"Stuff" Happens

Disclaimer:

This story is totally mine. Copying is entirely unacceptable and illegal. So just read it, review it, and enjoy it only. Okay?


Chapter I


Austin Evans ran down the hallway of the hospital. His heart was racing and his mind was frantic. He was sitting at his cubical at work as a newspaper copywriter, when he got a call from Thompson Memorial, saying that his long-time lover, Max Garner, was being treated. Max was a US Army soldier. Austin was between being excited and worried about seeing Max. Excited, because he had to settle with letters and occasional pictures from him for eighteen months. Worried, because he wasn’t expecting Max for another six, and hoped whatever damage that fell over him wasn’t that serious. But then he’d think, that if the army thought it best to send him back home rather than treat him themselves, he must be pretty bad. Nevertheless, this certainly wasn’t the way Austin planned on welcoming Max back home.

Austin found the right room and walked in. He found Max laying in the hospital bed with a tube down his nose. He walked to his unconscious lover and looked him over. He only carried a few scratches on his face and arms, but nothing life threatening. Austin wondered why they brought him home so soon.

A nurse was standing on the other side of the bed, checking the IV. “Don’t worry.” She said to him. “He’ll wake up soon. He’s just out from the medicine we’re giving him.” She smiled. “Are you the emergency contact?”

The brunette looked at her. “Yes. I’m Austin Evans. What happened to him?”

“A grenade went off near the humvee he was in and he flew out. Quite a few yards, from what I was told. Doctors down in Kosovo got him stable enough to send back down here, so he could be given proper treatment.”

Austin scanned Max again, confused. “He doesn’t look badly hurt. But then again, I’m not a doctor. What’s the matter with him?”

“Well......”

Austin frowned. “Well, what?”

“Mr. Garner had severe trauma to his spine during the impact he had falling to the ground. It caused him to lose all feeling in his legs. He’s become a paraplegic.”

Austin gasped before he knew it and placed his hand over his mouth. “What? Is it permanent?”

“His condition has been classified as permanent. BUT, with proper physical therapy and and appropriate rehabilitation procedures, there may be a chance the paralysis could be ameliorated.”

Austin sighed again. He knew that Max was going to need special equipment to get around and prayed that the army would pay for it, because he knew he wouldn’t have the money. The two heard a groan and looked towards the bed to see Max starting to move his head. The nurse gave Austin a “Good luck in telling him” smile and walked out. Max blinked a few times, before his eyes focused on the slender man smiling before him. He cracked a small grin back at him before he knew it. “Hey love.” Austin said as he sat on the edge of the bed and held his partner’s larger hand.

“Hi.” He whispered back. The pain in Max’s spine that went stagnant as he was asleep, came back with full force when he awoke.

Austin saw him suddenly wince. “Does your back hurt?”

“Like hell.”

“Well, I talked to your doctor when I got here. He said you would be in pain for a while, but it wouldn’t last.”

“Yeah.” Max caught this confused look on his face and he looked at Austin with sparkling brown eyes. “I can’t feel my legs.”

Austin placed a hand atop Max’s black military cut hair and rubbed gently. He opened his mouth to speak countless times, but each time he couldn’t find the words.

“Please tell me I’m not paralyzed.” Max pleaded.

Water came to the brunette’s hazel eyes. “The nurse said that it’s a possibility that you could recover, with exercise and rehab. We just.....” He stopped, when he saw the muscular man turn his head straight up again to look up at the ceiling. A single tear came down both the soldier’s eyes. “I’m sorry, baby.”

Max didn’t speak the rest of his time at the hospital. Not even the pain in his back could get a word out of him.

************

During the days where Max was still at the hospital, Austin got their small vinyl siding home prepared for his love. The army paid for the medical bills and all the items Max would need to get around, i.e.; wheelchair, ramps, and harness to hold him up in the shower.

Austin wondered as he drove to the hospital to take Max home. He wondered how in the world would he be able to put up with this for, well.......... the rest of his life. They promised themselves to each other a couple months before Max was sent off, in a small and private ceremony between the two of them. Will he able to handle all the work that’s put into caring for a paraplegic? And what about the attitude and mood swings Max had been starting to go through? At times, he could get right contentious. Why would he want to put himself through all that? *Why?* Austin thought. *Because I love him.*

He helped Max into his jeans, t-shirt, and green army jacket, and wheeled him out and into his gray ‘99 Jeep Cherokee. “You glad you’re finally out of there?” Austin asked as he drove.

“........”

“I’m sure the food they were giving you was enough to make you want to pay your way out.”

“........”

“ARE you hungry? Do you want me to stop somewhere before we get home? It doesn’t matter. I have food at home too, if you want me to........”

“No. I just want you to stop talking for five minutes.” Max snapped. His face still looking out the window. Austin sighed and stayed quiet the rest of the ride home.

*Only because I love him. Only because I love him. Only because I love him.* Was what Austin kept saying to remind himself of why he was going to put himself through what looked like a lifetime of forthcoming bullshit.

Max and Austin were all each other had. Surprisingly enough, they became fast friends when they lived with other kids in the children’s institution. Both coming there when they were school starting age, they were pretty much told that they wouldn’t be popular choices for perspective parents. Adopting older children wasn’t an option, when they could adopt young toddlers that would adjust to them easily.

Austin turned out to be the mischievous one-putting together schemes to play on the other kids- and Max was always the one to tell a well played out lie about how it ‘wasn’t them’ that put food color in Timmy’s hair or glued Miss Fuller to the seat. Because they were the same age and clicked so well, they always looked out for each other. Mostly Max looking out for Austin, for Max was always the bigger of the two.

There was one time when they were twelve, Max found Austin balled up in the corner of their room crying his heart out. Austin told him that the headmaster, Mr. Opel, beat him with his belt when he refused to believe that Austin had nothing to do with his new coat being drenched in water in his office. What Mr. Opel neglected to recall was that he left his coat near the window he left open as he got ready to leave for an errand. He also forgot the weatherman reported a large amount of rain for that day.

Max was ready to spit fire. He stormed down the stairs and down the dark hall to Mr. Opel’s office and yelled at the man. Accusing him of being an oaf and mindless -which was true- he pulled back a fist and socked him one good time in his nose, busting it bloody.

The relationship didn’t progress into something more romantic until Austin hooked up with Max when he turned eighteen and was officially put out the institution. They roomed together again in a very cramped apartment in town. Austin grew out of his skinny, lanky frame and Max started to fill out with weight training.

One night during a storm, the power went out. They sat together in the livingroom, lit candles, and that was where Max expressed his love for Austin. He also told him that he knew Austin felt something for him too. Austin kept denying it, saying that it wasn’t true and that it would be wrong for them to become lovers. Eventually, the squabbling turned into a chase around the small apartment. Max caught Austin and brought him down to the floor in the bedroom they shared with two single beds. Max got to kiss the smaller squirming boy a few times, even got as far as pulling his pants down and fingering him with two greased digits. Austin wouldn’t admit that he liked it, even though his cock stood fully erect, and he pried himself away; running down the dark hallway, while trying to pull his pants back up. But Max caught him again and slammed him against the hallway wall. Too eager to bother with removing clothes, Max pulled Austin’s pants down past his ass, opened his own jeans, and fucked Austin nearly through the wall. The moaning and groaning got so loud between the two, their neighbors downstairs grabbed a broomstick and starting hitting the ceiling.

They made love three more times before the storm was over.

They finally made it back home and Austin wheeled the larger man inside their house. Having hardwood floors throughout the place, made moving the chair much easier. “Where do you want me to take you?” The smaller man asked as he removed his coat.

“To the bedroom.” Austin started to walk to him. “But I can take myself.” Max wheeled himself down the hall and into their bedroom. Austin followed and watched from the door as his lover removed his jacket and started to pull himself onto the bed with his arms as the only aid.

He watched him sympathetically as Max struggled to get out the chair and on the bed. “Let me help you.” Austin pleaded.

“No.” Max whispered back as he started to pant. Half of his body was on the bed, but he was having problems getting his lifeless legs out from the chair.

“You’re gonna need help getting around until you can get the hang of it yourself. Let me help you.”

“No, Austin.” Max raised his voice a little higher. Frustration grew on his face as the wheelchair fell out from under him, signaling he didn’t remember to lock the wheels. “Damn it!”

“For goodness sakes, Max.....”

“Shut up, Austin! FUCK! Just get out and leave me alone! I can handle this!”

Austin’s head dropped an inch. Never had Max raised his voice to him before, and it caught him off guard. It also hurt him. The short haired brunette blinked his hazel eyes a few times to keep the tears at bay. He left the bedroom and shut the door softly, leaving Max to himself.

Max finally pulled himself on the bed and smirked at his small accomplishment. But then he looked at the door and it faded, remembering what he said to Austin and how he said it.

************

Austin cursed to himself as the tears started to roll down his smooth olive-toned face. *Shit. I’m crying already and this is only day one. I’m going to have to get a thicker skin if I think I will be able to take care of Max by myself.* He wiped his face with the back of his hand as he stood in the small kitchen, leaning on the counter. *This is going to be so hard. Not just physically but mentally too.* But Austin loved Max too much not to care.

They had known each other for many years and Austin knew Max’s enormous appetite, so he knew his lover was hungry whether the soldier admitted it or not. Austin fixed a sandwich, poured a glass of soda, and carried both down the hall and into their bedroom. Max was still lying on his back, but had fallen asleep. Austin set the plate and glass on the night stand and looked at Max. Just seeing his strong, tan face looking so relaxed, Austin couldn’t help but touch him. He held a soft hand against his cheek and ran his thumb up and down the dark slight stubbles that had grown around his face. He placed a plain kiss on Max’s full lips, before he got up and walked out again. Max cracked open his eyes and watched him leave.

************

It was an odd and quiet night at their house. Neither one having nothing else to say to the other, they just decided to go to bed. Austin finally came back into the bedroom after being in the den watching tv for most of the afternoon. He found Max awake, his shirt off, and was trying to pull off his jeans. Perspiration was forming over his forehead as he pulled one, then the other limp leg out the pants and tossed them on his wheelchair. Austin would’ve helped him get undressed, but decided against it, since Max refused any help. So, he just let him struggle, while he dressed down in his red briefs and black t-shirt.

The couple finally went to sleep that night; Max on his back and Austin on his side. But around 3:45 a.m., Max’s eyes snapped open with a sudden urge to urinate. He threw the covers off him and reached for his wheelchair. When he did grab it, he tossed out his clothes he laid in it earlier, locked the wheels, and proceeded to pull himself into it.

The bathroom was right next door to their room, so it didn’t take him long to get to the toilet. But when he looked at it, he knew he couldn’t get on it. The seat was shorter than his chair and trying to get on it himself, would mean that his chair would fall over. Disgusted and embarrassed, Max sighed. “Austin?” No answer. “Austin?!” Max heard a rustle of sheets, then the padding of feet. Austin cracked the door open and peered in.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m trying to........I need help getting to the seat.” He whispered.

“Ok.” Austin walked in and locked the wheels. “Use your arms to lift yourself a bit, so I can get your boxers down.” Max complied and lifted his body, while Austin pulled down his boxers. The smaller man grabbed the paralyzed soldier by his torso and lifted him out the chair and onto the toilet seat. Austin had to admit that he wondered how in the world he’d ever be able to lift Max out the chair, being that he was so much larger than he was, but love has a way of changing things. “I’ll be in the hall. Let me know when you’re finished.” Max nodded and Austin walked out.

Austin heard the tinkle of water and stood against the wall to wait. But he ended up waiting longer than expected. He began to wonder what was taking so long, but he got his answer when he heard quiet sobbing coming from inside. Austin turned to the door and was about to knock, but he stopped. He knew Max wanted to be alone while he cried. As long as he’d known Max, Austin had never seen the man cry. Always wanting to be the strong one, he knew Max could never bear it if he let Austin see him shed tears; to show weakness.

Austin was sitting on the floor, running his hands tiredly through his hair, when he heard Max murmur, “Austin.” Austin got up and walked inside the bathroom. He looked at his raven haired beauty and saw his brown eyes were a misty pink color. He kissed his lover’s forehead before he knew it, then helped him back into his chair and to the sink to wash his hands.

************

The sun rose the next morning to a beautiful Sunday. Austin got up early, showered, and started to get dressed. Max opened his eyes and watched his lover as he slid his briefs on, giving him a small glimpse of Austin’s round ass that had been previously hidden by a towel. Max knew Austin loved to moisturize his skin after his showers, so he watched closely as the brunette rubbed his favorite lotion over his shoulders, down his slightly muscular arms, over his lean chest and stomach, and down his long and toned legs. The wet, olive skin absorbed the lotion, making his skin even more smoother, and Max yearned to touch him. Dealing with all the problems he had been going through with his disability, Max forgot that he hadn’t seen, or touched, or heard Austin’s voice for a year and six months. He could feel the tingles of an upcoming arousal that was trying to poke it’s way through the sheets.

Max longed to touch Austin again. To feel his soft skin under his fingertips, to run his hands through his lustrous hair, to kiss his body all over, to feel the warmth of inside his slender and compact body. But he knew with the current situation he was in now, Austin couldn’t possibly find him desirable anymore. Sure, he knew Austin loved him, but he knew the brunette could never love him like he did before he flew to Kosovo. I mean really, why would Austin want to have sex with a man who couldn’t move his legs?

Austin finished getting dressed and noticed Max awake. “Hey. I was gonna fix myself some breakfast. You want me to fix you something too?”

“Sure.”

“Anything in particular?”

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever you were planning on fixing.” He grabbed the remote and turned the tv on in front of their bed.

“Ok.” Austin started for the door but stopped, turning back around. “Say, what do you think about us renting a movie this afternoon? Have some popcorn to go with it? The fresh kind like you like.”

Max just kept clicking through the channels. “Okay.”

“So what time do you want to leave?”

“For what?”

“To go to the movie store.”

“I didn’t say I was going.” More clicking.

“You can’t stay by yourself.”

“Why can’t I? I’m a grown man.”

“You’re a DISABLED grown man, Max. What if something happens while I’m gone? What if you fall and hurt yourself?”

Max looked at Austin. “Nothing will happen, Austin!”

“If you’re not going, I’m not going.”

“Damn it, why must you make such a big ‘to do’ about everything?! If you want to rent movies and buy popcorn, fine! Go! I don’t need you to watch over me like some baby who can’t fend for themselves! I can take care of myself for an hour while you’re gone!”

“Fine.” Austin replied calmly. “I’ll go by myself. I’ll let you stay at home on your own from now on. See how you can handle it.”

“I can handle it fine.” Max snapped back.

Austin cocked an eyebrow. “Good.” He started out the door and down the hallway to the kitchen. “I hope you like your eggs scrambled.”

Max growled. Austin knew he HATED his eggs scrambled. For some reason, it made him absolutely nauseated to see it anywhere on anyone’s plate. Yet somehow, he guessed that Austin knew this and didn’t give a damn. As a matter of fact, Max would put money on it that Austin didn’t give a damn.

More to come if I get reviews. (It didn\'t suck, did it?)