We've just gone to bed Friday night when the phone begins to ring. "Who the hell would be calling at this hour," Tor grumbles, reaching over and picking it up. "Yeah?" He growls.
I see his face change as he listens, then speaks sharply. "Stop and pull yourself together, Stephan. Now, try to tell me what's going on." He listens intently for a few moments, then says, "We'll get there as early as we can. Get yourself a room at the Comfort Inn across from the hospital and try to get some rest. I'll call them and have your room charged to me. Now do what I tell you, babe."
"What?" I ask as soon as he hangs up.
"That damned store Luc works in was robbed about an hour ago. Luc got shot."
"Oh, Jesus! How bad is it?"
"I don't know. All Stephan could tell me is that Luc is still in the operating room at the university hospital. The poor kid is hysterical, that's why I told him we'd be there as soon as we can tomorrow."
"I wish it wasn't so damn far, he needs someone with him now."
"I hope the hospital runs him out and he does what I told him. Let's get what sleep we can."
"You're not going to tell Tommy and Mike?"
"Let 'em sleep; there's nothing they can do. Give me the phonebook."
After Tor makes arrangements for our rooms, he hugs me. "Let's get a few hours, then we'll wake the boys and get underway."
Somehow both of us manage about five hours. I wake Mike and Tommy to a chorus of complaint, but both jump out of bed the moment I tell them what's happened. We're on the road by six and with little early traffic, Tor pushes it to the point we make a three-hour trip in just two and a half. When the receptionist tries to give him some grief over seeing Luc, he tells her all four of us are doctors and demands to go up.
As we expected, a disheveled Stephan is in the waiting room. He runs over to us, hugs Tommy, and starts crying. Tor gives him a moment, then pulls him away. "Stop it, Stephan," he growls. "Tell us how Luc is."
Stephan wipes his eyes. "The doctor says he'll be okay, but it's going to take a while. I'm so glad to see you."
"Did you get any rest last night?"
"Not much. They made me leave, so I went to the motel like you told me to."
"Good. Have you seen Luc this morning?"
"Not yet. I'm waiting for him to wake up."
"Let's go get a cup of coffee, then."
Sitting with us in the coffee shop seems to calm Stephan.
"Have you called his parents?" I ask him.
"I tried, but they hung up on me soon as I told them who I was."
"They should know. Give me their number," Tor says.
Stephan fumbles in his billfold and passes a slip of paper to Tor who goes out to the lobby to the pay phone.
I suddenly hear him yell, "Well fuck you, then." into the phone and slam it down. He comes back to our table, his face purple with fury.
"What happened? I ask.
"They said if Luc prefers Stephan to his own parents he can have him. They don't intend to come unless Stephan leaves, and they'll take Luc home for recovery only if he agrees not to call or try to see Stephan." Tor slams his fist down on the table hard enough to rattle our coffee cups. "How can anybody be so goddamned bloody minded about their son when he's been shot!"
I see the lady behind the counter give Tor a hard look.
"I'm going to do what's best for Luc," Stephan says quietly. "I'll take care of him as best I can, but if the doctor says he needs to go home, then I'll …" tears spring to his eyes again, "I'll let him and not bother them."
"You're a good man, Stephan, but let's see what his doctor has to say first." Tor says.
We're back on the fifth floor just in time to see the doctor emerge from Luc's room. Tor stops him to ask about Stephan. When the doctor asks Tor if he's family, he snaps in his icy voice, "I'm Doctor Torrence, a close friend of both Luc and Stephan. We're the only ones here, and I want to know his condition."
"He's a fortunate young man. One bullet went through mid-thigh, taking a fair sized chip out of the femur and nicking the femoral artery. If the rescue squad hadn't answered promptly, he might well have bled to death. The second bullet passed through his abdomen, missing any vital organs. He's a healthy young man, so he'll heal fast, but he'll be on crutches for some weeks while the femur strengthens. He's fully conscious and resting comfortably, so you may see him if you wish."
"Thank you."
"Luc!" Stephan cries and tries to hug him.
When I see Luc wince, I take Stephan's arm and pull him back. "Easy, Stephan, you're hurting him."
"I'm sorry, Luc. I love you so much."
Luc manages a smile and kisses Stephan. "Hi, guys."
Stephan pulls a chair next to the bed and holds Luc's hand while we talk until a nurse finally runs us out.
"We were both supposed to start work Monday week. I don't know what to do. I want to stay with him." Poor Stephan looks devastated.
"You're going on to work as you're supposed to. You'll be no help to him as long as he's in the hospital, and he'll need you more when he gets home." Tor tells him.
"But he'll be home alone if I'm working."
"By then he'll be able to care for himself to a large extent. You can fix him something for lunch before you leave each day; the rest of the time he'll be resting."
"What about his job? He'll lose it now."
"I'll drive over and talk with the dean. They can usually find a substitute teacher for a week or two. By that time, I imagine Luc will be able to work."
"Thanks, Tor. You always know what to do."
"Tommy and I know you want to stay close to Luc while you can. We won't be moving in our flat until the end of next week, so you can stay there if you want. When we get there you can have the sleep sofa." Mike says.
Stephan hugs Mike. "You and Tommy are the best, Mike. I'm sure glad I got to room with Tommy so we all got to know each other."
Mike looks embarrassed at Stephan's hug.
We all go out for lunch together and, to our delight, the furniture van shows up not long after we've gotten to the flat. It doesn't take long to get the furnishings placed where the guys had originally planned. The sleep sofa is long, because the guys insisted it be king size for Tor and me to use instead of staying in a motel when we come this way for some research or a visit.
Once the furniture is in place, Tor calls to get the dean's name from Luc then drives over to talk to him while I take Mike and Tommy shopping to fill their fridge and pantry. Stephan has gone home to get his clothes.
When we meet back in Luc's room, Tor tells him, "The dean was very understanding. He has a substitute lined up for your classes until you can go to work. Since you have a contract, you're also covered by their health insurance."
"Thanks, Tor, that's a big relief." We see Luc look toward the door. "Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?" It's Stephan's parents.
"We came to see you, son. Did you think we wouldn't?"
"But it's so far."
"You're our other son, Luc." Stephan's mother kisses him. "How are you?"
After a few moments, the four of us leave so they can visit. "Now they're real parents," Tor says in the lift, "not like those bloody twits of Luc's."
Sunday, Stephan and his parents join us for Mass where Eric includes a special prayer for Luc. He begs off our dinner invitation, so the rest of us have dinner together. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf tell us again how thankful they are for the help we all gave them in accepting their son's gayness.
When we get back to Luc's room, Eric is there, talking with him. He says a few words to us all, then places his hand on Luc's head, prays for his recovery and, after giving him Holy Communion, blesses him. The boys, Tor, and I stay a few minutes longer. Knowing the flight Stephan's parents took was expensive and they plan to stay another few days, with the boys' concurrence I hand them a set of keys to the flat and tell them to stay there with Stephan. They protest, but look grateful.
Back home, Tor and I are busy all week trying to help the boys decide what they want to take to the flat. Of course they want everything, but there's only so much space available. We finally argue them into taking only what they'll need for the next few weeks and taking other clothing as the weather changes. We make it a point to call Luc every evening to check on his progress. It comes as surprise when he tells us Thursday that he's been up on crutches for the first time and will be able to go home by the middle of next week.
We make a procession on Friday. Each boy driving his own car, and Tor and me in ours. I find out the caliber of Stephan's parents when we arrive at the flat; it's absolutely spotless with everything in place. Even the food they have eaten has been replaced. I know, because I find several items in the fridge and cabinet that are not the brands we usually use. Mike picks up an envelope from the desk containing the keys and the most gracious note of appreciation I've ever read.
It takes only a few minutes for the flat to become a mess when the boys begin to bring up their gear. Knowing Mike's tendency to procrastinate, we help them put their stuff away. We've just finished and gotten a drink when Stephan comes in with a smile.
"You guys are really wonderful letting the folks and me stay here all week. I wasn't sure when you were coming, so I haven't taken the sheets off the sofa bed yet. I'll do it now and go on home."
"You will not," Tor says before I can. "Drew and I will stay in the motel tonight and you'll stay here. We're going home tomorrow anyway."
"I can't do that. You've all done too much for me already."
"Look, Steph, soon as Luc gets out of the hospital, Mike and me want him to come here with you until he goes back to work," Tommy says decisively. "That's how come we got that big sofa."
"Tommy and I will be in and out and you'll be here the whole time, so Luc won't be alone," Mike adds. "Hey, it'll be just like the dorm."
Stephan grins. "Yeah, four guys and one bathroom. Morning traffic jams again."
To Luc's delight, he's released from the hospital early the next week with an admonition to spend most of his time in bed. He and Stephan stay at the flat with Mike and Tommy for the remainder of the week, then they all come down for the weekend. Luc looks remarkably well, and moves easily on his crutches.
"How's the leg?" I ask.
"Be about six months or so before I'll be playing soccer again, but I won't have that much time for it any more. The doctor says I can start work next week." He grins. "One good thing, I got all my lecture notes and tests made up while I couldn't do anything else."
On Tuesday night Mike calls to tell us that Luc and Stephan have gone back to their house. Stephan has been commuting and Luc will start work tomorrow. He sounds a little disappointed. "It was fun having them around," he tells me.
"Well I expect they're glad to be back home and not worrying about you guys coming in unexpectedly. I hope you didn't cramp their style too much while they were with you."
"I don't think we did. They were so glad to be back together, they didn't pay Tommy and me much attention. Tommy got a little embarrassed the first couple of times he saw them smooching, but he got over it. For me, it was sort of like being back home with you and Tor." He snickers. "The sofa-bed was always a mess, and they were looking happy whenever Tommy and I came in from our dates."
"Thanks for being so tolerant, babe."
"No big deal."
"How's the job?"
"I'm coming home next weekend. I want to copy some of the lecture notes you and Tor use with first year students."
"We'll be happy to help you, but you should develop your own. Your teaching style isn't going to be the same."
"I know, but they'll sure be a help. Gotta run now. Love you and Tor."
"We love you guys."