Louder Than Thunder [9]
Title: Louder Than Thunder [9]
Author: Jess>>>> bangxbangxdie7
Pairing:Micah/Jack and Stevie/Shaun *Original characters (link below)
Rating: PG-13ish
POV: Third
Summary: Micah and Shaun are two totally different guys with very different lives. One thing they share is a boyfriend with cancer. When they meet, they help each other cope even though they sometimes feel guilty about it...
Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't copy.
Author Note: Hey guys this is my new story =] I love you, and I hope you like it <33 Between Love and Goodbye should be out Monday =]
Characters. / Info.
What would it take,
for things to be quiet,
quiet like the snow.
And I know this isn't much but...
I know I could be better.
I don't think I deserve it, selflessness.
Find your way into my heart.
All stars could be brighter.
Stevie and Shaun had an amazing time at the concert they went to. Stevie felt good that day, and he wasn't even that weak. And Shaun even let him go up on his back for a while, so he could see better. They even got so lucky as to meet the guys of Mayday Parade. They were all super nice, and that shocked both of the teens. They had assumed that they would be cocky or snobby or something. But they surprised them in the best way.
Of course Shaun blurted out the fact that Stevie was dying, and that got the real attention of the guys. They were very sympathetic towards Stevie and they offered their condolences about his situation. Stevie was mad at his boyfriend at first for creating a scene, but when the boys took them back to their tour bus and showed them what it was like...Stevie started to forgive him. It was a once in a lifetime experience and Stevie and Shaun had a blast.
Shaun hung up Stevie's signed poster for him on his wall, right next to his other posters of other bands he met.
Shaun ran his fingers through Stevie's hair as he smiled down at his sleeping form. He soon frowned when most of the hair he was brushing fell out in clumps on his hands.
"Stevie...you can't lose your hair. You love your hair...you have such beautiful hair," he whispered to himself, more so than to his boyfriend.
He leaned over and hugged the small boy. He started to cry, even though he knew he wasn't supposed to. He wouldn't allow himself to cry...he didn't want Stevie to sense it- because he knew he would. He and Stevie always had that sort of connection. Even if they were apart they sometimes could feel if the other was upset or angry...
"Shaun, you're getting me wet...wait baby are you crying? What's wrong?" Stevie muttered, awakening slowly.
Shaun's big brown eyes were startled, and he wiped them quickly, hoping that he could maybe come up with an excuse. But he knew that it probably wouldn't work. And his boyfriend deserved the truth anyway. He hated having to lie to Stevie, and he vowed that he never would. Now that Stevie was sick...he deserved so much more than what Shaun, or anybody else in the world could give him.
"I...I'm sorry Stevie I didn't think I'd wake you. I...I was just pettin' your hair. And some of it...sort of came out. And I know you're gonna be bald soon and I know that's gonna make you sad. And now I'm sad cause I know you're gonna be sad." Shaun's lip quivered and he felt like he was a little boy again. Like a little baby who couldn't control his emotions.
Stevie bit down on his bottom lip. He sat up and wrapped his boyfriend in his arms. "Shaun, it's okay. It's part of the treatments. It's going to help me get better. They say...once I get off the chemo my hair will start to grow back again. Don't be sad for me, okay?"
Shaun calmed himself, but only a little. He was still visibly upset. "But...don't you remember, when we first started dating I asked you if you had to be conceded on anything about you what would it be? You said you had amazing hair, and that it was the only feature you were truly proud of-"
"But then you told me how beautiful I was, and that I had more than one feature to brag about. My hair isn't what defines me. Yes, it's very silky and soft and long and manageable...but it's going to fall out," he said confidently, trying to make Shaun feel better. "Hey I have an idea. I'm not sure if you'd want to but...why don't you just buzz it all off for me? It'll be better that way...I don't have to watch it fall out slowly. It'll be a drastic change but-"
Shaun gasped. "You want me to cut off all your hair?! Stevie no I couldn't..." Shaun started to cry again, and he hated himself for it. So much for trying to be strong.
"Baby, it's all right. You don't have to. I just wanted to see if you would. It's not like I'd be mad at you for doing it. I'm asking you to. It will save me the trouble of being partially bald. Right?"
Shaun nodded. "If you really want me to...I will. But I'm not going to enjoy it. And I'm not even sure how well I would do with the buzzer. You barely trust me with the stove and you're gonna let me mess around with your hair?"
Stevie smiled at how cute Shaun was all the time. One would think that his personality was some sort of act. But it was real. Shaun was just the cutest thing.
"I trust you, Shaun. Besides, it's all coming off anyway, you can't really mess that up. Here let's go downstairs and do it. I know where my mom keeps Mitch's buzzer. I guess you will need to cut it just a bit first. But that's okay, I trust you with that too."
They headed down the stairs and got what they needed to cut Stevie's hair. It wasn't as emotional as Stevie thought it would be. He never imagined he'd have short hair before he got old and was forced to...let alone be completely bald before 18. He didn't weep over his lost hair. He just accepted it.
But then Shaun did something that made Stevie tear up. He started to cut his own hair.
"SHAUN NO! What are you doing?" Stevie held up his hands as if in surrender. But it was too late. Shaun's hair was falling to the ground and there wasn't any turning back for the older boy.
"Cutting my hair too, Stevie. If you have to lose your hair than so do I. We're gonna do through this together." Shaun took the scissors and tried to cut the back of his hair, but his boyfriend stopped him from doing so.
"Shaun I can't believe you just did that...now I really have to shave your head. You ruined it."
Shaun nodded his head, and he was smiling even though Stevie wasn't. Stevie didn't want Shaun to do what he had done. Shaun had even more beautiful hair than he did- in his eyes. Now he was going to be hairless like he was.
"It's okay that's exactly what I wanted. Stevie, you don't get it do you? I love you. Very much. I'm not gonna sit here and shave your head and act like it doesn't effect me. And you either. This is a big fucking deal and you're trying so hard to make it okay but its not." Shaun turned around so his boyfriend could do away with the rest of his hair. "...It will be though. It's going to all be okay. I promise."
Stevie only cried a little when he saw the outcome of Shaun's actions. They both looked sick then. Shaun just had a little more meat on his bones. But what he did changed Stevie's outlook on not having hair- which was the plan. Shaun had actually made Stevie feel good about himself.
"Shaun, your mom is going to kill you when she sees your...head," Stevie laughed. "...she is not going to like that you did this."
Shaun shrugged. "I don't care. I did what I wanted to do- it's my hair. And I don't give a shit what she thinks. So don't worry about her okay?"
Stevie nodded and looked towards the mixture of hair on the floor. They both had so much hair put together. It was almost the same color. Stevie's hair was never dyed, it was naturally black but Shaun's hair was black by choice. The older teen hated his dirty blond hair with a passion and dyed it as soon as he could. He thought blond only looked good on girls for some reason. He never liked blond guys.
After they cleaned up the mess they made, Stevie suggested watching a movie. He was tired, and Shaun knew it, but they both didn't want to discuss it.
Stevie fought very hard to stay awake during the movie, and he lasted throughout the whole entire hour and a half. He was proud of himself. But he also faked himself into believing that it meant he was getting better. It didn't mean anything, that he could stay awake for the movie. It just meant that Shaun's feeling meant more to him than anything else at that moment. For that moment he wanted Shaun to be excited and happy and content.
"Shaun, I can hear your stomach making noises. Are you hungry?" Stevie lifted his head off of Shaun's belly.
"Nope. I don't know why it's grumbling. But I'm not hungry. I had a big breakfast. What about you, are you hungry? Do you want me to make you something?"
Stevie lied back down and took in a deep breath. "No thank you Shaun. I'm not hungry either. But if you really are it's okay...you don't have to feel bad about eating in front of me. I won't care."
Shaun really wasn't hungry, and it hurt a little to think that Stevie thought he would lie just to protect him. Shaun would...but this time he wasn't. He had trouble remembering the last thing he ate...and that frightened him, he didn't want his boyfriend to die of starvation amongst all other things he was dealing with. But he knew that Stevie's desire to eat was nearly gone. It was heart-breaking.
"No I swear, I'm not. Don't you believe me?" Shaun asked in a low voice.
"Aw Shaun, I'm sorry. Of course I do. I just...I thought maybe you felt weird about it. I will always believe you, baby."
~
Jack was pleasantly surprised that Micah bought him a whole bunch of stuff to keep him warm before the winter really got started. He didn't know how he was going to last...the cold was so evil to Jack. The boy was never warm unless he was baking the the 85 degree sun. And summer had been over for a couple of weeks.
Micah was worried for his boyfriend, more worried than he's ever been. Only because it seemed as though Jack's health was slowly getting worse and worse. He took more naps than he usually did, and he was probably down to 145 pounds. A man who stands over six feet tall should not be 145 pounds.
"I love this sweater, Micah. It's so unique. Thank you so much for all of this. I- I feel really bad that I can't pay you back. I don't like it when you go overboard, I mean, I appreciate it, I really do. I just feel like I could do more...for you."
Micah shook his head, not agreeing with his lover. "Jack, you don't have to feel that way. I would never ask you to pay me back. You can pay me back with kisses, and that's it. I think that's a pretty fair compromise don't you?"
Jack smirked and planted a huge kiss to Micah's soft lips. "You're my home," Jack admitted feeling insecure for a moment. He sometimes felt undeserving of Micah. People on the outside must have thought of him as a sugar daddy or something. They weren't that far apart in age. When they first met, it was very risque but it didn't matter once Jack turned 18.
"And you are my home, Jack. I hate it when I have to leave you. Like now. I just want to cuddle up with you in our bed and lie there all day. And all night. And just have you...and hold you."
Jack wanted so badly to tell him to stay home. But he knew he couldn't. Micah had a fixed income, but he was only allowed so much vacation time. And he would need a week or two for Christmas time when he thought he was going to Australia. He'd still need the time off when his parents got there anyway, so it wasn't hurting anybody for it to still be a surprise.
"You can as soon as you get home, right? I'll be up. I'm not so tired today. In fact, while you're at work I think I'm going to go back to the hospital. To see the kids. You remember Maggie?" Micah nodded, how could he not? She was the light of Jack's life at that moment. They became buddies very quickly. "It's looking very good for her. She'll have her bone marrow transplant on Tuesday, they found a match. Isn't that great?"
Micah shrieked. "Yes! Oh my God that is wonderful, Jack!" he said with a bright smile. "Tell her I'm happy for her. That really is great. How did they find a match so quickly? I thought the waiting list was tremendous."
Jack nodded. "It was but...it's actually quite sad how it worked out for her. The person that was before the person just ahead of her passed away. And the person ahead of her is an older woman...and is putting Maggie first. It's...amazing, these people. That person is risking their life to save Maggie. She could be dying while Maggie is being saved. It's...I can't even explain."
Micah rubbed at the back of Jack's neck. "I know, baby. It's sad. But with God's help perhaps that woman will be okay, at least until her operation."
The older man got an idea in his head. An idea that sounded good to him...and he knew Jack would like it. But he wasn't sure if he should mention it. He suggested that Jack go back to school a while back but... he was started to think against it. He thought Jack would like doing something a little bit better than accounting.
"Jack, sweetheart. Why don't you get a job at the hospital? Nothing medical of course but...just like a part time job- doing what you're doing now. Being a mentor for the children. I think the Chief of Staff would approve. Your nurse basically begged you to do it in the first place. You enjoy seeing them. I mean- I know you're tired a lot of the time but when you aren't...wouldn't you like to see the kids? I'd be at work all day anyways, right?"
Jack smiled because he was thinking the exact same thing. He was looking into getting a job at the hospital. There isn't a medical degree required to visit children and talk to them about their illness. That's what a psychologist is for but...what 8 year old would want that? They would much rather talk to Jack.
"Great minds think a like, Micah. I was thinking that too. Then I wouldn't be so sleepy all day, the children have much more energy than I do. They keep me going. And then the day will go by quicker and I won't have to count down the hours until I get to see you. It will be great. I'll be sure to ask Kimberly if that would be possible. I'm really excited."
Micah took both of Jack's hands into his own, brought them up to his lips and kissed each one.
"You're amazing," he said looking directly into his light chocolate eyes. "You go do that and text me as soon as you've got your answer, yeah? I've sadly got to run. But I'll be back before you know it." he kissed Jack's forehead. "I love you, Jack."
"Love you too Micah, more than you'll ever know."
~
On Micah's way to work, he had another idea. This one came completely from his subconscious mind. He started to think about the boy he met at the hospital- Shaun. The boy who acted like a child. He was working when Micah saw him again. He was working in the evening on a Sunday. He was away from his boyfriend...and for what? Why would he be at work when he had a boyfriend who needed him? Was he poor? Did he desperately need money?
Micah knew it wasn't any of his business but something in his mind told him to do something about it. Micah always had a big heart...and his heart went out to the boy. He wasn't ready for this type of thing that early in life. He should be at home with Stevie, taking care of him.
Micah had to work- he had a career job; Shaun was young. He shouldn't be working. So Micah had an idea...to maybe write out a check. But he didn't know Shaun's last name, and he didn't want to write out a blank check in case it got lost. He had to see Shaun again. And he wasn't sure when that would be. He would either hope to see him at the hospital or go back to the mall.
He wanted to help Shaun. He wanted to be there for him for some reason. Something about Shaun...drew him to him. And he wasn't sure what it was. All he was sure of was that Shaun was a brave young man. But maybe he needed someone to talk to. Jack was the kids' glimmer of hope. Would Micah be enough to be Shaun's?
He hoped so. Because Shaun didn't have to go through this alone. Micah wasn't positive that Shaun didn't have anyone else to look up to, but he had a hunch. He just figured that Shaun was told to be strong for Stevie. But it wasn't so simple...to just obey. Micah knew that. He knew what he had to do for Jack's sake but in no way shape or form was it easy. Nothing about that was easy. In fact, it was the hardest thing Micah ever had to do. Harder than leaving his family in Australia, harder than law school and harder than passing the bar exam. Nothing in the world was harder than having to pretend every single day that everything was fine when it was not.
Jack could die and that was not something that was easy to ignore.
Maybe...in the same way that Micah could help Shaun...Shaun could help him?
Author: Jess>>>> bangxbangxdie7
Pairing:Micah/Jack and Stevie/Shaun *Original characters (link below)
Rating: PG-13ish
POV: Third
Summary: Micah and Shaun are two totally different guys with very different lives. One thing they share is a boyfriend with cancer. When they meet, they help each other cope even though they sometimes feel guilty about it...
Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't copy.
Author Note: Hey guys this is my new story =] I love you, and I hope you like it <33 Between Love and Goodbye should be out Monday =]
Characters. / Info.
What would it take,
for things to be quiet,
quiet like the snow.
And I know this isn't much but...
I know I could be better.
I don't think I deserve it, selflessness.
Find your way into my heart.
All stars could be brighter.
Stevie and Shaun had an amazing time at the concert they went to. Stevie felt good that day, and he wasn't even that weak. And Shaun even let him go up on his back for a while, so he could see better. They even got so lucky as to meet the guys of Mayday Parade. They were all super nice, and that shocked both of the teens. They had assumed that they would be cocky or snobby or something. But they surprised them in the best way.
Of course Shaun blurted out the fact that Stevie was dying, and that got the real attention of the guys. They were very sympathetic towards Stevie and they offered their condolences about his situation. Stevie was mad at his boyfriend at first for creating a scene, but when the boys took them back to their tour bus and showed them what it was like...Stevie started to forgive him. It was a once in a lifetime experience and Stevie and Shaun had a blast.
Shaun hung up Stevie's signed poster for him on his wall, right next to his other posters of other bands he met.
Shaun ran his fingers through Stevie's hair as he smiled down at his sleeping form. He soon frowned when most of the hair he was brushing fell out in clumps on his hands.
"Stevie...you can't lose your hair. You love your hair...you have such beautiful hair," he whispered to himself, more so than to his boyfriend.
He leaned over and hugged the small boy. He started to cry, even though he knew he wasn't supposed to. He wouldn't allow himself to cry...he didn't want Stevie to sense it- because he knew he would. He and Stevie always had that sort of connection. Even if they were apart they sometimes could feel if the other was upset or angry...
"Shaun, you're getting me wet...wait baby are you crying? What's wrong?" Stevie muttered, awakening slowly.
Shaun's big brown eyes were startled, and he wiped them quickly, hoping that he could maybe come up with an excuse. But he knew that it probably wouldn't work. And his boyfriend deserved the truth anyway. He hated having to lie to Stevie, and he vowed that he never would. Now that Stevie was sick...he deserved so much more than what Shaun, or anybody else in the world could give him.
"I...I'm sorry Stevie I didn't think I'd wake you. I...I was just pettin' your hair. And some of it...sort of came out. And I know you're gonna be bald soon and I know that's gonna make you sad. And now I'm sad cause I know you're gonna be sad." Shaun's lip quivered and he felt like he was a little boy again. Like a little baby who couldn't control his emotions.
Stevie bit down on his bottom lip. He sat up and wrapped his boyfriend in his arms. "Shaun, it's okay. It's part of the treatments. It's going to help me get better. They say...once I get off the chemo my hair will start to grow back again. Don't be sad for me, okay?"
Shaun calmed himself, but only a little. He was still visibly upset. "But...don't you remember, when we first started dating I asked you if you had to be conceded on anything about you what would it be? You said you had amazing hair, and that it was the only feature you were truly proud of-"
"But then you told me how beautiful I was, and that I had more than one feature to brag about. My hair isn't what defines me. Yes, it's very silky and soft and long and manageable...but it's going to fall out," he said confidently, trying to make Shaun feel better. "Hey I have an idea. I'm not sure if you'd want to but...why don't you just buzz it all off for me? It'll be better that way...I don't have to watch it fall out slowly. It'll be a drastic change but-"
Shaun gasped. "You want me to cut off all your hair?! Stevie no I couldn't..." Shaun started to cry again, and he hated himself for it. So much for trying to be strong.
"Baby, it's all right. You don't have to. I just wanted to see if you would. It's not like I'd be mad at you for doing it. I'm asking you to. It will save me the trouble of being partially bald. Right?"
Shaun nodded. "If you really want me to...I will. But I'm not going to enjoy it. And I'm not even sure how well I would do with the buzzer. You barely trust me with the stove and you're gonna let me mess around with your hair?"
Stevie smiled at how cute Shaun was all the time. One would think that his personality was some sort of act. But it was real. Shaun was just the cutest thing.
"I trust you, Shaun. Besides, it's all coming off anyway, you can't really mess that up. Here let's go downstairs and do it. I know where my mom keeps Mitch's buzzer. I guess you will need to cut it just a bit first. But that's okay, I trust you with that too."
They headed down the stairs and got what they needed to cut Stevie's hair. It wasn't as emotional as Stevie thought it would be. He never imagined he'd have short hair before he got old and was forced to...let alone be completely bald before 18. He didn't weep over his lost hair. He just accepted it.
But then Shaun did something that made Stevie tear up. He started to cut his own hair.
"SHAUN NO! What are you doing?" Stevie held up his hands as if in surrender. But it was too late. Shaun's hair was falling to the ground and there wasn't any turning back for the older boy.
"Cutting my hair too, Stevie. If you have to lose your hair than so do I. We're gonna do through this together." Shaun took the scissors and tried to cut the back of his hair, but his boyfriend stopped him from doing so.
"Shaun I can't believe you just did that...now I really have to shave your head. You ruined it."
Shaun nodded his head, and he was smiling even though Stevie wasn't. Stevie didn't want Shaun to do what he had done. Shaun had even more beautiful hair than he did- in his eyes. Now he was going to be hairless like he was.
"It's okay that's exactly what I wanted. Stevie, you don't get it do you? I love you. Very much. I'm not gonna sit here and shave your head and act like it doesn't effect me. And you either. This is a big fucking deal and you're trying so hard to make it okay but its not." Shaun turned around so his boyfriend could do away with the rest of his hair. "...It will be though. It's going to all be okay. I promise."
Stevie only cried a little when he saw the outcome of Shaun's actions. They both looked sick then. Shaun just had a little more meat on his bones. But what he did changed Stevie's outlook on not having hair- which was the plan. Shaun had actually made Stevie feel good about himself.
"Shaun, your mom is going to kill you when she sees your...head," Stevie laughed. "...she is not going to like that you did this."
Shaun shrugged. "I don't care. I did what I wanted to do- it's my hair. And I don't give a shit what she thinks. So don't worry about her okay?"
Stevie nodded and looked towards the mixture of hair on the floor. They both had so much hair put together. It was almost the same color. Stevie's hair was never dyed, it was naturally black but Shaun's hair was black by choice. The older teen hated his dirty blond hair with a passion and dyed it as soon as he could. He thought blond only looked good on girls for some reason. He never liked blond guys.
After they cleaned up the mess they made, Stevie suggested watching a movie. He was tired, and Shaun knew it, but they both didn't want to discuss it.
Stevie fought very hard to stay awake during the movie, and he lasted throughout the whole entire hour and a half. He was proud of himself. But he also faked himself into believing that it meant he was getting better. It didn't mean anything, that he could stay awake for the movie. It just meant that Shaun's feeling meant more to him than anything else at that moment. For that moment he wanted Shaun to be excited and happy and content.
"Shaun, I can hear your stomach making noises. Are you hungry?" Stevie lifted his head off of Shaun's belly.
"Nope. I don't know why it's grumbling. But I'm not hungry. I had a big breakfast. What about you, are you hungry? Do you want me to make you something?"
Stevie lied back down and took in a deep breath. "No thank you Shaun. I'm not hungry either. But if you really are it's okay...you don't have to feel bad about eating in front of me. I won't care."
Shaun really wasn't hungry, and it hurt a little to think that Stevie thought he would lie just to protect him. Shaun would...but this time he wasn't. He had trouble remembering the last thing he ate...and that frightened him, he didn't want his boyfriend to die of starvation amongst all other things he was dealing with. But he knew that Stevie's desire to eat was nearly gone. It was heart-breaking.
"No I swear, I'm not. Don't you believe me?" Shaun asked in a low voice.
"Aw Shaun, I'm sorry. Of course I do. I just...I thought maybe you felt weird about it. I will always believe you, baby."
~
Jack was pleasantly surprised that Micah bought him a whole bunch of stuff to keep him warm before the winter really got started. He didn't know how he was going to last...the cold was so evil to Jack. The boy was never warm unless he was baking the the 85 degree sun. And summer had been over for a couple of weeks.
Micah was worried for his boyfriend, more worried than he's ever been. Only because it seemed as though Jack's health was slowly getting worse and worse. He took more naps than he usually did, and he was probably down to 145 pounds. A man who stands over six feet tall should not be 145 pounds.
"I love this sweater, Micah. It's so unique. Thank you so much for all of this. I- I feel really bad that I can't pay you back. I don't like it when you go overboard, I mean, I appreciate it, I really do. I just feel like I could do more...for you."
Micah shook his head, not agreeing with his lover. "Jack, you don't have to feel that way. I would never ask you to pay me back. You can pay me back with kisses, and that's it. I think that's a pretty fair compromise don't you?"
Jack smirked and planted a huge kiss to Micah's soft lips. "You're my home," Jack admitted feeling insecure for a moment. He sometimes felt undeserving of Micah. People on the outside must have thought of him as a sugar daddy or something. They weren't that far apart in age. When they first met, it was very risque but it didn't matter once Jack turned 18.
"And you are my home, Jack. I hate it when I have to leave you. Like now. I just want to cuddle up with you in our bed and lie there all day. And all night. And just have you...and hold you."
Jack wanted so badly to tell him to stay home. But he knew he couldn't. Micah had a fixed income, but he was only allowed so much vacation time. And he would need a week or two for Christmas time when he thought he was going to Australia. He'd still need the time off when his parents got there anyway, so it wasn't hurting anybody for it to still be a surprise.
"You can as soon as you get home, right? I'll be up. I'm not so tired today. In fact, while you're at work I think I'm going to go back to the hospital. To see the kids. You remember Maggie?" Micah nodded, how could he not? She was the light of Jack's life at that moment. They became buddies very quickly. "It's looking very good for her. She'll have her bone marrow transplant on Tuesday, they found a match. Isn't that great?"
Micah shrieked. "Yes! Oh my God that is wonderful, Jack!" he said with a bright smile. "Tell her I'm happy for her. That really is great. How did they find a match so quickly? I thought the waiting list was tremendous."
Jack nodded. "It was but...it's actually quite sad how it worked out for her. The person that was before the person just ahead of her passed away. And the person ahead of her is an older woman...and is putting Maggie first. It's...amazing, these people. That person is risking their life to save Maggie. She could be dying while Maggie is being saved. It's...I can't even explain."
Micah rubbed at the back of Jack's neck. "I know, baby. It's sad. But with God's help perhaps that woman will be okay, at least until her operation."
The older man got an idea in his head. An idea that sounded good to him...and he knew Jack would like it. But he wasn't sure if he should mention it. He suggested that Jack go back to school a while back but... he was started to think against it. He thought Jack would like doing something a little bit better than accounting.
"Jack, sweetheart. Why don't you get a job at the hospital? Nothing medical of course but...just like a part time job- doing what you're doing now. Being a mentor for the children. I think the Chief of Staff would approve. Your nurse basically begged you to do it in the first place. You enjoy seeing them. I mean- I know you're tired a lot of the time but when you aren't...wouldn't you like to see the kids? I'd be at work all day anyways, right?"
Jack smiled because he was thinking the exact same thing. He was looking into getting a job at the hospital. There isn't a medical degree required to visit children and talk to them about their illness. That's what a psychologist is for but...what 8 year old would want that? They would much rather talk to Jack.
"Great minds think a like, Micah. I was thinking that too. Then I wouldn't be so sleepy all day, the children have much more energy than I do. They keep me going. And then the day will go by quicker and I won't have to count down the hours until I get to see you. It will be great. I'll be sure to ask Kimberly if that would be possible. I'm really excited."
Micah took both of Jack's hands into his own, brought them up to his lips and kissed each one.
"You're amazing," he said looking directly into his light chocolate eyes. "You go do that and text me as soon as you've got your answer, yeah? I've sadly got to run. But I'll be back before you know it." he kissed Jack's forehead. "I love you, Jack."
"Love you too Micah, more than you'll ever know."
~
On Micah's way to work, he had another idea. This one came completely from his subconscious mind. He started to think about the boy he met at the hospital- Shaun. The boy who acted like a child. He was working when Micah saw him again. He was working in the evening on a Sunday. He was away from his boyfriend...and for what? Why would he be at work when he had a boyfriend who needed him? Was he poor? Did he desperately need money?
Micah knew it wasn't any of his business but something in his mind told him to do something about it. Micah always had a big heart...and his heart went out to the boy. He wasn't ready for this type of thing that early in life. He should be at home with Stevie, taking care of him.
Micah had to work- he had a career job; Shaun was young. He shouldn't be working. So Micah had an idea...to maybe write out a check. But he didn't know Shaun's last name, and he didn't want to write out a blank check in case it got lost. He had to see Shaun again. And he wasn't sure when that would be. He would either hope to see him at the hospital or go back to the mall.
He wanted to help Shaun. He wanted to be there for him for some reason. Something about Shaun...drew him to him. And he wasn't sure what it was. All he was sure of was that Shaun was a brave young man. But maybe he needed someone to talk to. Jack was the kids' glimmer of hope. Would Micah be enough to be Shaun's?
He hoped so. Because Shaun didn't have to go through this alone. Micah wasn't positive that Shaun didn't have anyone else to look up to, but he had a hunch. He just figured that Shaun was told to be strong for Stevie. But it wasn't so simple...to just obey. Micah knew that. He knew what he had to do for Jack's sake but in no way shape or form was it easy. Nothing about that was easy. In fact, it was the hardest thing Micah ever had to do. Harder than leaving his family in Australia, harder than law school and harder than passing the bar exam. Nothing in the world was harder than having to pretend every single day that everything was fine when it was not.
Jack could die and that was not something that was easy to ignore.
Maybe...in the same way that Micah could help Shaun...Shaun could help him?