The sun woke John Matthews. He lay still for a moment, blinking, before stretching in delicious restfulness. The dream returned full force and he felt his shaft thickening as the feelings it had invoked returned as well.
("You must tell it you accept the dream, " Miss O'Reilly had said.)
What the heck, Matthews thought. He reached under the pillow, took the bit of gold into his hand and said, "I accept my dream." When nothing happened, he stood up. That was some dream, he thought as he hurried to the shower where he stood under cold water until his shaft reverted back to its normal state. If I get nothing else out of this, I got that.
The memory of Cowley's order to visit his new partner came back. He dressed, fighting back irritation. He didn't want to go to the hospital; he didn't want to be William Gladden's partner...he didn't want to face the man's rejection over his sexual inclination.
I'm gay, he thought as he zipped his jeans. There's no shame in that but so many people can't accept us. If Gladden goes after birds, he could very well be anti-gay. I can't work with someone like that. Matthews scowled at his reflection; I won't work with someone like that. I won't tell him I'm homosexual, but I swear, the first time he makes a fairy joke, I'll drop him so fast, he'll feel like a whirlwind has been around him and then I'll go to old Cow and demand a release.
Matthews drove to the hospital, displeasure and vexation eating away at his usual calm self. He checked in with the staff sister, went to the proper room and entered. He froze in the doorway.
Gladden looked up, a bored, restless expression on his handsome face. "If you're the doctor, get me out of here!"
Matthews smiled hugely, his whole face lighting up in beautiful joy. Gladden eyed him in puzzlement. "I'm John Matthews, your new partner."
Gladden scowled. "Told Cowley I didn't want you. Want you to know that right off the bat."
"I know." Matthews thought in jubilation, but you will, William Gladden, you will. He walked slowly toward the man of his dreams. Oh, yes, his mind, his soul, his heart, repeated, you will.
A line sang in Matthews's mind:
****** [AND TELL HIM THAT HIS WANDERING NIGHTS ARE OVER...] ******
Matthews grinned in real pleasure at the man in the bed. It was hard for him to keep from laughing in exhilaration, in satisfied rapture, in anticipated elation.
Gladden stared at him in perplexity. He didn't know why this young, slim man was so happy at being teamed with him, and...he added quickly ...obviously glad at being with him tonight, but it was catching. Gladden felt himself relax, returning the infectious smile. He reached out to shake Matthews's hand and found it enclosed in warm, welcoming fingers, fingers that gave him a feeling of security, of belonging, something he had never had with any other partner. He didn't understand it, but he wasn't going to argue with it.
Maybe, he thought, this new relationship wasn't going to be so bad after all.
******[Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream
Make him the cutest that I've ever seen
Give him two lips like roses and clover
Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over...]******
