Winter Break: Chapter 5 (Working)
#1 of Winter Break
It works!!! Yay!!!
The tone of his voice was like a knife. He was so upset, but Mutt didn't blame him. He wasn't yelling, but he should have been. The quietness of his voice, the tension of the moment was torture. Farran was well known for his calm voice and understanding, but in certain instances, it was worse than screaming. Mutt, or in Farran's tense words, Dukie, had broken the camera he'd gotten his friend for Christmas.
"Farran, I'm so sorry. I-it was an accident. I swear." Dukie pleaded Farran's forgiveness.
"Dukie, it's fine," Farran replied with a forced smile, "I didn't pay for it."
Dukie knew he was supposed to laugh, but he felt to bad to force it.
"Dukie, it is fine. The memory card is still in tact. I'll just go get a new camera. It's not that big of a deal. It's your paw I'm worried about. Are you sure none of the plastic cut it?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"I think I should take a loo--" he was interrupted by a quick snap from Dukie.
"It's fine Farran."
Farran had to take a moment's pause to register what just happened, then replied, "Alright. I believe you." Farran turned away and walked toward the restroom, "I'm going to take a shower."
"Alright." Once Farran had entered the restroom and locked the door, Dukie began limping to his bedroom, leaving spots of blood on the wood floor. In his room he scavenged and found a roll of gauze bandages. He wrapped his right paw with the bandaging. Once he'd gotten a few layers over the wound, he pulled the roll to his face, and tore the unrolled area with his teeth. As he tucked the torn end under the layers, his bedroom door opened. Dukie turned quickly to see Farran standing in the doorway, completely naked, with his arms crossed.
"I knew it." Farran said in a stern but caring voice.
Dukie could only manage to blush, and force and apology.
"No way you can go to work like that. I'm going to call you in."
"No don't. It will be fine. Besides, I need the hours. I'm already on the boss' bad side."
Farran let out a deep sigh, "Fine. But you had better be careful. And don't push yourself too hard. I'll clean up your blood stains." He smiled, "At least let me get you to the door to put on your shoes. The Snow will at least be more cushioned than the hard wood.
Dukie nodded and smiled as Farran walked toward him. Dukie raised his arms, wrapping them around Farran's neck. He was picked up by strong, damp arms. He looked up at his friend's handsome face, which, in return, looked down and smiled. The two got to the door. Farran set down his light friend.
"Dukie?" Farran started.
"Yeah?" Dukie replied.
"Have you been losing weight? You feel a lot lighter than the last time I carried you."
Dukie was silent.
"Dukie? Dukie what have you been doing?"
Dukie could only look away.
"You haven't been eating, have you? Damn it Dukie. I told you last time, you need to eat. I'm going to make you a lunch to take with you. You'd better eat. Your coworkers will tell me if you don't."
Farran went to the kitchen to make a quick sandwich. He tossed the bag of food to Dukie, "Now, go before you're late."
Dukie opened the door and left.
A few hours later, Farran was sitting on the couch watching the news, when the phone started ringing. He got up and walked to the kitchen to pick it up.
"Hello?" he answered.
A voice replied, "Is this Farran Bristol?"
"Yes, it is. Who is this?"
"This Bradley Hardpaw, Dukie's boss."
"Oh, Mr. Hardpaw, what's going on?"
"Dukie's been into a terrible accident. You need to get to the hospital." static followed before Farran could ask what happened. He sprinted to the door, flung on his coat, and ran out.
He reached the hospital twenty minutes later. He flung open the door and asked the receptionist where his friend was. She replied that he was in room 210. Farran sprinted up the stairs and down a long hallway. He found the room and looked through the door to see Dukie laying down in the bed, connected to multiple cords and tubes. A machine on the right of the bed was keeping Dukie's heart beat. Farran entered the room, and quickly walked toward Dukie, but was interrupted by the doctor.
"Excuse me, are you Farran?" The doctor, a tall husky, asked.
"Yes. I am."
"I'm Dr. Shawl. Your friend was his by a man on a snowmobile in the mountains. He was sent down a fairly steep cliff. We believe he hit his head on a boulder. We're not sure if he will make it." The doctor walked out of the room, leaving Farran standing, staring at his helpless friend.
He walked up to the bed, and fell to his knees, crying. The beeping of the machine opposite Farran, began growing faster, until it was one solid sound. Farran's eyes shot up. He saw the flat line on the screen. His friend's eyes were open, lifeless.
Farran stared at the motionless body, and began crying loudly.
Dukie awoke to a place of white fog. He heard a far off voice, that sounded of crying.
"Where am I?" he asked out loud.
A loud voice came through the fog, "You're in Heaven, Dukie."
"Lord? Is that you?"
"Dukie. It is not your time. You won't be here for a very long time. For now, you have someone that truly loves you down there."
"But, I thought you disapproved of homosexuality."
"My son, I love all of my children. I gave you life so you could enjoy it. So long as you believe in me, I will ne'er shun you. You will always be my child. Now go. Go back to him. He loves you. Enjoy the life I've given you. Do not let it go to waste."
Farran stood above his friend, tears streaming from his eyes. He leaned down and, with his muzzle next to Dukie's ear, he whispered, "I love you, Dukie." He kissed his love's lips, and began walking out of the room. He paused when he heard the sound of beeping and a light voice speaking,
"Today has just not been my day."
Farran turned around to see the once flat line, rising and falling at a steady pace. He saw the folf's eyes begin opening.
Tears once again filled his eyes, "Dukie?"