Out of the Dungeon by SM Johnson Read Free Book Online Page A

probably suspected he was homosexual long
about the time he was ten years old, and while they didn't hound
him to get married and give them grandchildren, they seemed to
pretend that Roman was merely Jeff's roommate, an arrangement of
convenience, due to the high cost of living in the city.
    Jeff never pressed them into a better
understanding, or tried to force them into any kind of acceptance.
Their interactions were amicable, though superficial, which seemed
to suit everyone just fine.
    "I'm not so good," Roman said, then paused,
unsure or unable to go on. He felt a shudder run through him that
clogged his throat, and he realized if he tried to speak he might
sob out loud.
    "Is it the AIDS, dear? Oh, I worry about that
with you single guys."
    Roman let out a shocked laugh, and it
loosened his throat so he could speak. Leave it to Betty Johnson in
upstate New York to worry about AIDS.
    "No, no. But Jeff's been in an accident. He
was riding his bike to work this morning when he got bowled over by
a delivery truck. He's in intensive care at St. Anne's." He stopped
talking, waiting for a reaction.
    "Well, don't stop there," Betty Johnson said.
"Is he going to be all right? Should we come to the city?"
    "He's stable," Roman said. "They say he's
going to be all right."
    Is that really what they said, Roman
wondered, even as the words passed his lips. Who said it, Dr.
Rashaviak, Katie the social worker, Zach the nurse? He couldn't
remember. The whole day was a blur. But the general attitude seemed
like Jeff would be okay – eventually, at least. He'd have some
rehab, but then he'd be fine, right? Or was Roman projecting his
own hopes onto the situation? With a lot of work – well, Roman knew
how to make Jeff work. Roman was the expert in motivating Jeff.
    "He has broken bones and bruises," Roman
said, and it felt like the understatement of the century.
    "Which bones?" Betty asked.
    Roman took a deep breath. Could he even
remember everything? "Ribs, collarbone. Neck." The last word got
caught in his throat.
    "Neck?" Betty asked. "Spine? Oh, my God."
    "No spinal damage that they can tell. They
took him right in to surgery this morning to stabilize his neck.
He's on a vent, but the nurse assured me that he's capable of
breathing on his own, and that the vent is to conserve his energy,
so he'll heal faster."
    "So he can move? He's not paralyzed?"
    "The doctor said he's not paralyzed. He was
moving his fingers and toes in the emergency room."
    She was quiet for a minute, then said softly,
"Should we come?"
    "I don't know," Roman answered. "They let me
see him for five minutes, then sent me home. I can see him for
another five minutes in a few hours. I don't know what you'd do if
you came now, other than sit in the waiting room. But it's up to
you. I'll get you the number, you can call and talk to the doctor
or one of his nurses."
    "Which hospital did you say, St. Anne's? I'll
look up the number myself. I'm not daft, you know."
    "Of course you aren't. I'm sorry. I'm still
reeling, I guess."
    "This has to be pretty shocking for a man who
likes to control everything," Betty said.
    Under other circumstances, Roman would
question if there was some hidden meaning there, but not now. He
couldn't deal with it if there was, so there was no point in
wondering. "Do you have my cell phone number?" he asked.
    "The number you're calling from shows as
'private' on caller ID, so I'm not sure."
    Roman gave her the number, but after that
there was no more to say.
    "Dare," Roman called out, and Dare came to
the doorway.
    "What?"
    "I'm going to hang out here for a while. Rest
maybe. Try not to lose my mind. I don't know what you want to do.
Are you supposed to work at the club tonight?"
    Dare nodded. "At eight. I ordered soup and
sandwiches from the deli. Should be here soon."
    "Perfect," Roman said. "I'm just going to
close my eyes for a little while. Let me know when it gets
here."
    "Will do," Dare said.

Chapter 8
     
    D are went to the
kitchen and