Marooned
by: justjames17
(Copyright 2005 -2007 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
 

Chapter 53

Wayne & Donny had a call from their father telling them their mum was very ill and wanted them to come home urgently, Shaun wanted to go to as he didn't want to be parted from his young lover Donny, Brian decided to let Shaun accompany them on the trip. The boys decided to take the interstate coach to save Brian driving them there. The tale cumtinues below.

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Brian finally fell asleep after tossing and turning on his lonely bed, a sadness had gripped him since the lads had left to go home due to their mother's illness and Shaun had gone along with them not wanting to be away from Donny his young lover. The night passed slowly an Brian was wracked by terrible dreams revolving around the boys and the long bus trip, he was plagued by visions of the bus crashing into a railway bridge, again and again the terrible scene replayed in his sleeping mind and he would awaken sweating and shaking with emotion. Eventually the early dawn light seeped into the cabin and he sat up rubbing his tired eyes and feeling as if a beach had blown into his eyelids they were so scratchy.

He stumbled to the main cabin and filled the kettle and set it on the small gas stove to make a cup of coffee as he opened a cupboard and pulled out a box of cereal and the milk from the fridge. He sat at the table hands holding his head while waiting for the kettle to boil, the whistle sounded and he made the coffee stirring in the milk and sugar. He sighed heavily and began to eat disinterestedly just going through the motions from habit hardly tasting the food as he munched away. He finished yawned and tossed the dirty breakfast gear in the sink after rinsing them out and he climbed up onto the deck to check out the weather.

It was a calm morning cool but the sky was clear and the sun low in the east, the sea birds were squawking as they awoke and began searching for their morning feed, gulls wheeled noisily about the tall masts of the surrounding yachts. Brian stretched his tired body and yawned long and hard his jaw cracking as it stretched open, he looked down the dock and saw between the moored vessels the figure of Alex from the supermarket creeping towards the shore. He called to the lad who jerked like a startled rabbit and turned to see who called him, he saw Brian standing there in his Speedos and waved back to him, Brian called out, "Alex would you like some breakfast mate?"

Alex nodded and turned heading towards the Wanderer and jumped aboard as Brian led the way below decks, Alex followed him below watching Brian's muscular hams move under the flimsy lycra togs. The boy liked what he saw and Brian asked him, "Alex did you spend the night with Nick on his yacht?"

Alex blushed and nodded causing Brian to smile at him and say, "Don't be embarrassed mate I hope you had a really great night with Nick. He seems a really nice bloke."

Alex nodded and said, "Yeah he is we had a molten hot time once the ice was broken. It took a fair while for Nick to relax with me but once he did we got on really well. He has asked me if I'd like to crew with him on his yacht and I think it would be awesome."

Brian smiled at Alex as he sorted out a meal for the lad saying, "That is great Alex. I'm so glad you and Nick have hit it off so well and I hope you have a great time together."

Alex thanked Brian and began to wolf down the cereal, Brian watched and thought to himself that Alex and Nick must have had a great time and the lad was starving hungry after burning off all that energy during their night together. Alex looked around as he ate and asked, "Where are the guys Brian have they gone ashore already?"

Brian's smile disappeared and he told Alex what had happened and how the three boys had gone off by coach to Wayne and Donny's home and why they left. Alex looked concerned and said that he hoped everything turned out ok and that they would be back soon, Brian nodded sadly and agreed. They sat silently as Alex munched away suddenly Brian's mobile phone rang and he froze just staring at it white faced, Alex looked at him frowned and asked, "What's wrong Brian? Aren't you going to answer it? Would you like me to do it for you?"

Brian reached out a palsied hand and picked up the vibrating noisy phone lifted it to his ear and said in a flat voice, "Hello."

He heard Wayne's choked and teary voice in his ear, "Brian? Brian is that you? It's Wayne I have terrible news. The coach had an accident. The driver swerved to avoid a car towing a caravan that veered across the centre line causing the coach to skid and slam into a railway bridge tearing one side out of it. Donny was sitting in the window seat and he was killed instantly, we were bruised and have cuts from flying glass and Shaun is in a state of shock he is sedated in the bed next to me in the Hospital here at Albury."

Brian sat stunned and stony faced the phone to his ear then tears welled up in his eyes and trickled down his unshaven cheeks, Alex looked at him concern on his handsome face as he asked, "Brian what is it? What's wrong? Has something bad happened to the boys?"

He reached across and took the phone from Brian's nerveless fingers put it to his ear and said, "Hello? This is Alex whose there? Brian seems to be in shock."

Wayne said, "Alex? Oh the guy from the supermarket. It's Wayne here my young bro has been killed in a coach crash and Shaun and I are in hospital, we are ok but for cuts and bruises but Shaun Brian's son is suffering from shock. Can you look after Brian until he gets a grip on things please Alex?"

Alex nodded and replied, "I'll look after him for you Wayne. I think he will soon want to be on his way to Albury to be with you guys, but until he is I'll be here for him and I'll let Nick know too he can help me."

Wayne paused then said, "Oh Nick yeah the guy with the yacht in the marina we met before we left, you went off to see his boat didn't you?"

Alex nodded and smiled to himself before saying, "Yop that's the Nick I mean mate, I'm sure he will want to help Brian he thinks he's a really cool guy."

Wayne was pleased that Brian had someone to help him get sorted and thanked Alex telling him he'd ring back later in the day, Alex handed Brian the phone and he and Wayne talked for a few minutes while Brian found out about Shaun and Wayne's injuries then Wayne rang off. Alex sat beside Brian and said, "I'll make you a pot of tea and we can just sit quietly and drink it how's that sound Brian?"

Brian nodded still in semi shock as Alex got up and prepared a cup of tea, the two guys sat quietly Alex just being there was a comfort for the shattered Brian who after a while began remembering and sharing little anecdotes about the cruise and Donny with Alex. Every now and then Brian would fall silent and sob as a few tears escaped his eyes, Alex would take Brian's hand and just hold it between both of his letting the man know he was there for him. The time passed and Brian recovered his aplomb and began to plan his immediate departure for Albury, he asked Alex to see Nick and get him to keep[ an eye on the Wanderer then he went ashore and talked to the secretary of the yacht club about leaving Wanderer there in their marina. The secretary was very helpful and told Brian he could rest assured the yacht would be ok while he was away and that the club wouldn't charge him unless he was gone more than a week.

Brian thanked the official and walked out to where Alex was waiting next to the hire car, they hugged each other and Brian thanked him for his being there today then climbed into the Tarago and headed south towards the New South Wales and Victorian border and the Murray River town of Albury. He battled the heavy traffic and Sydney's abysmal road system but eventually was out of the city and driving at speed down the Hume Highway. Brian's mind was filled with sadness about Donny but also happiness that both Shaun and Wayne were ok; he drove non-stop and arrived in Albury just before sundown. He asked directions to the hospital and drove up there and parked then hurried into the vestibule to ask where the boys were.

He walked into the small 4-bed ward to find Wayne sitting on a chair next to Shaun's bed, Brian hurried over and grabbed Shaun hugging him gently as his son burst into tears and sobbed his heart out. Wayne climbed to his feet and came around the bed to hug them both as all three cried buckets of tears. Eventually they were cried out and felt drained as they clung to each other, and Brian settled the bruised and bandaged Shaun comfortably back in the bed then sat beside holding his hand with Wayne beside him.

Shaun asked, "Why dad? Why was Donny taken away from me? Doesn't God know we loved each other? Now I'm all alone and I want to die and go join him."

Brian sat there tears again in his eyes as he patted Shaun's hand saying, "Shaun you must live on and that way you keep Donny alive in your memory, it was fate son that Donny was sitting in that seat it could just as easily been you or Wayne sitting there. Donny's now up in Heaven with God and I'm sure he wants you to live a full and happy life and will be watching all you do proudly."

Shaun didn't reply but sobbed while Wayne stood hugging Brian from behind, the doctor entered the ward and came across to the bed, introduced himself to Brian then asked him to walk with him while he filled Brian in on Shaun's condition. The doctor expressed concern at Shaun's grief and is worried that the boy's condition is not improving, as it should be considering his minor injuries. Shaun's mental condition is plunging him into a downward spiral where his immune system may be compromised opening him up to all manner of health problems. The doctor recommended that Shaun be seen by a grief counsellor who would help him come to terms with the loss of his friend, Brian nodded and told the doctor to go ahead and organize the treatment.

Brian returned after talking to the doctor and sat with Wayne who rested his head on his lover's lap while Brian stroked his hair gently telling him he loved him and would stand by him through this trauma. Wayne sobbed his loss for his brother and Brian comforted him as they sat beside Shaun's bed. The evening meal arrived and Wayne picked at his while Shaun ate nothing lying listlessly in the bed ignoring everyone, Brian attempted to feed his son but Shaun rejected the attempts turning over on his stomach and burying his face in the pillow.

Brian gave up and sat there looking sadly at his boy with tears in his eyes, he prayed that Shaun would soon overcome his grief and begin to live life once again.

To be continued?

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Posted: 06/29/07