Tangled - Part Eighteen

I found a chair out of the way and I sat on the edge of it gingerly.
“Now!” Dr. Keen began. “Leroy, is it?”
Lee nodded.
“Yes, but I prefer Lee.” Lee said.
“Alright Lee.” Dr. Keen said. “I’m going to do a couple of very simple tests right now, okay?”

Lee nodded again.
“At this point, I want to determine the extent of the damage to your eyes. This will guide me as to what kind of treatment is needed.” Dr. Keen continued.
“Um . . it’s not going to . . uh . . hurt is it?” Lee asked hesitantly.
“No no not at all.” Dr. Keen laughed, a chiming bell-like sound. “You won’t feel a thing so I want you to just sit back and relax, okay?”

Lee visibly relaxed.
“David, would you be good enough to close the door and pull the blinds please?” Dr. Keen asked.

I jumped up and shut the door. I moved to the window and carefully pulled the blinds down. Dr. Keen dug in his bag and pulled out what looked like a large flashlight and a couple of pairs of goggles and laid them on the table.
“What I would give to be in my own surgery.” He muttered.

He took a small penlight out of his bag and moved closer to Lee.
“Right, my boy.” He said. “I want you to sit still and look straight ahead, okay? I’m just going to examine your eyes.”
Lee focused, if you could call it that, on the other side of the room and sat dead still.
Dr. Keen bent; not that far to go for a man of his stature; and carefully inspected Lee’s damaged corneas.

“Good, good.” He mumbled under his breath as he focused first on one eye and then the other. “Nasty scar tissue there, I see.”
“And this is . . um . . good?” Lee queried.
“Oh yes.” Dr. Keen said brightly. “Because it looks like it might just be superficial . . on the surface only.”

He straightened and then picked up the big flashlight affair and turned to me, a pair of goggles in his hand.
“Stand by the light switch, put these on and when I tell you, switch off the light.” He said.

I did as he asked. The goggles were extremely dark and I had to fumble for the light switch. I laid my hand on it, ready for his command. Dr. Keen put a pair of goggles over his own eyes and then carefully focused the large flashlight straight at Lee’s eyes.
“Okay David. Turn it off if you please.” He said.

I flipped the switch and waited expectantly. Suddenly, despite the goggles, there was a blinding flash and for a minute I was a little disorientated.
“Okay David.” Dr. Keen’s voice floated to me out of the void. “You can turn the lights on now.”

I did as he asked and quickly removed the goggles. I looked at Lee. He was sitting frozen in the chair, his hands gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles showed white. I moved to him quickly.
“What is it, Lee.” I asked softly. “What’s wrong.”

His head swung towards me and he sighed. Dr. Keen was busy replacing his equipment into the bag.
“I saw it, David.” He whispered. “I saw it.”
“Saw what?” I asked stupidly.
“He saw the flash.” Dr. Keen filled in. “That is an extremely bright strobe light. It emits a single high intensity beam of light in a micro-second that would blind a person under normal conditions.”
“What does it mean?” Lee asked a little breathlessly.
“It means, my good man, that your eyes seem to be in good condition under all that scarring.” Dr. Keen said. “It also means that a very simple corneal transplant is all you need.”

Lee and I stared at him speechless.
“Look.” Dr. Keen continued. “The test was simple really. All I needed to know was whether or not the lenses were damaged. My method is a bit crude and you won’t find it in any medical journal but it works. Because you saw something means that the lenses are in good order as well as the retinas. It also means that your optic nerves are firing.”

“So . . what you’re saying . . is that I could get my eyesight back?” Lee said hopefully.
“Of course.” Dr. Keen replied.
Lee sat speechless. I went to him and gripped his hand.
“That’s wonderful, Dr. Keen.” I said. “You hear that, sweetie? You’re going to see again.”

Lee turned his face to me.
“You just did it again.” He said, still sounding a little shocked.
“I know, sweetie.” I said. “I know.”
“Now!” Dr. Keen broke in. “Lee? I want you to describe to me exactly what you saw, alright.”

Lee thought about it for a minute and then smiled.
“It was . . like . . um . . well, a sort of pale flash of lightening, grey; in a black sky.” Lee said carefully.
“Good good.” Dr. Keen countered.
“It surprised me.” Lee said. “Everything has just been so dark until now.”

“Not for much longer.” Dr. Keen said confidently. “Now, I’d like to schedule the procedure for . . let’s see . . Friday? Would that suit you?”
“The sooner the better.” Lee said and I noticed a change in him. He seemed more confident again, like the Lee I knew before the accident. “But what about . . you know . . donors?”
“Not necessary.” Dr. Keen said. “We grow corneas now, synthetically. They take hold better in the patients.”
“Oh!” Lee said.

“I need a bit of time to have some sent out to me from my laboratory in Berlin, otherwise I’d do it right now.” Dr. Keen said.
“What does it involve exactly?” Lee asked.

Dr. Keen described the procedure to us. It was simple. Lee’s damaged corneas would be removed by laser and the new ones carefully sutured in place under local or general anesthetic, depending on what Lee preferred. There would be a short period of healing under bandages and then they would be removed and Lee would have his sight back.

He did explain that sometimes the corneas didn’t take and the procedure might have to be repeated. In a few cases, the patients never regained their sight simply because the corneas would not knit with the surrounding tissue or the damage was too severe. These cases were very rare indeed, he stressed. We thanked him most profusely and walked out of the hospital shrouded in hope.

Later, as we were making love, Lee touched my face gently and kissed me. He bent and put his lips to my ear.
“I’ll be able to see you again, Davey.” He whispered. “That in itself will make it all worthwhile.”

*****FORTY-NINE : THE ATRIUM.

On Friday, I drove Lee to the hospital for his surgery. He was in an agitated, restless state. I explained to him that he still would not be able to see for another couple of weeks or so until his eyes had healed properly. He told me that two weeks was nothing compared to the months that had gone by. His excitement was palpable.

I sat in the waiting room while the procedure was done and when it was over, Dr. Keen came out to me and told me that it had gone very well. He told me to wait while they brought Lee out of the general anesthetic and that I could take him home. He stressed that under no circumstances were the bandages to be removed and that Lee was to return to the hospital every two days to have them replaced. I thanked him again and carefully broached the subject of payment. He smiled slowly and shook his head.

“I am using Lee’s case as an example in my studies and there will be no charge. He’s quite a fine case of accidental damage to the corneas and if the corneas take, he’ll prove to be a bonus in my research. The laser technology is very new and at this time experimental. We are still perfecting it.” He said. “But don’t worry, my boy; it’s proven itself over and over again. By the way, his irises are really most incredible. I’ve never seen such brilliant green eyes before and trust me, I’ve looked into a lot of eyes.”

“I know.” I said. “His eyes used to amaze me every time I looked at them.”
“Well!” He quipped. “You’ll be able to look at them again very soon.”
Later I took a very groggy, disgruntled man home and put him to bed.

In the meantime, Lee's building had progressed at an amazing rate and the day finally arrived, a week after Lee’s surgery; when I installed the photographs. I left Kevin in charge of his frustrated brother and went to work. I had the eight boards packed and then transported to Lee's new building. We unpacked them carefully and I had a couple of contractors help me install them.

Once the photographs were in place, I stood back and took in the whole effect. I had to admit that it was quite spectacular. Danny's face looked at me from the eight niches, his body fine and beautiful. I adjusted the lighting on each one carefully until I was completely satisfied with the effect. By the time I had finished it was after five and the contractors had all gone. I locked up the building and pocketed the keys. I had planned to bring Danny, Kevin and Jack to the atrium for a special viewing. Lee, of course would be present but as he was still bandaged, he would have to content himself with what he could hear.

I had arranged for the others to meet us at our apartment at about seven-thirty or so. Kevin called and asked if he could bring Derek along and I told him it would be no problem.
At about seven-thirty, Kevin and Derek, Danny and Jack arrived and we all piled into two cars and drove down to the building.

I unlocked and led them all into the center of the dark atrium, Lee clinging to my elbow. I left them in the middle of the floor and went to the light switches.
“Okay, guys.” I said excitedly. “This is it!”
I flipped the switches and the atrium blazed with light.

They slowly turned in a circle, their mouths open. Lee stood still, his head cocked to one side, listening.
It was stunning, more so at night. Each of the niches glowed and the photographs stood out with an uncanny three-dimensional effect.

There was Danny as a dying warrior, on one knee, his arm stretched up to the heavens, an arrow piercing his chest. In another, he stood proud and naked as the god Apollo, his hand resting on his sword, his helmet glorious. One showed him as an athlete, a spear poised and ready to be thrown, his other arm outstretched marking his aim. My favorite of course, was Youth in Repose. In it Danny's face was serene and beautiful. The pose showed off his wonderful musculature to its best advantage, his nakedness pure and haunting.

“Wow!” Kevin gasped. “Wow!” He turned in a tight circle, his hand on his mouth, his eyes wide with wonder.
Jack took hold of Danny's hand and whispered in his ear. Danny flushed and threw a quick look at me.

“That's not me, is it?” Danny whispered. “Can't be. I'm not that . . beautiful!”
I went to him and took his hand.
“Of course, it's you!” I said. “And you are that beautiful. Who else could it be? I only photographed you.”
“Wow!” He whispered.

“Tell me what it’s like.” Lee said softly.
“It's amazing, David!” Kevin said softly. “Truly amazing! And Danny? You are so hot!””
“Thanks!” Danny smiled smugly.
“Tell me!” Lee said a little louder.

“Hey, watch it Kev!” Jack quipped. “He’s mine so no poaching, okay?”
“Well you’re one lucky son-of-a-gun, is all I can say.” Kevin replied with a lusty grin.
“Tell me!” Lee said angrily. “Will one of you fucks please tell me what it looks like.”

Kevin went to him and took his hand.
“Sorry buddy! It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. It’s . . magical!” He said. “Just you wait until you can see it. You’re going to love it.”
“Yeah!” Derek whispered. “I never expected it to look this good. Well done, David.”
“Thanks.” I said. “Danny and Jack; I have something for you.”

I took the book from my carry bag and handed it to Danny.
He opened it and gasped. The others came over and stood at his shoulder and watched as Danny paged through the book. I went to Lee and told him softly what I’d done.

I had had all sixteen photographs printed on high quality gloss paper and bound in leather. There were also some candid shots at the back, which I had taken during the shoot.
“It's . . !” Danny looked up at me. “It's so beautiful, thank you.”

He came over and embraced me. Jack followed and as he hugged me he said. “Thank you, David. It's wonderful.”
“It sounds beautiful.” Lee whispered and took me in his arms and kissed me.
“Good!” I said. “Because I had a copy made for you, too.”

I handed him the second copy of the album. He gently ran his hands over the leather cover and sighed.
“I wish I could see it all right now.” He said.
“Be patient, sweetie.” I said gently. “It’ll still be here next week.”

He pulled me to him and kissed me quickly.
“It all sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to see it.” He said. “Thank-you.”

Later, as we lay close together in our big bed, he kissed me gently on my forehead.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you.” He whispered. “I love you so much.”
“And I love you.” I said. “But I’m nobody special; just a man who’s in love; like any other man.”
“You are special.” He said. “I’ve never known anyone like you. So kind, compassionate and totally selfless.”

“Then you don’t know me very well.” I laughed. “I can be cruel, inconsiderate and very, very selfish if the mood takes me.”
“Never!” He said. “There’s not a cruel, selfish bone in your body.”
“You flatter me.” I said. “Give me a little time and I’m sure you’ll change your mind.”
“Rubbish!” He said and then grinned evilly. “Speaking of bones in bodies, I have this terrible problem with a bone of my own and I really don’t know what to do about it.”

He pressed his pelvis against me and I could feel his solid hardness against my hip.
”Well, lucky for you, I know exactly how to fix that.” I laughed and reached down and grasped his steely shaft in my fist. He shuddered and sighed contentedly.
“I thought you might.” He whispered and kissed me softly.

I threw off the covers and bent and took his pulsing length into my mouth. The heat of him was intense and he gripped my head with his hands and gently moved his hips under me.
He spread his legs open and I moved down to his balls and then lower. He tasted wonderful and my excitement grew. He writhed under me and moaned softly.
“Davey?” He gasped huskily. “Do it! I want you in me . . !”

I rose up onto my knees between his thighs and pushed his legs back against his body. He gripped his knees with his hands and lay there waiting, panting. I quickly lubricated my very hard shaft with my own pre-come and then gently worked on his man-hole with my fingers. When he was ready, I slowly slipped into him. He moaned and flung his legs around my back. I started to move in him slowly.
“Harder . . !” He whispered. “Fuck me harder . . !”

I dropped forward, my weight on my elbows either side of his head and I started to thrust into him, long and hard. His gripped my ass cheeks with his hands and forced me deeper with each thrust. I could feel his cock sliding between our bodies, hard and throbbing. And then he suddenly threw his head back and cried out. I felt the rush of his juices against my belly and chest and I came with the heat of it. He shuddered as his hips pounded against me uncontrollably. My back arched as my orgasm peaked, forcing my belly hard against his pulsing rod. It was incredibly intense and when it was over, I collapsed down onto him gasping.