Luka smiled at John's face flushed with arousal and moved upward to
distract him with another kiss. John never should have told him about
the "elevator effect". Speechless once more, John sighed feeling as
if his all of his breath was leaving his body. The feel of Luka's
fingers applying lubricant to his anus brought all of his breath back
in one deep, sudden gasping inhalation. Then all sensation stopped.
John opened his eyes to see Luka opening a condom packet. Meeting his
husband's gaze, he silently telegraphed his gratitude in a tender
smile. Luka prepared himself slowly, his eyes never leaving John's
face. He took John's legs in his arms as if they were the handles of
a wheel barrow. After positioning John's hips against his own thighs,
he guided the head of his cock into the narrow opening.
His eyes shining, John breathed a long drawn out "Yessss" as Luka
began to thrust slowly, each time penetrating a little deeper into
the tightness and incredible heat. Luka was taking his revenge for
John's prolonged torture session on the plane. He had refined John's
technique by the simple expedient of withdrawing completely after
every fifth thrust and sliding his penis over John's sensitive anal
opening then reinserting himself to begin anew. The frustration
combined with the pleasure had John tossing his head, grinding it
into the pillow. A long inchoate moaning issued from his parted lips.
He knew he was losing his mind.
Just when John thought he'd have to threaten Luka with bodily harm to
get him to finish the job he was taking an eternity to bring to its
conclusion, Luka commenced to pound into him. This energetic coda
provided the fitting end to the erotic adagio that preceded it. John
felt Luka's hands on his penis moving in time with his powerful
loins. "Harder, Luka. Fuck my brains out!" When Luka heard John's
guttural demands, he grinned. He'd finally brought John to the point
where the usual romantic endearments were no longer possible. This
was passion at its most elemental level. The veils of civilized
existence had been stripped away. As his orgasm possessed him, John
lost the power of coherent speech. He was gibbering like an idiot as
his entire body trembled. Mere seconds later, Luka gave a wordless
shout of triumph as he too lost his higher brain functions.
John lay as if he were dead. His mind was floating, disconnected from
the rest of him. Finally he summoned the strength to open his eyes to
see Luka stretched out, his legs hanging off the end of the bed. On
his third try John managed to sit up and move to where Luka was
lying. Putting his head on the heaving chest, oblivion took him once
more.
* * * * *
The flight back to Chicago was quiet. Both men slept knowing they'd
return to work in three days. The limo was waiting when they landed.
Luka agreed with John, money did come in handy at times. The usual
hassles of commercial travel were noticeably absent when you had your
own plane and chauffeured transportation. As they rode through the
city, Luka smiled anticipating John's face when Roland's last wedding
gift was revealed.
When the car passed their exit on the expressway, John wanted to know
what was going on.
"I want you to look at a place that might be more suitable for us."
Luka explained. It will only take a few minutes. It's got a great
view and at night it's even better." John nodded sleepily.
Five minutes later, the car stopped in front of an older apartment
building. The grey stonework gleamed dully in the misty light from
the street lamps. The concierge buzzed them in and Luka led the way
to the elevator.
They rode to the tenth floor in silence. When they reached the door
of the apartment, Luka produced a key and let them in. John's eyes
widened in surprise. All of the furniture from their place was
arranged in the commodious living room. Luka grinned as John went
through the suite of large high-ceilinged rooms. The dining room was
unfurnished as was the second bed- and bathrooms. The master bedroom
was large with two floor-to-ceiling windows and featured Luka's green
silk comforter on a brand new king-size bed. To the right, a second
door led into a beautifully appointed bathroom that inlcuded both a
tub and glassed-in shower stall.
"Do you like it?" Luka asked.
"I love it! But can we afford it?"
"I should think so. Your family owns the building."
John frowned. "I don't want them trying to buy us into anything."
"They're not. I explained to your father that we would be willing to
act as on-call emergency physicians for our neighbors when we're
home. Most of them are elderly. In lieu of a salary, we will be
allowed to pay the same rent on this place we paid for our old one."
"I think my father is suffering from a bad case of guilty
conscience." John said slowly. "There was nothing wrong with the old
place." Luka wrapped his arms around himself and began chewing on his
thumbnail. John knew what this meant. He'd often seen Luka standing
like this at work while waiting for lab results he knew would contain
bad news.
"Sascha, what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry. I assumed you'd feel as I do. I forgot you didn't spend
months in our apartment wondering whether I was alive or dead." Luka
said softly he didn't want to sound as if he was reproaching John.
Yet, he couldn't help but feel sad that for once, their unity of
thought had failed them. He tried to smile, but somehow, his eyes
filled instead.
John softly put his arms around his husband. "Oh, God. I'm sorry
Luka. I wasn't thinking clearly." John said in a low voice. He *had*
forgotten, or had allowed himself to forget. "It's just I'm used to
my family giving with one hand and taking with everything else. I
know they feel bad about what happened to us. I didn't want them to
think I was going to use it as grounds for emotional blackmail." John
was silent for a moment. "You really suffered while I was away." It
was not a question.
"I survived Janaskja, but it was hard." Luka admitted. "Everything in
that apartment reminded me of you and of us together. When you first
disappeared I couldn't stand being in it. I stayed at County. The
second night after you came back was the first time I'd slept in our
bed since you left. You really didn't mind living there after all
that happened?"
"Not at all." John said honestly. "I'm ashamed to say I was just so
glad to be with you... to be home. I didn't stop to think. But I do
understand how you feel. I was taken away; forced into new
surroundings without you. So, I remembered our time together there as
if it was Eden before the serpent got busy. It was the place where
you first told me you loved me; where we first made love. If you had
been the one... If I had been left there to wait not knowing... I'm
sure I'd feel exactly as you do. I am truly sorry, husband." John
reached up and placed his hand on Luka's cheek. "Poor Sascha. I
should have been with you, to help you through that awful time."
Luka smiled crookedly. "If you had been there, we wouldn't be here
discussing how bad I felt."
"Point. Anyway, I *do* love this apartment. I've spent so much time
worrying about how my family would react to our loving each other, I
kinda lost sight of the fact that *you* are my family now. 'Forsaking
all others...' I believe was the phrase. My family is no longer
treating me like a leper. But here I am still waiting for the other
shoe to drop." John smiled slyly. "Why don't we help the chauffeur
bring up our luggage then see how firm that mattress is?"
"You're sure?"
"I'm certain."
"John, I don't want you doing this just to accommodate me. I want us
*both* to be happy here."
"Beloved, provided you were with me, a refrigerator carton on top of
a heating grate would be a palace. Besides, we can turn the extra
bedroom into a nursery." They headed to the elevator.
"What?"
"Sascha, with all that's happened to us recently, I may yet wind up
pregnant. We might make an appearance on Jerry Springer after all."
"You're nuts. You know that don't you?" Luka laughed as the elevator
descended.
"Yep. But I'm seeing a therapist."
That night, John was the one who lay awake. They'd literally broken
in their new bed. Thanks to Luka's energetic love-making, the
footboard fell off and onto the floor. Now, Luka was stretched out
beside him, his breath whistling softly through his parted lips. John
realized that he'd been forced into breaking a promise: to be Luka's
anchor when he required one. All during those hellish months, John
had been kept from the man he loved when he was truly needed. Luka's
reminder of that time and how he'd been alone had badly shaken his
husband. As he sat looking at the person with whom he would spend the
rest of his life, John vowed that he would never allow anything to
part them again.
* * * * *
John and Luka went back to work two days later. Their colleagues
teased them at first about the wedding and the honeymoon. Then things
settled down quickly into a comfortable routine. Thanks to Kerry re-
arranging their schedules, the couple had at least two weekends off
together every five weeks or so. They spent their spare time shopping
for items to completely furnish their apartment.
One morning, six months after the wedding, he came to work alone.
Luka had the late shift. John hurried to his locker grinning as he
remembered Luka taking him on their new dining room table, bringing a
whole new meaning to the term: "power breakfast". He pulled open the
door and a letter fluttered out.
"Janaskja, to my deep regret; when you were taken away, I had a
letter from you to comfort and sustain me but had failed to provide
you with one of your own. I'd been meaning to write you in return but
I stupidly assumed in a country where there are no bombs falling, you
would always be there. And, as you said with your gift for
understatement, 'then your grandfather kind of got in the way.'
"Back home, we aquired the habit of saying good-bye each time as if
it would be the last. Here, despite our work's testimony to the
fragility of life and the status quo, I didn't think to continue
making my farewells count. So, I am now taking the time to tell you
again that I love you. I'll never forget that morning when you ran
out of the house laughing. Those were your last words to me. You will
have no idea how I suffered remembering that I did not reply in kind;
thinking you may have gone to an unmarked grave without my saying for
one last time how much you mean to me. Since then, you may have
noticed I'm always telling you. I never want to risk again being
separated without your being sure of my feelings for you.
"John Truman Carter, I love you with all of my being... in the words
of the English poet: 'to the height and depth and breadth my soul can
reach.' I know I've told you that your gentleness and sensitivity are
very special to me; but I love your strength even more. You have
endured sorrow and pain and yet can still smile at me with genuine
joy in being alive. Dearest husband, I thank God for not letting you
leave County. I thank you for waiting for me. I thank you for giving
your heart into my keeping. I promise I will cherish and protect it
and to the end of my days. I shall never let it go. Sascha."
Kerry came into the locker room and was surprised to see John
laughing and crying all at once. "Are you OK?" She'd been prepared
for a reaction to his abduction at some point.
Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. John smiled. "I'm fine. I
was just reading a letter from my husband."
"Newly-weds." Kerry observed drily.
"Yep. We've got it pretty bad. Terminal, actually. Although, I don't
think even death will put a stop to what we feel for each other."
John smiled and put the letter in his shirt pocket. "Why don't we see
a few patients?" Holding the door for his boss, John followed her out
to the board.
That weekend, John and Luka joined Roland and Millicent for dinner.
Luka still secretly resented that it took John's disappearance to
bring his family to the point where they could appreciate just how
special his husband was. Nevertheless, he thanked God that John's
family finally seemed to recognize his worth.
"So have you two settled in?"
"Yeah, Gamma. Our neighbors are pretty neat." John replied. The best
thing about having elderly neighbors, was their hearing losses. He
and Luka made a lot of noise on occasion even without shaking the bed
to bits.
"That's good, dear." Millicent had recently returned from Arizona
where she had serenely tortured her husband with a detailed
enthusiastic account of John's wedding. Watching Luka watching her
grandson made her smile remembering her own youth. She was confident
that her grandson would never be disappointed as she had been. Robert
Carter was a deluded fool if he thought he could have made John
renounce this kind of happiness and fulfillment.
"You're looking pensive, Millicent." Luka teased. "What surprise are
you hatching now?"
Millicent Carter gave her son-in-law a piercing stare. "Has Roland
been talking to you?"
"No ma'am."
"Talking about what?" John wanted to know.
"Your future, dear."
Oh-oh, here it comes. John braced himself. Luka immediately noted the
change in his husband's posture and took his hand beneath the table.
"John. Your father and I have decided to restore your trust fund."
"You don't have to do that, Gamma. Things are fine as they are." John
said quietly but with conviction. He'd told Luka that at some point
this offer would be made and both men had agreed immediately their
reply would be "Thank you, but no, thank you."
"Please listen, John. I too, am ashamed of my absent husband's
shennanigans. But that is not why your father and I decided to do
this. We are not trying to buy your love. Fortunately, you *gave* it
to us even before we could show you how much we appreciated it and
you. You've made all of us quite proud." She paused to sip some
wine. "However, as recent events have shown, things happen. Your
father and I would feel a lot better if we knew there was a source of
income for you and Luka besides your salaries. That way, you'll never
have to worry."
"Thank you, Gamma." John looked at Luka, who nodded. "We can't accept
your offer. However, I *have* been thinking what I would do with that
kind of money if I ever hit the lottery." John grinned. Luka turned
to look at him. Now, what was John up to?
"What would you do?" Roland was also extremely curious.
"Well, inspite of everything, that place they kept me in was quite
nice. I was thinking that if you weren't *forced* to stay there, it
would make a great vacation resort. Particularly for people who need
medical care after surgery or who are being treated for serious
illnesses. There's this woman at County; on the janitorial staff. Her
son has sickle-cell anemia. She could never afford to go someplace
like that for a real vacation, her son's meds cost too much. Just
think..." John's eyes were shining. "We could work it like Habitat
for Humanity. The guests at our resort could pay for their vacations
by volunteering to work there for two weeks one year: a kind of 'half
vacation', then take two weeks the following year for the real thing.
With good planning, the guests would fill most of the staff
positions."
"Secretaries, janitors, orderlies, nurses, file clerks; these folks
don't make a lot of money. I'm sure they'd jump at the chance to get
away from the city and the best part is it wouldn't be charity.
They'd work for their time there as guests. With a few paying
customers like me and Luka to make sure there was adequate medical
care, who knows, the place just might make a small profit."
"You'd be willing to go back to that place?" Luka was surprised.
"Sure. Why not? I told you, it wasn't so bad apart from the fact I
was forced to stay there without you. But you'd be there, the guards
and all the other security stuff wouldn't." John explained. "If you
guys like the idea, name the place after my brother. His name should
be on something that people can use. There are plenty of families out
there with sick relatives, who don't have our resources. This would
be for them." John finished his rapid-fire explanation and exhaled.
There was total silence. Finally Roland spoke. "Son. I think it's a
marvellous idea. The Robert Alexander Carter Memorial Rest Home. I
like the sound of that."
"So do I." Millicent beamed her approval at John. I'll get the
Foundation started on it right away."
Luka looked at his husband's smiling face in quiet wonder. The
slender, almost skinny body was home to a heart that had no limits to
its capacity for love and compassion. He made a mental note, to take
very good care of this precious charge... very good care indeed.
... and they lived happily ever after.
The End
Authori's Notes:
Thank you everyone for your kind comments, suggestions, and
enthusiasm. I don't know about other fan fiction authors; but for me,
once in a great while a set of characters and their environs reach
out and grab hold of my imagination and refuse to let go. This story
was a study in wish-fulfillment (and then some) and the loveliest
part is, it doesn't have to end. If the writers of our show of shows,
don't supply us with what we want, we can make it happen for
ourselves.
Everytime, I see Noah Wyle and the beard, I think, Carter'll be going
home to Walter Skinner (sigh). When the magnificent Paul McCrane
bounds into a scene, I know Dave Malucci is the reason for the bounce
in Romano's steps (big grin). All during the final episodes of last
season, I amused myself imagining Abby sneaking over to Kerry's house
for something "hot and sweet" while Carter and Kovac did the
horizontal hokey-pokey in the Doug and Carol Commemorative Supply
Room.
So as *my* story draws to it's happy close, get out your keyboards,
pens, or pencils and start writing. There's lots of stories to tell
and I can't wait to see where you'll take the staff of County for
their next adventure. I've had the time of my life. KP
Copyright Footer', 'This site is not affiliated in any way with "ER", its writers or production company, or NBC, and makes no profit from the show. The ERROS skin is by Brihana. The script is eFiction version 3.4.2© Tammy Keefer, http://efiction.org\r\n