Fire in the Firehouse 10

Segueing into part 10, recapping part 9.

As Marie laid out plotting her next move, Colby was dealing with the fate of his lover. He balled his eyes out, the paramedics came out of the woods with Mitch lying on a gurney. The captain said nothing, made eye contact with them and the shared look confirmed the news.

Marie had dismissed her fuck toy. She was soaking up the sun and burying herself in her plans and needed no one hovering over her. She was a beautiful woman at one time, but her incessant smoking and drinking had caused her to appear more haggard these days. She piled the cover-up on, used Preparation H to shrink the bags under her eyes, any and all beauty tricks she could get her hands on, she would. She sunned constantly when she could and frequented tanning salons in the off seasons. To say she looked like George Hamilton's younger sister was an understatement. So often she'd bitch about her appearance but when her husband, Colby's Dad even made the slightest mention of her habits she'd go off on him.

When they married, Nick and Marie were quite a stunning couple. Colby got his height from his Dad, 6' 1'' and he himself could've been a model in his youth. Same golden hair as his son and an athletic body to match his stunning looks. They shared the same beautiful eyes, too. Marie was no less attractive at the time. A statuesque 5' 10'' greenish-hazel eyes that was offset by her gorgeous auburn hair. She was not the typical milky-skinned red head. She was gifted with the ability to tan. Hence her time in the sun. They formed the typical American family on the outside. Behind closed doors the marriage had been on the rocks for ages.

Nick had always wanted to tell Colby about his birth Mother Tori. Marie wouldn't hear of it. In part out of guilt that she beat Colby at times when he misbehaved or often times just because and part out of jealousy. Her distaste for kids was rooted in the fact she'd been in a car accident as a teen and wasn't not physically able to bare children. The accident caused no real lasting damage, sans the ability not to have children. In part, she resented Colby because she felt she should be able to give Nick more children. And she was jealous of their bond. All these matters and more are what pushed her into drinking and gambling and down the road of personal and self destruction.

Marie laid there on her lounge chair self absorbed as usual. She began getting lost in her vindictive and destructive ideas. A light and very warm breeze whisked through the trees as they swayed in response. Birds sang their happy, meaningless songs as Marie guzzled more of her drink before succumbing to the alcohol and passing out. Luckily one of the men she hired was there to place an umbrella over her so as she'd not get third degree burns in the ravishing heat.

Nick was away on a business trip as he often was. He worked extra long hours so as to make more money to keep their heads above water and in part to stay clear of his wife now that his son had moved out. Divorce was looming. Just a matter of when.

Nick, funny as it seemed, rarely talked about his job, only to say its boring office work. That was the gist of it. If Colby or any one else put two and two together and realized he was an executive vice president of IBM the questions of money and where it was and had gone to would begin. He felt awful hiding the truth from his son. He had no way of knowing of his son's dilemma as Marie had practically brainwashed Colby. Most times she convinced him he caused the beatings and when she went off on tangents she'd cover them up with goodies, treats and toys to hide the abusive scars. The physical scars were covered up as accidents while playing. And chances were, had Nick known, he'd have been right there helping his son get through this emotional time.

Colby stood holding the man respectfully known as Dad with tears pouring down his face. He trembled as the heat abused his body. In a small corner of his mind he could feel it burning. But there was much more on his mind. Joe brushed his hair out of his young fireman's face, leaned in and kissed his brow. No feelings of a sexual nature. A kiss like a Father would give a son, full of comfort and compassion. Colby's mind raced, heart beating like mad. His stomach was in a tizzy. His knees shook at the news. He could barely focus. The news tore through his heart like a man learning he was about to be a Dad.

Mitch was going to make it. He was just rendered unconscious, a few slight burns, but need to be admitted to the hospital for tests. Colby felt reborn at the news. Capt. Joe walked Colby over to the ambulance, opened the door and spoke to the paramedics. "You'll be having a tagalong. These two are," he paused, glared deep into Colby's eyes. It had been ages since he saw a bond so strong. It gently reminded him of what he once had and made him ache again for the child he'd lost. He knew their love was timeless. "These two are like brothers and I'm not allowing them to be apart." The paramedics said nothing, smiled and welcomed the fairer headed man aboard.

As the ambulance sped off for the hospital to run tests on Mitch, Capt. Joe knew he could no longer keep the two men on conflicting shifts. He wanted to help them any way possible to get their love to grow. They were two of his finest and he appreciated seeing two young men in such love with one another.

Colby reached over and grabbed Mitch's hand. He chose his words carefully so as to not raise suspicions. "Well, bro. You sure did do a good job of scaring the shit out of me today. You're the closest thing I have to a brother and if you left me today, I'd never forgive ya. Ya goofy son of a bitch." 

The paramedic that sat with them smiled and laughed and commented. "You two pretty close?" He was picking up no sense of love between them, sans one that seemed normal. If he had, he certainly made no indication.

Colby smiled, a few tears streaming, "Yeah. I have no siblings and he's become my best friend and brother and we've gotten damn close and I can't picture life without him. And came pretty close to losing him today. Guess God was watching him for me." The emergency vehicle continued to head towards the hospital, no sirens. There was no immediate danger.

They traveled on to the hospital for Mitch to get checked out, while Marie was plotting her diabolical scheme at home as she had recently woken up. As she laid sunning an idea was born into her devious mind. She softly spoke to herself. "I know exactly what to do. We'll go out to dinner and I'll grill Colby with questions. I need a crafty way to get him to bring his boyfriend." The word boyfriend was brimming with sarcasm and cruel intent. The red headed vixen took pleasure in bringing misery to Colby.

Soon the middle aged woman made her way inside to email her stepson. She rummaged through her emails. Soon she saw one that truly caught her eye. It was one from Colby. Even though she treated him horribly bad, the man that was under the delusion that this bitter creature was his Mom, he treated her with no disrespect. How Colby could love and be so sweet when raised so abused truly was a testament to his character.

She began reading the letter to see what, if any possible info she could garner to use against her stepson in her attempt to humiliate him. It was her wish to get Colby out of his Father's life and get to more of the family savings so she could continue funding her habits. Not that Colby needed the money, but she knew what Nick did for a living and she wanted access to the nest egg and money set aside for Colby. She wanted to shower herself with as many luxuries as she could. And there were a few procedures she wanted to look more youthful again.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I had to email, been very busy. I hate being reduced to communicating in such a fashion, but I want to keep in contact. How are things? How are you? All's well here. Mitch and I are preparing for a visit from Drake. It'll be nice to have my two best friends meet. Like my past and future coming together. Maybe we can all get together for old times sake. 

Marie read a few more lines, she could hardly believe her luck. Mitch had to be the one he was secretly with. When Colby had made mention of he and Mitch getting a place prior to this there was no cause for alarm of their love for one another. It seemed normal enough. This played right into her hands. And she'd have the fortune of blowing the lid off things right in front of Drake as well. Things definitely seemed to be going her way. 

Meanwhile Mitch and Colby had arrived via ambulance to the hospital. Mitch was still out of it. He was put in a room and was left alone with Colby. No one minded because for all they knew, they were coworkers and the lighter haired man was there just to see how his partner came out of things and what the test results were. Firemen coming to the hospital with fellow firemen that had gotten injured was commonplace.

Mitch was comfortable in bed. IV tubes and all the other varying tubes hooked up to him. Colby gazed at his lover. His mind raced with various scenarios that could've just as easily transpired that day. They were both lucky. Colby wondered if there were a next time one of them got hurt would they be this fortunate to get out? Was it right being so in love and in their line of work. Soon his mind became overloaded and he dozed off.

A few hours went by, the staff had no problem with Colby staying through the night. They'd told him over dinner it was fine. Before dinner, Mitch's doctor came in and informed him of the news about his lover. Mitch would come to soon, but he'd be temporarily blind, like a flash fire thing. His eyes were bandaged as he laid still.