Shepherd's Crook - 15. Chapter 15

Gibby tossed and turned. His eyebrows twitched as deep frown lines marred his sleeping face. “No…please, Mom…don’t…” The words were cut off by a sudden jerk, followed by a desperate moan.

“Gibby, wake-up!” Tanner shouted at him as he joined him on the bed, moving faster than human eyes could see. Within a fraction of a heartbeat, a thick white vapor enveloped the sleeping boy as Tanner’s ghostly body protectively pulled Gibby closer to his chest.

The soft sobs grew increasingly louder. “Shhh Gib,” Tanner purred against Gibby’s ear, trying to calm him. “It’s okay, I’m here. It’s just a dream.”

When Gibby started trembling in Tanner’s arms, he knew that something was terribly wrong. Burying his face into the soft auburn locks at Gibby’s neck, Tanner repeated over and over, “It okay…please believe me, Gibby, it’s going to be okay.”

“Mom…stop!” A shrill cry strangled Gibby’s words. The air was cold. Gibby convulsed in Tanner’s arms.

Tanner clung to him, trying to do whatever he could to wake Gibby from his horrible nightmare, but nothing worked. He couldn’t wake the sleeping teenager. Pulling Gibby tighter into his embrace, Tanner’s body merged into Gibby as a flash of light lit up the room.

“What the hell,” Tanner muttered as he and Gibby became one.

Opening his eyes, Tanner found himself inside Gibby’s dream. He realized that he was seeing what Gibby’s sleeping mind was seeing. He stood there feeling every terrifying moment, reliving each second of Gibby’s unbelievable pain.

Tanner saw Gibby standing in the dim shadows and wanted to grab him and run as fast as he could, to get Gibby as far away from the awful memories as possible, but an icy cold hand snapped around his wrist trapping him to the very spot he stood.

“Arrggh!” Tanner screamed. He tried to pull his arm away, but it was no use. He couldn’t break Gibby’s tight grip, nor could he move from the boy’s side.

“Shhh, my parents are fighting again.” Gibby growled at Tanner as he tip-toed closer to the wide, wooden, double doors at the end of a long dark hallway, dragging Tanner along behind him.

Tanner quickly looked around. The shadows made distorted shapes on the walls, but he could still make out that this wasn’t the Robinson’s current home in Shepherd’s Crook. It was their house from before the fire. It was much bigger than their home now. The grand staircase scrolled into two directions as it followed a graceful curve that split off to the right and to the left.

Gibby reached the closed doors at the end of the hallway and dropped down to his knees. A small crack, where the heavy wood met in the middle, let a sliver of light spill into the darkened hallway. “Dad’s mad at Mom again.” Gibby’s voice was soft and sad.

“C’mon, Gibby, this is just a dream.” When Gibby didn’t respond to Tanner, he tried again. “We have to get out of here…this isn’t real.”

Gibby suddenly looked up at him, but he didn’t move.

“It’s a dream, babe,” Tanner caught Gibby’s chin as he tipped it up, forcing him to look at him. Gibby’s soft brown eyes were clouded in fear. “This might even be a memory from your past, but none of this right now is real. You have to wake up!”

“Be quiet,” Gibby hushed at him, “I can’t hear what they’re saying.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t go to work today. I bet you didn’t even get out of bed--”

“But Jon--”

“Carol, don’t!” Jonathan shouted, cutting his wife off. “I know that Adam covered your shift for you. He took your patient rotation today--”

“Did he tell you that?” Carol demanded.

“No, damn it, he didn’t have to! Everyone at the hospital has been asking where you are. Do you think they can’t see what’s going on?”

“But Jon,” A muffled sob stopped Jonathan’s angry rant.

He paced the bedroom while he ran his trembling fingers over his worried face. “You need help,” Jonathan whispered. “Maybe I should call Edwin at North Chester Medical. If he can pull some strings and have you admitted there, nobody would ever know. We can tell the Chief of Staff that you’re out on emergency family leave...they don’t need to know what for.”

Carol sank lower into the large bed, pulling the sheets up to her chin. Her thin frame barely made a bump under the thick covers. Her eyes were hollow and vacant. The deep purple bags underneath them made them dark and sunken, appearing almost black instead of the soft pale brown that they usually were.

“You don’t eat…you don’t sleep…you spend hours in here staring off into space--”

“I told you, I’m trying to figure out how to stop them.” Her eyes darted nervously around the dim room as she twitched under the covers.

“Stop who, Carol? Do you know how crazy you sound?”

Pulling the sheets over her head until only her wild eyes were staring out into the night, she muttered, “I have to stop the demons, they’re coming for him. I’ve seen them. They’re going to try to steal Gibby’s soul. I swear to you, Jon, I’ve seen them! Their ugly distorted faces twisting in the dark. They are fighting in front of Gibby. He looks like an angle standing in the white light.”

“That’s it!” Jonathan yelled making Gibby jump from his hiding spot in the hallway. “I’m calling Edwin. I’ve told you before, nothing is going to happen to Gibby. He’s safe! He’s sound asleep in his bedroom for god’s sake.”

“You’ve got to believe me--”

“Believe what?” Jonathan shouted at her. “That demons are after our son, that they are trying to steal his soul?”

“Yesss,” She hissed from under the covers. Her icy eyes suddenly turned towards the doorway as she glared at Gibby eavesdropping on their argument. Their eyes connected. She saw her son spying from the shadows of the hallway.

Gibby grabbed Tanner by the arm, dragging him back down the hallways towards his bedroom at the opposite end of the house.

“What are you doing?” Tanner shouted, stumbling along the way.

“She saw us!”

Shoving Tanner through the door, “Hide,” Gibby warned him before scurrying underneath the thin sheet on the bed. He tucked the material across his waist, leaving his bare legs and back exposed.

Tanner ran to a darkened corner and waited. This room was much bigger than Gibby’s other bedroom. It was decorated with trophies and ribbons. Dozens of medals hung from tacks covering one entire wall. It was a typical teenage boy’s room.

The minutes ticked by. “Maybe she didn’t see you?” The words had barely reached Tanner’s lips when Gibby’s mom appeared in the doorway with a small can tucked under her arm. The dim light on Gibby’s desk reflected off a tiny metal object in her hand.

Gibby’s lay still with his eyes closed, head turned to one side, auburn locks fanning across his pillow. He fought to keep his breath soft and even, mimicking sleep. Gibby didn’t move, unaware of the danger inching closer to him.

“Carol?” Jonathan’s frantic scream echoed from down the hallway.

She slammed and locked the door to Gibby’s bedroom before Jonathan could stop her. She smiled, he would never reach them in time. “Please forgive me,” She muttered splashing liquid over Gibby’s sleeping body. “This is the only way to save you.”

“Mom?” Gibby tried to sit up, but it was too late. She flicked the lighter, engulfing him in flames.

“Stop!” Tanner lunged from the shadows when he realized what she was doing, but his hands passed right through Gibby’s mother. His mind raced as his nose and lungs filled with the smell of gasoline and burning flesh.

“Mom, no!” Gibby’s bloodcurdling screams filled the room as the flames quickly spread to the walls and ceiling as the room lit up with fire.

“Gibby!” Jonathan roared as he beat against the wooden door.

***

Desperate sobs shook Gibby’s chest as his eyes flashed open. Sweat drenched his hair, plastering it to his neck, forehead and cheeks. He trembled as his eyes darted around the bedroom that was familiar, but wasn’t the one from his childhood home.

“It was just a dream, that’s all. It’s over now, babe. I have you,” Tanner whispered against his ear, holding him tight.

Gibby relaxed into Tanner’s embrace. The nightmare had left him trembling, but the sound of Tanner’s voice pulled him back to the present. His soaking wet clothes clung to his body, causing him to shiver in the dark.

“You were there in my dream,” Gibby tried not to stumble over his words as he rushed everything out in one breath. “I was so mad at you earlier. I yelled at you and told you to get out, yet, when I needed you tonight, you were right there with me…” His voice trailed off.

Tanner pulled him tighter and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. “You needed me--”

“But I yelled at you,” Gibby tried to control the fear still pumping through his body. “And you still came anyways.”

Closing his eyes, Tanner rubbed his nose against Gibby’s check as he nodded his head before pressing his forehead to the side of Gibby’s face. The memory of Gibby’s nightmare was awful. Tanner was still shaking from the visions seared into his mind; even more disturbing was that for Gibby, it had all been real. Gibby’s mother had set him on fire. The one person in this world who should have fought to protect him, is the same person who hurt him the most.

“How could she do that to you?” Tanner asked, with tears lacing his blue eyes.

Gibby turned in his arms so he could rest his head on Tanner’s shoulder. He shrugged, “I don’t know.” He spoke softly as his fingers traced along the front of Tanner’s shirt. “Dad says she was mentally ill. He even blames himself that he should have seen the signs before it got to that point, but it all happened so fast. By the time he realized that she was capable of hurting me, it was too late.”

Tanner rubbed his fingers over Gibby’s moist hair and held him tight as the trembling started to subside. Time seemed to stand still. The only sound was their steady breathing, that had softly fallen into an identical pattern.

“You really should get out of those wet clothes…” Tanner’s words hung in the air.

Gibby glanced down at the soaking wet tank top and boxer shorts that he’d worn to bed. He was used to waking up in a nightmare-induced sweat, just normally he was alone.

“Are you trying to get me out of my clothes, Mr. Mitchell?” Gibby nervously giggled.

“It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before.”

Pulling his head back, Gibby looked into Tanner’s eyes. The bright blue sparkled when he smiled, making Gibby’s heart rate double. He wasn’t teasing. Tanner had seen him in the hospital pool and caught him in the bathtub that first night, yet the sight of Gibby’s battered and burned body didn’t deter the desire he saw burning in Tanner’s eyes.

Gibby climbed out of bed. He cast his eyes downward as he peeled the shirt off first, revealing creamy smooth skin across his stomach and chest. Nervously rubbing his fingers over his abs he continued to drop his hands lower until they reached the elastic waistband of his boxers.

“Are you sure?” Gibby asked, giving Tanner an easy out if he wanted to take it. It wasn’t a secret that Tanner had never experienced sex with a guy before, but Gibby didn’t want to push him into something he wasn’t ready for.

Tanner swallowed hard. His face flushed with excitement as he nodded his head, tossing golden curls across his forehead. Words had escaped the ghost boy as he tried to speak, but only a strangled moan croaked out of his throat. Licking his parched lips, Tanner held his breath and just watched.

Gibby smiled, “I’ll take that as a yes.”

When Gibby’s fingers disappeared along the waistband, Tanner’s eyes were fixed on the thin material as Gibby pushed it lower and lower over his hips. There was a delicious indent at Gibby’s waist, the fabric slid along the lines of his body before freeing his erection. The swollen flesh bounced in the center of short auburn curls. Tanner watched Gibby rub his fingers around his plump balls hanging underneath his thick cock as he stepped closer to the bed.

“It’s not too late to change your mind,” Gibby warned him.

Tanner reached his hands out and pulled Gibby closer to him, “I want to touch you.”

His touch was electric. Gibby gasped from the shock. Tanner leaned forward and pulled his t-shirt over his head before lying back onto the bed. Gibby’s finger traced the outline of Tanner’s abs bringing a gasp from the boy’s parted lips.

“Are you going to keep these on?” Gibby asked, curling his fingertip into the waist of Tanner’s jeans.

Slowly shaking his head, Tanner lifted his butt off the bed, which helped free his own body from his jeans and underwear with one quick push. Within seconds, Tanner was just as naked as Gibby. Tanner’s fingers moved to his own cock where he stroked it as he watched Gibby do the same. Gibby’s eyes settled on the silky blond hairs covering Tanner’s tight balls before letting out a low moan.

Climbing onto the bed, Gibby settled himself on his side so they were face to face. Tanner ran his tongue over Gibby’s bottom lip. When Gibby opened up for him, Tanner deepened their connection as they kissed until their heads spun.

“I need you,” Tanner spoke between playful nibbles.

Gibby clenched his eyes closed. It had been so long since he had driven someone crazy with desire. He wanted Tanner so bad, but it would be best if they took this slow.

“Is it okay to touch you?” Gibby asked. Tanner nodded his head and when Gibby’s hot fingers wrapped around his hard flesh, Tanner moaned against his lips. He was hard and ready. It would only take the boy a few strokes to set him off. Gibby smiled as he pumped him faster.

“Oh god!” Tanner gasped as his body convulsed, reaching the moment of climax. Several hot streams of cum jetted across their chests and within seconds, Gibby’s own hot thick cum was joining him.

They slowed the pace until the tremors had nearly subsided. Neither boy released the other guy’s cock, both enjoying the aftershock of being stroked while the jolts still sporadically made them gasp from pure pleasure.

Tanner frowned when he finally looked into Gibby’s warm dark eyes. “I’m sorry that I shot so quick--”

“Shhh,” Gibby silenced him with his lips. Tanner opened up to him, enjoying the feel of Gibby’s tongue wrestling with his own tongue. Instead of ending, the kiss continued, as Gibby’s lips moved away from Tanner’s mouth and dropped over his chin and throat. “Don’t worry about it. We have all night.”

***

Gibby and Tanner held each other for the rest of the night, snuggling into the other boy’s body for comfort. The soft content sighs that escaped Gibby’s lips while he slept, had Tanner’s body returning to a painful state of erection on more than one occasion.

They had stroked each other to the point of climax several times, but Gibby wouldn’t let it go any further than that. Tanner wanted to experience what he had missed out on, but Gibby needed to take it slow since he was still hurting from his previous heartbreak.

“Good morning handsome,” Tanner purred when Gibby’s eyes fluttered open in the morning. The soft brown eyelashes, brushed over his cheeks as the sleepy memories of last night came flooding back.

Gibby smiled, “Well, hello to you too good looking.” He pressed a kiss to Tanner’s jaw before letting his heavy eyes droop a little enjoying the last few moments of their cuddle time.

The alarm clock would be going off in two minutes. Usually, Gibby hated waking up before the alarm would buzz, but this morning it gave him more time in Tanner’s arms.

‘BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!’

“And there’s the bell,” Gibby grumbled, rolling away from the delicious warmth of Tanner’s body to shut off the evil noise.

The morning went smoothly. Tanner pouted when Gibby made him stay in the bedroom while he took a quick shower. Trying to persuade Gibby by offering to wash his back didn’t help. Gibby knew that if they got naked together again, there would be no way he would ever make it to school on time.

“Nope, you hang out here and I’ll be back before you can miss me,” Gibby leaned in and kissed Tanner’s lips. It was a soft kiss, not long and passionate, but just the electricity from the contact had his morning erection throbbing and bouncing under its own weight.

“Miss you already,” Tanner chuckled as soon as Gibby released his lips.

Gibby gathered his clothes and headed into the bathroom to get ready for the day. For good measure, he swished his naked ass a little more than was necessary for the short walk to the bathroom then shot a quick wink over his shoulder at Tanner. The boy’s mouth hung open as he watched Gibby teasing him from across the room.

Well, I promised some answers and now we know more about Gibby's scars.  Oh and in case you missed it the boy's kissed and made-up too...what do you think?  I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thanks so much for reading!
KC