Discovering the Unknown
Chapter 10
By Angel Love
"Steve still not answering his cell?" Rob asked.
"No, and I am becoming worried. It's not like him to have it turned off. His parents did not give it to him for his convenience, but to keep track of him. He would never turn it off."
I had been trying to call Steve all morning, even before Rob picked me up for work. We were both beat after being out all night so he came by with his truck opting that instead of riding our bikes.
"Do you want to stop for lunch?"
"Could we just finish this last job then we can grab something on the way home? I'd like to go over to Steve's as soon as I can."
"Sure thing Jamie, in fact I'm a little concerned myself. Mind if I tag along when you go see Steve?"
"K."
An hour and a half later we were pulling up in front of Steve's home. I think we were both a little more concerned than we wanted to admit. I never thought about lunch when we finished and if Rob did he never mentioned it. I gave Rob a nervous little grin as I got out of the truck.
"If Steve is totally pissed at me I will never forgive myself."
"Don't worry Bud, Steve is too big a man for that."
I fidgeted from one foot to the other waiting for someone to answer the door bell, after a few moments I rang the buzzer again. Still no answer.
"Come on, let's go around back and see if Steve's bike is in the shed."
Rob was close behind when I opened the lawn shed, Steve's bike was gone but his cell was on the floor. That is what was left of it. I stooped down to pick it up and was startled when a small amount of blood stained my hand.
"Rooob...O my god!"
Rob took the dangling pieces of phone from me than began examining the rest of the small metal building.
"Here is some more blood on the floor and on the door handle."
"O! Rob...something is terribly wrong...I just know it."
Rob's arm came around my shoulders and he was suddenly in his take-charge mode. And at that moment I was more than willing to let him do it.
"Come on Jamie we are going to find out just what has been going on around here!"
He almost pushed me out the small door, and then he took my hand and led me back to the front of the house. Mother was just pulling into the Mitchell's driveway as we rounded the corner of the house.
"Jamie...Rob I'm so glad to see you. Have you seen Steven?"
"No Mrs. Rusher and we are a little concerned..."
"Mom...Mom! Look..."
I held Steve's battered phone, and my blood stained hand out for Mom to see.
"O god...," Mom gasped. "I was afraid something was wrong."
"Mom please what's the matter?"
"I don't know Honey...Steven's mother called me earlier screaming so many obscenities I could not understand everything she was saying, something about getting even with everyone. I came over just as soon as I got off the phone because I was fearful for Steven but there was no one here, this is the fourth or fifth time I have been back."
The squeal of tires startled all of us. I turned just in time to see Mrs. Mitchell jump out of their car before her husband could bring it to a complete stop.
"You perverted little son-of-a-bitch you!" She was screaming at the top of her voice as she charged across the front lawn straight at me. "I'll kill you...you...damn queer."
I was so startled by her actions I failed to notice the small child's baseball bat she had in her hand. She started flailing it at me with all her strength. I managed to get my hands and arms up to protect my face and head but the blows still landed with unbelievable force. Both Rob and Mom were quick to respond and dragged her off me. I was down on my knees by the time Rob could wrestle the bat away from her. It took both he and Mom to subdue her on the ground. However, my problems were far from over, Steve's father came up behind me and grabbed me by the hair of the head bending my head back so I was looking straight into the blinding sun. All I could see was the harsh glair and a huge fist coming straight at my face and then everything went black.
I found out later what happened after that. His first punch rendered me unconscious, but he continued to pummel me with his fists. Unconscious and laying on the ground he than turned his attention to using his feet kicking me in the side and the head with all his might. The neighbor next door and one across the street saw what was happening and came to my rescue.
I was just regaining consciousness as the paramedics were loading me in the emergency squad. Mom was holding my hand and crying softly and I could see Rob behind her and his face was stained with tears.
"Mom..." but I could hardly get the word out.
"OK Dear, OK...they are taking you to the hospital."
"Steve..." I whispered.
Rob stepped up and took my other hand, "We don't know yet big guy, but we will find him."
I tried to get off the gurney but the strong hands of the paramedics held me in place. "Just take it easy young man; you may have some broken ribs."
"But...but..." I tried to protest but the strength was just not there.
Rob leaned in and pecked me full on the lips, "You let them take care of you...and we will find Steve...I promise."
Tears started filling my eye when I noticed Steve's parents being lead toward a police car their hands cuffed behind their backs. Rob patted my hand again as they place me into the back of the ambulance. When the door close I felt like I had been quarantined from everyone who loved me.
I had always wondered as a little kid how it would be to ride in an ambulance with the lights flashing and the siren screaming. Now that it was happing for real I can tell you it is not any fun. I hurt so many places I didn't know what or where I hurt the most.
At the hospital I was poked and prodded in the ER and very unceremoniously relieved of all my clothing and covered only with a sheet. Then it was off to the x-ray room. Mom was waiting just outside when they wheeled my gurney back into the hallway.
"How you feeling Son?"
"I'll be fine Mom...don't worry." It hurt to even speak.
"But that is what us Mothers do best is worry." Mom tried to smile but I could see the pain on her face.
"Steve..."
"Rob is out with the police right now. I have your cell; he will call just as soon as they know something."
I was taken back to the ER where a handsome young doctor met me.
"Well young man seems you have had a very interesting afternoon."
I tried to smile but I do not think it looked very impressive.
"I have some good knew. First, your ribs are not broken but three are cracked. They are going to be sore for sometime, but some of the pain should lessen once we get your chest wrapped securely. Secondly, you do have a concussion. I want you in the hospital over night, perhaps two. We will decide on that later once we see how you are doing."
"But...but..."
"No buts Son, I know what you want and I want it too. But right now you have to get better before you can help Steven."
Mom patted my shoulder than gave me a kiss on the forehead. A nurse came into the room and beckoned to Mother.
"Ma'am, we need you to fill out some paper work while they are tending to Jamie you can see him in his room shortly."
It was getting dark outside when Mom finally came to my room. My head hurt more than I ever though possible and the bandages on my ribs were so tight I could hardly breath. But the doctor had told me it was necessary, he wanted as little movement on my ribs as possible for the first couple of days.
"Sorry Son, it took so long with the paper work then the police wanted to talk with me."
"Why?"
"About Steven..."
"They found him?"
"No...not yet. They just wanted to know if I knew anything, especially after they found out about the Mitchell's past history of abuse and the powers the courts had given me."
"Mom...do you think...do you think they hurt Steve?"
"I don't know Honey...I just don't know."
"But the broken phone and the blood...Mom something has happened to Steve, I just know it."
A soft knock on my door caused us both to look in that direction. The door slowly opened and Rod peeked around the edge.
"Hi big guy...you still in one piece?"
I held both arms out to him and he hurried to my bedside and gave me a big hug. Well that was until I flinched like crazy and moaned a little. OK a bunch, damn it hurt just to get a hug from my best friend.
"Steve...did you find Steve?"
Rob just nodded his head 'no' than sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Rob you just can't quit looking!"
"We're not Buddy, believe me we're not. The police will be out all night following every lead they can come up with. And I will be back out in the morning. I just need your help, I'm not acquainted that much with this area. Do you have any ideas where he might have gone, if he is traveling on his own?"
"No...but his parent must know!"
"The officer I was with all afternoon said they refused to even talk. They can't get a thing out of them."
"Rob what did you mean when you said traveling on his own?"
"Jamie I have only known you guys a short time but I just don't think Steve is a guy to just take off even if he was abused again."
"Why would they do something like this to Steve, and to me? WHY?"
"I think I might know..."
We all looked at the door to see Billy Payton sheepishly grinning at us. He stepped into the room like he thought he might get bitten. I held my hand out to him and smiled. He came over and took my hand then leaned over to give me a hug.
"Just a little one," I chuckled. "Kind of sore yet."
Billy was so gentle it made me feel warm allover.
"You said you might know, know what?" Rob asked.
"Well...I think I know why Steve's parents went off the deep end."
"So!"
I could tell Rob was becoming anxious. I reached over and squeezed his hand.
"Jamie, I'm so sorry..."
"About what?" I whispered.
"Mainly about last night. I didn't have enough guts to stand up to Susie and her friend and tell them to just grow up. I wanted to be a part of their group so bad I was willing to side in with anything they said."
"Billy...," Rob's voice was none to kind.
Again I squeezed his hand and smiled at him. "Rob...just give Billy a chance, K?"
Rob gave me a disgusted look but he turned and sat back down on my bed.
"Jamie a lot of us know...or at least we suspect..."
"Know what?"
"Well...we think we know anyway that you and Steve are...well...kind of extra special friends." Then he added quickly, "But we really don't mind, we think it is kind of cool."
I think my mouth must have fallen open at what he just said because he smiled at me so sweetly.
"Jamie, I was being a total prick last night at Mickey Ds. I went along with Susie and her fucked up friends...O! I'm sorry Mrs. Rusher." Mom looked at him and only smiled. "I just wanted to be accepted was all. But I know now being accepted if it's with the wrong crowd isn't worth it. Jamie, Susie McGuire is the one who told Steve's parents about you guys."
"Why?" Rob took the word right out of my mouth.
"Because her and her little clan of followers are so homophobic they stink."
"And you suddenly are not?" Rob almost spit the words.
"Rob please I just wanted to fit with the ones who have always been my friends. I...I use to be just as bad...but I started watching Jamie and Steve and I saw how happy they are and I suddenly realized that they are no different now than they were before I began to suspect. Jamie I'm sorry...if only I would have stood up to her last night she might not have gone to Steve's parents this morning."
"I doubt that would have stopped her," Mom said softly. "Some people just have to have their way even if it hurts others."
It was suddenly as if the light came on in Billy's head that Mom may not know. "Jamie...did I say something wrong...I mean..."
Mom chuckled softly, "No Billy everything is cool, I've know much longer than you. Let's just not spread it around for right now though. It's not that I am ashamed of Jamie, in fact I love him dearly, he just does not need anymore problems right now."
"You can count on me Ma'am, when Jamie is ready that will be his decision not mine I have learned my lesson believe you me."
Rob shifted slightly on the edge of my bed, "Just what happened this morning then?"
"Well Susie insisted I take her over to see Steve's parent. I had no idea what she planned to do. When we were walking up to the front door she told me, 'I'll get even with that queer since you don't have the guts to do it.' I was shocked at what she said and just stood there like I had lost my mind. When Mrs. Mitchell came to the door Susie did not waste any time she just blurted out, 'I came to tell you about your Son, something I think you need to know and put a stop to.' Mrs. Mitchell looked stunned at what she heard but Susie never gave her a chance to answer. 'Your Steven is a queer and he has a boyfriend, Jamie Rusher my friends and I have seen them together and it is disgusting.'"
Billy stopped and breathed deeply; I think he had made his entire statement without taking a breath. He knelt down beside my bed and stroked the side of my face.
"Jamie, I'm so sorry...I have no idea what I said I think I just stood there in disbelief but I have worried about it all day. I think I may have mumbled something that sounded like I was agreeing with what Susie was telling her."
Mom came over and took Billy in her arms. "Billy please don't blame yourself, please don't you are a fine young man for coming here tonight and admitting you were wrong to judge Jamie and Steven. Just be proud of yourself for that."
Billy turned and threw his arms around Mother and began weeping. When Billy was in control of himself again Mom pulled her chair close to me.
"I wasn't going to show you this till later, but when we were struggling with Mrs. Mitchell this came out of her apron pocket."
Mom handed me a piece of crumpled paper.
"When things calmed down she told me they had searched Steven's room after Susie left and they found this. That was when they knew she was telling the truth, at least her part of the truth."
I took the wadded up paper and unfolded it slowly, as I read my eyes filled with tears and sobs shook my body. It did not matter if each sob caused my ribs to ache I just did not care. As soon as I reached the bottom of the hand written note I read it again:
O to see him each day
i will go out of my way
O to see his angelic face
an for a glimpse of his grace
does he know I love him
O life without him is grim
I know he likes boys
O just to be his toy
O years of being so close
my heart is now exposed
O forced to walk so far away
Jamie please don't keep me at bay
I see him look at another
O he sees me as a brother
alas to help him find his love
O to lose my beloved dove
O Jamie I cried for you tonight
first tears I shed since that night
O it hurts to help you find someone new
now I know my love for you has grew
OK, OK so it is not the greatest of poems! I do not imagine he had a lot of time to work on it, only one evening! But it is Steve, my Steve, my beloved Steve whose heart I had broken on my back steps just yesterday afternoon. Rob was right; he would give me up if he thought it would make me happy. Suddenly the tears and crying were uncontrollable, and the pain it generated in my head and ribs was unbearable. I could not stop crying I just wanted my Steve. I do not know when but a nurse came in and gave me a sedative to calm me down. When I awoke the early morning sun was coming through my window. Rob was in a chair on one side of me and Billy was on the other, each held one of my hands and I did not want to even try to decide who had the cutest smile on his face.
"Good morning Big Guy, have a good nights sleep?"
Rob stood to his feet and kissed me full on the lips. I was a little taken back that he would do something like that in front of Billy. When he stepped back I rolled my eyes toward Billy and gave Rob a questioning look.
"Not to worry," Rob chuckled. "Billy and I had a long talk while you were asleep; he understands that just because two guys love each other they are not going to take over the world."
"What?"
Billy chuckled a little and his face turned red, "That's what Susie always said gay people wanted to do was take over the world, and I was stupid enough to believe it."
That was all fine and good that Billy knew I was just another kid like him but right now I had more important things on my mind.
"Steve...have they found Steve."
"No Bud, I just got off the phone with Patrolman Crites. Now that you are awake Billy and I are going to go nose around and see what we can find out."
"I want to go too!" I raised my head and the room spun with sickening speed. "Ouuuuu..."
"You just lay still until the doctor comes. Your Mom gave me your cell I'll call you every hour to let you know what is happening."
"Rob...you have to find Steve for me."
"Not to worry Bud, we will."
Rob leaned down and gave me a kiss and tasseled my hair. "You just rest now...K?"
"K, but what about school guys?"
"O we called in sick," Billy chuckled.
Then he gave me a quick hug and for a brief moment I though he was going to kiss me but he quickly stepped back and joined Rob by the door.
"I though you were going to give me a kiss too...you know I won't bite." I chuckled so Billy would know I was just teasing.
"In your wildest...I think a hug is enough. Come on Rob let's go find Steve before our little friend here gets so horny he humps a rock pile."
I could hear them laughing as they disappeared down the hallway. They were just out of sight when Dr. Stitch walked into my room.
"Well young man how are you feeling this morning?"
"Fine...when can I leave?"
"My doesn't sound like you are enjoying your stay at our fine establishment here?"
"It's not that Doctor, I just have to help find my friend Steve."
"I know Jamie. But first you have to be able to be up and about. Now let's just take a look at you and then we can talk about when you can leave."
Dr. Stitch was very thorough and his bed side manners had me feeling more at ease than at any time since I had gotten here. When he had me stand up the room still had a hard time staying still, but it was not near as bad as just a few minutes before.
"Well," Dr. Stitch began, and I could see a slight smile on his face. "I think perhaps this afternoon would be a good goal for getting you home. I just want one quick scan to make sure there is no bleeding from the scull fracture. If that comes back OK I see no reason you can't go home. But Jamie, you have to promise to take it real easy for at least a week."
"K, Dr. Stitch." I would agree to anything to just get out of here and look for Steve.
When the doctor left I slipped back into bed, that is when I saw it.
"Damn it Rob! You forgot my cell!"
Sure enough my shiny new cell phone was laying on my nightstand. I was furious how was I going to stay on top of our search for Steve when I could not contact Rob and Billy?
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