CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE - Holy Conundrums, Boss-Man!

MIKE - One of the wheels of the cab I was driving to rescue the hostages had flown off and sent me spinning out of control. I stayed calm for the most part, except from shouting, "aw holy crap!" as it first happened. I regained my composure, and used the radio to call Eddie for help - I knew he had a tough choice to make - watching over the prisoners and Tim until the right guys came for them, or speeding off to help me. I was hoping he'd stay with them - as much as I needed him at this moment, he had to do his job. I aimed the cab at a tree - this had to end sometime and I didn't want anyone else gettin' hurt.

EDDIE - Mike put out an SOS on the cab radio. I was really stuck - with me gone out to help Mike, the prisoners could break loose, possibly kill Tim, I didn't want that on my head and I didn't want Mike's tragic fate on my head either. Holy conundrum!


"Mike - where are you - are you all right?"

"I'm going into a tree, kiddo - I'm about a block away from Corcoran."

I then heard a scream and a horrible crash, then an explosion. Just then, Tim ran up, "gimme your keys - I'm gonna find him!"

"But you're shot - you need medical attention."

"I'll get it later - see you back here in a bit!"

A few minutes later, the cops came by and nabbed the bad guys, the EMT's came, too, and I told them what was up - my partner's life was in danger, the shooting victim was running out there to see about him.

"I heard the car explode over the radio - the kid going out to get him - he's been shot in the arm, he's losing a lot of blood - they're really gonna need you guys."

The ride in the ambulance seemed to take forever - yet the site of the crash was only a couple of miles away. I braced myself for how I was gonna find Mike...and Tim...what could I do for him in return, ignoring his injury just to see about Mike so I could get turn the bad guys over to the cops. This was above and beyond the call of duty for this kid. Play through the pain.

IT'S TIM TO THE RESCUE - HE SPOTS THE DEMOLISHED, FLAMING CAB AND SHOUTS MIKE'S NAME - TRYING TO GET A RESPONSE - HE RUNS UP AND SEES MIKE TRAPPED INSIDE

MIKE - I couldn't get out - damn seat belt was stuck - I couldn't move, the car was on fire, but not on the inside...yet. Suddenly, I just see this pair of arms reach in and rip up the seat belt, dragging me out through the driver's door window - thank God it was a nice day and I had the window down. As he got me out and we started to run from the vehicle, it blew up to smithereens, sending us flying a little. We both landed with a thud on the ground, the kid was rolling over a few feet - he must've been really tossed. I lay on the ground lookin' right up and then this guy came up - his head blocking out the sun that was burnin' in my eyes. In my delirium, I smiled, and purred, "oh, Eddie", then reached up and kissed him. But it wasn't him - it was Tim.

He pulls away, "my God, Detective"

Realizing what I did, I snapped to attention and tried to talk to him, "my God, I'm sorry - I thought you were Eddie! I didn't mean to creep ya out, kid, ya gotta believe that."

Tim catches his breath and says to me, "I wasn't creeped out, Detective, I - - I enjoyed it."

"Eddie doesn't need to know about this."

"Neither do the guys at the cab company."

I put my hand out, "Deal"

Tim puts his hand out - we shake on it.

"I'm glad I got to you in time - you were gonna get the rest of those hostages out of that garage."

"I sure was."

"You still are - let's do it - we're pretty close."

Me-n-Tim jumped in the car and sped off to the rescue.

"Why'd ya come out here? Eddie called the docs to come get you."

"He was in a tough spot. I knew he had to watch the guys back there and I heard your accident on the radio, so I jumped in. Eddie didn't want to let me come out here at first, but it's just a shoulder wound, that's all. You guys play through the pain, don't ya?"

I chuckle at the thought, the kid was right. We arrive at the garage a couple of minutes later. We were sitting right out in front. Tim was ready to jump right out and get into it, but I took his arm and held him back, for his own good. We had to be careful. I didn't want his shoulders to be a matched set of lead.

"Aw, come on - ya gotta let me go in with ya. Some of my buddies are in there."

"Oh, absolutely, but we just gotta go about it carefully. I have a funny feeling about this."

"Oh, yeah? What's up?"

"I don't know yet, but there could be something's up. My gut tells me this might not be a simple operation. I got it outta your boss about the hostages, but it might be a trap."

"So, what do we do?"

"If we get shot at, we got bulletproof shields in the back. It might be a good idea to keep them with us. Some of your boss's goons might still be inside with them. The goal is for all of us to make it out alive. Ya with me?"

"Sure as shootin', Detective."

"Call me Mike. Come on...out through my door."

We step out of the car, slowly, cautiously, reaching for the shields. We crouch down behind them and approach the building cautiously - my breath held for the first shot - the first of many, I feared. Nothing happened. Then we reach a door, which of course was locked. Tim gave me his right arm and said, "here, take hold of this", and he kicks it in.

"Steel-toe boots."

"Ah"

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE CAB COMPANY:

EDDIE - The cops came and took the bad guys off to jail- the kingpin, led away with his hands cuffed behind him, turned around and snarled at me - as if that'd every bothered me before. When you know in your heart you're right, it doesn't matter worth a darn who says what about you.

"It should've been you three being dragged outta here - on stretchers. I had the whole thing figured out."

"But we had good on our side, so, of course, we won."

"Yeah, well, we'll see who really won when your new boyfriend, Timmy, sees what happened to his little playmates."

"You callous, cold-hearted creep. Officers, take him away while I can still contain myself."

The EMT's ask about Tim. I tell them he took off with Mike to see about the other hostages at the 5th and Corcoran garage.

"He may have lost a lot of blood, I'm not sure, and the hostages may have been harmed, too. Officers, can ya send some back-up over to the garage? From what this wanton waste of life tells me, Mike and Tim might be in grave danger."

"One can only hope."

MEANWHILE BACK AT THE GARAGE:

MIKE - Me-n-Tim make our way in and we hear some screaming.

"Good grief, Mike! It's coming from down the hall."

We proceed and Tim kicks in yet another locked door. Tim's eyes and mouth open wide in horror at the sight of his cab-company-comrades riddled with machine-gun fire. The sound of us breaking down the door drew their focus and their weapons on us.

"DOWN!", I shouted as we crouched behind our bullet-proof shields. As I returned fire, I could see Tim straining to support his shield as the ammunition was getting heavier and heavier.

"Don't lose your grip, boy! HANG ON!"

I got in a few lucky shots, zapping one guy in the heart, another one right in the head, wiping them both out instantly, and I managed to knock the weapon right out of the other guy's hands, then I shouted to Tim, "let's get 'im!" and we clobber 'im. Tim runs right over to his buddies to assess the damage. It wasn't a pretty sight. The three hostages were moaning, writhing, screaming, one of them was pounding the floor with his crumpled fists, his face beet red with agony. I called Eddie and shouted to him, "Kiddo, where are you?"

"Right behind ya, Boss-Man"

Eddie stood proud with some EMT's at the ready to tend to the newly-administered wounds of the victims. After their examination of the three, the prognosis looked favorable.

"Yeah, they look pretty serious, but we can help 'em - they're gonna be all right."

Tim wept, "Oh, thank God."

The cops came in next, two of the venomous vermin were instantly killed while the other one didn't look so good after we got through with him. One of the officers assessed their damage, and I said to them, "we busted right in and caught these guys right in the act of shooting these kids". One of the officers nodded to me, "You did what ya had to do, Detective - they were clean shots. I'd say these killings were justified."

I nodded my head and said, "thank you."

The technicians treated Tim, too. All were taken to the ambulances waiting outside. As Tim was on the way out, he looked back at me with tear-stained eyes, and a quivering lip. It was the saddest I had ever seen anyone look in my entire life. A young boy like him suffering so much tragedy and shock and horror all within a couple of days - there was no reason, no rhyme, no right. I'd run the gamut of emotions in the few seconds spent considering Tim's saddened face. I was angry, sorrowful, mournful, grievous...but proud, too. Looking on him, I felt a smile come across my lips, showing everything I'd started feeling then - it was a smile of assurance, of comfort, of pride, of admiration of his courage - it was also a smile of hope that he'd remain the sweet innocent boy I met at the cab company, taking a bullet for protecting his job's interests, ignoring the physical pain while he helped us in avenging these crimes. I'd hoped he wouldn't lose that.

EPILOGUE:

A month or so goes by - me-n-Eddie made love the minute we woke up. He started it, licking my nipples and gently growling just like a little teddy bear. Okay, I'm only gonna say this once, and please don't puke when you read this - a little Eddie-bear.

OKAY - it's outta my system. Anyway, his growling and licking aroused me from a sound sleep. I tease him, "what do you think you're doin'?"

"I don't think I'm doing anything - I know I'm doin' something. Got a problem with that, Mister Man?"

I shook my head, "nope - I'm good - just wanted to know, is all."

Then Eddie took custody of my cock, rubbing it up and down, licking here and there, and was coming in for a landing. I grab the bars on the headboard of the bed and hang on for one heck of a ride. Aw, this was good stuff - real good stuff. I let out a moan and as Eddie came up for air, I shot a wad like a geyser.

"Holy old faithful."

"That's right, kiddo. You can set your cock to me. Oh, Eddie, what a good-morning-gift - what can I give you in return?"

"Keep your hands where I can feel 'em - turn and face the ground."

"Oh, yes, officer, anything to cooperate in the name of the law."

"You be a good guy about this, do what I tell ya, and I'll see to it that you get off."

I can't tell you enough how much I love this boy - how this boy makes me feel so loved. All the troubles in the world disappear when this boy's inside me, his hands on my butt, his lips and his tongue on my body, making me feel warm, embraced, comforted. Nothing beats all like a man's real love. I felt Eddie's warm cum sprinkle my back, like a cool mist of rain to soothe the heat of a hot summer's day. Nothing like it, folks...nothing.

We had the whole day in front of us. I turn back and lay on my back and Eddie rested his head on my chest.

EDDIE - I put my head on Mike's chest, one arm around him and the other across his chest, his warm, soothing, hairy chest - fingering and gently kissing his nipples as we lay together. Sometimes my arm would go to sleep with his body right on top of it, but I didn't care - it was all for a good cause.

"Whaddya wanna do today, Boss-Man?"

"I think we already did it, Kiddo."

"How about we just spend the whole day like this, cocooned from the rest of the world. They're pretty safe out there. We did a pretty good job seein' to that."

"Pretty good? We're the Dashing Duo - the best", I say as I kiss the top of his head.

The doorbell rings

"AW, crap!"

"Now, now, somebody needs us, Boss-Man - that's what we were put here for."

We got dressed and answered the door. Me-n-Eddie were a little taken aback by what we saw. We exchanged glances. This man was very solidly built, wore a black baseball cap with the curved beak shielding his eyes, already covered with black wraparound shades. Black leather jacket, opened, revealing a black tee-shirt, tight coal-black jeans and black leather bike-cop boots, gloves. A clean-shaven square jaw was the only hint of flesh betrayed on this man. Was he a hit-man, a guy hidden in the witness protection program? What was this? Me-n-Eddie thought he was hot, don't get us wrong, but we didn't know who this guy was, or what he wanted.

"So, how can we help you?"

"It's what I can do for you, Dashing Duo, if you'll let me in."

Cautiously, we let this guy inside, usherin' him into the parlor. Of course, we were always at the ready, always able to handle ourselves - it was, after all, two against one. As he reached inside his jacket, Eddie blurted, "watch out, Boss-Man!" "I got it, Kid!" All he did was produce a business card. It said, "Ace Justice - NightCabbie".

"Night Cabbie?", I said, "what's this all about?"

"I hear you guys were having trouble with a corrupt cab company recently."

"Oh, yeah, some guy out for vengeance 'cuz he says one of their drivers ran over his son. They tossed him in the clink for life, I'd say."

"It's not the only company in town, you know - there could be stuff like this goin' on all over. Drivin' a hack is kinda like bein' a cop - you're vulnerable behind the wheel, at the mercy of whoever rides in back - they could stiff ya, they could kill ya. You could go home at the end of your shift, but maybe you won't. That's what I'm here to prevent."

Eddie asks, "so, you're a kinda vigilante?"

"You might say that - I must remain vague about any personal details in order to keep my secret identity just that - secret."

I was scratchin' my head tryin' to make sense of this, "uh, do I know you? Have we met before? I'm sorry to say I can't recall seeing anyone like you before."

"You're not supposed to. Yes, we've met. All I'll say is I feel undying gratitude and loyalty to you for what you did for me."

"Geez, lots of guys feel that way", I say with all crossed-fingered modesty, "or so, they say. Come on, guy, can't you tell me who you are?"

"I'm Ace Justice - that's who I am."

Eddie asks, "what did my boss do for you? What made you wanna...."

"You were there, too, Eddie. Revealing the genus of my guise would only hint at my identity."

Eddie clutched his fist and nodded in resignation, "he's right, Mike. We need to respect his right to shield his true identity."

Ace did break a grin, "I'm glad to see you haven't changed, Eddie. You've kept that Robin-esque streak I like so much."

Mike was non-plussed, "but...but WHO...."

"Never mind, Mike, it's okay. Whoever this guy is, he's one of the good ones."

"You betcha."

"Okay, so you came by to thank us for whatever it is we did for ya, and to say you're here to curb cab crimes and crookery. I gotta say, as much as me-n-Eddie love crimefighting, we really can't be everywhere at once, so we do appreciate any guy who wants to lend a hand, so...welcome aboard", I shrugged.

EDDIE - The doorbell rings again, this time I'd answer it as Mike and Ace Justice continued their conversation. I was real suprised when it turned out to be Tim on the other side.

"Tim, hey, what's up?" I said, greeting him with a handshake. "How's the shoulder healing?"

"Hey, Eddie - uh, it's good - hasn't given me any trouble or anything - if it did it would be the least of what's goin' on, though."

"Huh? I don't getcha. Ya wanna come in and sit down?"

"Sure, but just for a bit. See, I really came by to say good-bye. I'm leavin' town and goin' back to Iowa."

"Iowa?"

"Yeah, that's where I'm really from."

"Gosh, was it anything to do with all that went down with the cab company?"

"Sort of. I got fired."

"No way."

"Fraid so - oh, Eddie - it's really been a nightmare over there. I'd been there a couple of years, and I did the best job I could, but what I never told you was the owner of the company is a total jag---, I mean, a total jerk. He ran the place like an Enron, or something - not paying good, making the mechanics sweep the floor, clean the toilet, that kinda thing. It didn't matter if the cabs were working right, he wanted the freakin' toilets to shine, can ya beat that? See, I was always pretty timid around him, doin' everything he said, keepin' my mouth closed, my nose clean, my eyes and ears open, but when this whole kidnappin' thing went down, and I showed some real guts helpin' you guys with puttin' a stop to this, I got to thinkin' I wasn't the same guy, anymore. It made a man outta me, the bullets, the fights, seein' the bad guys go off to jail, and knowin' I helped out in it..."

"Yeah, you really chipped in - helped me out of a bind I was in when Mike had his accident, and you played through the pain - you did it all with a really sore shoulder..."

"Right - like you guys are always doin' - see, that's what gave me some real guts, I knew I couldn't just go back in and be the same as I was ten seconds before I was shot. It really changed me. Nothin' wrong with cleanin' up around the place, but I wanted to service the cabs first, that was more important, and I told this guy that, but he thought I was bein' insubordinate, and he fired me, sayin' he could always get another worthless grease monkey like me."

"But you're not any of those things - not just a grease monkey, and especially not worthless. So, ya get a job somewhere else around here, there's no need to leave town, ya know."

"Yes, there is - see, mechanics is all I really know, and in those kinda circles, a guy like me...it's hard..."

"Guy like you?"

Tim breathed a heavy sigh and exhaled, I can see this was hard for him, and I was too, kinda. Well, we were sittin' pretty close together, lookin' at each other, and all....

"Eddie - I'm gay, and I, uh, tried keepin' that to myself, especially around the types I was workin' with. We'd go out to bars, hang out, that kinda thing. I didn't wanna be anti-social or anything, so I'd....I heard a lot of 'fag jokes', and on and on, and gettin' fired showed me I can't go on like this. So, I decided I gotta get outta this town, and back home. Start a new life."

"Yeah, but...Iowa...isn't that kinda homophobic out there? Small town stuff, and everything..."

"Maybe I shouldn't do this kinda lifestyle. I mean, I do like men, there's no doubt, but if I just go back to where I grew up, maybe I could...."

"What - forget who you really are? Squish that? Ignore it? Tim, buddy, that doesn't just go away just 'cuz you're having a bad time with it - right now. You said yourself you're not the same since all this happened, how it gave you guts, and now you're telling me you're goin' back home to forget....Tim, you went through a transcendental experience - the man you are was strengthened ten-fold and brought out - it must be nourished to flourish. Look....", I put my hands on his arms and looked into his eyes.....

"...you kept yourself hidden, taking that crap, pretending you were just Good-Time Timmy who loved hanging out in garages, ignoring your true self just to keep that lousy job, but now's the time to live for yourself, do what you wanna do. You're a young kid, like me. I remember what you said when you pointed out that my boss was right here with me, when we were both drugged-darted and paralyzed. That's what helped me get through that. When we're trapped, shot, beaten, anything - you name it, we always survive because the other guys is there, too. Maybe you need a guy like I got, a real mentor who sees what's in you and helps bring that out in you. And maybe..."

I hug him, rubbing the back of his head with one hand, holding him with the other....

"...maybe - this is what you need, too. The feel of a man's flesh gently and lovingly touching you. You're a beautiful boy, Tim"

I could hear him sniffling as I tell him this. He said I was, too.

"That's 'cuz of Mike."

"yeah, he's a great cop"

"Not only that - if we were two garbage collectors, or janitors, it'd be the same thing, 'cuz he's who he is, and I'm who I am. It's his love that makes me who I am."

MIKE - He doesn't know this, but me-n-Ace are there the whole time, listening in. I'm very touched and moved by what Eddie's saying. Ace sees this, too, and puts his arm around me. I whip out a hanky and dab my eyes.

Tim says, "you ever tell him that?"

...and then I hear Mike saying, "he just did". Tim and I break our embrace, he wipes his eyes. Mike stands proud, a stoic grin across his face, but a trace of redness around his pupils, and a bit of moisture on his lower eyelid betray his emotion, but I don't let on.

Mike extends his hand to Tim, "hi, ya, fella - good to see you again."

Ace stares at Tim - not that we can see his eyes, but his face is aimed right at his, so I'd guess he was looking right at him.

"So, you're Tim. Batz has just been tellin' me about you. So, what's shakin'?"

"Oh, uh, Tim, this is Ace Justice - he's sort of a.."

"vigilante, mercenary, whatever... I'm a crimefighter. Your look fits the description - your bravery, modesty, and all. So, anyways, like I asked, what's shakin' with ya?"

"Well, to be honest, I came over here to say good-bye, but me-n-Eddie were talkin', and, uh, I think I'm gonna stick around here. I got fired from the cab company, so I'm not sure what I'm gonna do, but..."

"I do", says Ace.

MIKE - Hoo-boy, I think I know where this is goin'.

"You're workin' with me. A boy with your heart and muscle belongs in crimefighting, not fixing cars, although I could use your expertise in case we get a flat somewhere along the way. I've been doin' this alone for a while now, but after I read about you, I got to thinkin' it wouldn't be bad to have someone like you by my side, sharing in the victories and defeats. You got a taste of crimefighting with these guys, and you did good. Now, you're gonna get a real feast."

"He's right, ya know", says Mike, "the life of a crimefighter is the most rewarding one, ever."

"It sure is", I say.

"One thing, though, I operate incognito - neither of these fine gentlemen has any idea of my secret identity. Workin' with me, you'd need to do the same. A disguise. You'd still be Tim Blake when we're not on the streets, but out there, you'd need a crimefighting handle. Now, in order for you to come into the fold, I need to reveal my identity to you, because you'd be living with me, but you'd need to take a solemn oath that you'd never betray me to anyone - not even to Mike and Eddie."

He took out something that looks like chap-stick, or something like that, and he smears this on his lips. I look at Mike to say, 'what's all this?', and he just shrugs.

"Come here, Tim", and he kisses him. Tim's a little timid about this, as anyone would be when a masked stranger suddenly comes up to you and kisses you, but a lot of guys fantasize about that sort of thing. Anyways...

"I do like you and I think you're hot, and in time you'll come to feel the same toward me. I'd be good for you - not like that imbecile you worked for at the cab company. Now, that's not the only reason I kissed you. What I had on my lips and what I transmitted to you was a mild hypnotic drug that curbs your temptation to reveal secrets that shouldn't be..."

"You drugged me to keep your identity a secret? You couldn't just trust me? Don't you think I'd be virtuous enough to respect your wishes without drugging me? My gosh, you think I'm good enough to battle the bad guys by your side, and I'm honored by that, but I wouldn't ever think of goin' behind your back. You wanna be my new boss, and you told me to not do something, so of course, I'm gonna obey you. That's what guys like me do. You needed to drug me for that? I'm sorry Mr. Justice, or whoever you are, but I just can't be a part of that, I'll find something to do out there..."

"Tim, I was testing you."

"Huh?"

"I wanted to see what you were made of, in terms of loyalty. This is not a drug. It's ordinary lip balm. What you just said spoke volumes. You're so guileless and virtuous you couldn't even stand the thought of workin' with somebody who'd pull a dirty trick like that. That's the kind I need with me. Please don't walk out on me, Tim. I never would really force anyone to fall in love with me, all that was just to see how you'd react, what sort of boy you are. You don't have to love me, Tim, but please be my sidekick, my comrade, my friend."

Well, wouldn't ya know it - Tim thought about it for a second, me-n-Eddie looking at him, nodding at him "do it".

He agreed, and went up to him and kissed him, on his own volition. Me-n-Eddie just looked on proudly. We were witnessing the birth of another crimefighting team. I could only hope they'd enjoy their partnership the same way me-n-Eddie have, and are, and always will.

I discovered Ace's true identity when we spoke privately. I was sworn to secrecy - I'm not even allowed to tell Eddie. Tim, or should I say Rick, stops by and hangs out whenever he can, not going into details, but telling us how much he loves his new life, his new street handle as Rick Righteous, and how much he loves his new mentor, Ace Justice, NightCabbie.