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Last Swim	By : jai Category: Individual Celebrities > Athlete/Sports Misc Views: 8134 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the people written about in this fanfiction. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 18
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- 20
December 27, 2005 Detroit, MI

Michael once again found himself going to the airport, this time to pick up Fred, Jackie and Ryan. He’d confessed the whole Ryan thing to his mom the previous evening and she sat nervously in the passenger seat.

They were halfway to Detroit and Michael couldn’t stand it anymore. “Mom, are you ever going to talk to me again?”

“What?” Debbie looked at him with surprise.

“I’m sorry I went behind your back like that but I thought you’d appreciate seeing Ryan.”

“Oh, I do and I’m not mad at you, Michael. Just anxious.” Debbie had spent an hour talking to Ryan on the phone after Michael spilled the beans and had been distracted ever since.

“So, I guess it’s pretty serious between you two?”

“Why would you say that?”

“You’ve met his family; he’s met yours.”

Debbie sighed. “Michael, can we wait to talk about this? I’m wound up enough.”

“Okay. I’ll shut up.”

“No, don’t shut up. Tell me about James Frederick; Ken couldn’t stop laughing long enough to tell us yesterday.”

&&

“Dad!” Michael stepped forward and hugged his dad.

Fred returned the hug and clapped Michael on the back. “Hey, son. You’re looking good.”

“Thanks, you too. Jackie, good to see you too.” He hugged his stepmother and kissed her cheek.

“Thanks for having us out, Michael. I've been looking forward to it."

“The pleasure is mine, as Ian would say.”

“Michael?”

He turned to find his mother standing next to a man who was only a few inches taller than her with a full head of silver hair and bright green eyes behind glasses. He was rather thin and wore a tweed jacket under his overcoat.

“Hi, you must be Ryan. I’m Michael.” Michael extended his hand which Ryan shook firmly.

“Hello, Michael. Pleased to meet you in person.” Ryan gave him a warm smile.

“Me too. Do we need to go to baggage claim?”

“Yes, Fred and I have a bag checked, how about you Ryan?”

“I have one checked too.”

“Okay, it’s over in that direction.” Michael pointed to the right. “I sort of consider it my second home.”

They started walking, Michael in the rear with Fred and Jackie in the lead and Ryan and Debbie in between.

“You’ve logged a lot of travel time, haven’t you, Michael?”

“Yeah, I was just out in California earlier this month for a meet and I guess you already know about Portugal.” It just dawned on Michael that his mom must have been dating Ryan back then and hadn’t said a word. Then again, she usually tried not to spring things on him just prior to a meet.

“Yes, Debbie said she had a lovely time.” The woman in question glanced back nervously at Michael and gave him a weak smile.

“It’s a shame it was for a meet or I’m sure mom would have asked you along.” Michael shrugged and gave his mother a grin. She grinned back, relieved that he seemed to understand.

The baggage was just coming in and while Michael was using his height to keep an eye out, he noticed Alan Wilkins standing over by lost luggage office and waved. Alan waved back, made a motion that he’d be right over and began wading through the crowd.

“Hey Michael, how’s it going?”

“Alan, I haven’t seen you for a couple of weeks. How have you been?”

“Good, good. I guess Joanne told you I was on ni?”
?”

“Yeah. Are you back on days now?”

“Just in time for the post Christmas rush.” Alan grinned. “I just wanted to thank you for the gift basket. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Alan, you and Joanne have been such a big help that it was the least I could do. I hope you’ll be able to use the gift certificate.”

“Gee, Mike I don’t know. Dinner at the Rattlesnake Club?” Alan laughed. “Joanne’s already pestering me to make reservations.”

“I hope you enjoy it. Gosh, where are my manners? Alan, this is my father Fred Phelps, my stepmother Jackie, my mom Debbie and her beau, Dr. Ryan Callahan.”

“Beau?” Debbie questioned.

“Beau. I can’t call someone your boyfriend, it just doesn’t sound right. Guys, this is Alan Wilkins, he’s our neighbor down the hill and obviously, one of Detroit’s finest.”

They exchanged greetings and handshakes, Alan remembering that Fred had been a state trooper.

“Michael, I’m sorry to bother you when you’re with your family but do you have a sec?”

Fred and Ryan assured him that they could handle their bags so Michael shrugged and let Alan led him a few feet away.

“I’m sorry that I even have to ask you this but our other arrangements fell through. I’m involved with a group on the force and every year we get a car from an auction, clean it and raffle it off with the proceeds going to charity. This year it’s the Women’s Shelter.”

“One of the guys in the group normally lets us use his garage but this year, his wife is pregnant and she doesn’t want to deal with the noise.” Alan gave Michael a hopeful look.

“Oh, you want to use the detached garage? Let me think about this. There will be a group of cops hanging around the house, working on a car for charity. What a decision! Of course you guys can use it.”

“Thanks Michael, we really appreciate it. We only need a space for a month and we only work on it a couple of hours a day, usually between three and six.”

“No problem, Alan. I’m glad you asked actually because Ian and I kind of have a favor to ask you. We’ve got that space over the garage we’ve been thinking about renting it out. We can’t really advertise it and we can’t take just anyone off the street either.”

“I get it; you’d like either a cop in there or someone I’d trust to live on my street.”

“You got it.” Michael nodded.

“Did you finish off the kitchen already?”

“No, we’re going to be working on it next month.”

“I’ll tell you what, if you’ll get all the cabinets and such the guys and I will install it for you in exchange for using the garage and I’ll put the word out about the apartment.”

“Deal. You can stop by this weekend and get the keys.” They shook hands and smiled at each other. Alan excused himself to head back to his post and Michael went back over to his family. They’d secured their bags and went out to the car.

Once they were all buckled in and on the road, Ryan in the back seat with the ladies and Fred riding shotgun.

“So Michael, is everything okay?”

“Sure. We’re all together or we will be soon.” Michael looked at his dad, wondering why his dad was asking.

“Did Sergeant Wilkins have news on your case?”

“What? Oh no.” Michael went on to explain the deal he and Alan had struck and the level of tension in the car decreased dramatically. “I’m sorry; I didn’t realize you would all think something was wrong.”

“No, it’s okay Michael. We should have known it wasn’t anything serious. We’re all just a little paranoid now.” Debbie leaned forward and patted his shoulder.

“Did Alan mention what kind of car they were getting?” Fred asked.

“No, but he’ll be over sometime this weekend so we can ask.”

&&
Ian, Ken and Margaret were waiting for them when they got home; the various parental types were quickly settled in their various rooms and they ate lunch casually in the kitchen.

“So what do we have on the agenda for the rest of the day?” Margaret asked after they’d finished eating.

Ian and Michael exchanged a look and Ian spoke. “We’ve got to head back to the pool for a few hours this afternoon. We didn’t really make any plans, I’m afraid. Was there anything anyone wanted to do?”

They all waited for anyone to speak up. “I guess we’re staying in tonight, which is just fine with me,” Ken finally said as everyone else nodded.

“Boys, do you mind if we make dinner? That way it will be ready when you get home.” Debbie asked.

“No, that would be great. Thanks for offering, there’s plenty of food in the freezer in the garage so you shouldn’t have any problem coming up with something.”

Ian and Michael hung around for a while before heading out, leaving the keys to the Deville for their guests. They spent almost three hours at the pool and by six they were on their way back home.

“Ian?”

“Yes, love?

“I think Mom and Ryan are pretty serious about it each other.”

“Is that what’s been on your mind all afternoon?”

“Yeah, mom was really nervous on the way to the airport.” Michael chewed his lip, brooding a little.

“What do you think about it? You think they’re heading for marriage?” Ian asked.

“He seems like a nice guy, doesn’t he?” Michael avoided answering.

“He’s kind of tentative with us but I suppose it’s a little awkward for him, dealing with the whole group at once but your mum seems less distracted now.”

“You noticed that too? I thought it was just my imagination.”

“No, she’d get this look on her face every once in a while, like she was surprised someone wasn’t around.”

“Huh. Yeah, you’re right. I’m really not sure how I feel about mom getting married. Most of me is really happy for her as long as he treats her right, you know? But there’s this little tiny part of me getting ready to have a tantrum and start screaming ‘but she’s my mommy!’” Michael confessed sheepishly.

Ian was silent for a moment and then took out his cell phone and called the house. “Hi Fred, its Ian. No, nothing’s wrong I was just calling to let you know that Michael and I will be home in about an hour, probably less. Is that going to cause a problem with dinner? Great. Thanks see you in a bit.”

Ian ended the call and put his phone away and turned to look at Michael. “Take a right on Washtenaw, we’ll go to Lowe’s and get some brochures on kitchen stuff. Do you want me to drive?”

Michael nodded, found a good spot to pull over and they traded seats. “What’s for dinner?”

“Burgers it sounded like.” Ian pulled back out onto the road and made the next right.

“Okay. Are we really going to Lowe’s?”

“Yes, it’ll give you time to work through it and a chance for me to shop, we both win.”

“This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re getting married, you know.”

“I know but it’s not really something you’ve had to think about, is it?”

“I was totally prepared for her to date; I’ve been expecting and I even used to encourage her.”

“Did you encourage her because you knew she wouldn’t or because you hoped she would?”

Michael sat back in his seat and fidgeted. “Good question.” He fidgeted some more. “Do we need anything else there?”

“We’ll take a look around. I’d like to buy some caulk.”

“Do we need caulk?”

“No, I just like saying it. ‘Caulk.’ What a funny word.”

“That’s just because you say it funny. We should get some light bulbs.”

“Do we need to make a list? Caulk, light bulbs, kitchen, caulk.”

“Ryan has a really big family, doesn’t he?”

“I hope you don’t expect me to remember all those people.”

“Mom had a list. It was more like a diagram really showing everyone’s relationships and stuff.”

“Sounds complicated.”

“Yeah.”

Ian pulled into the parking lot and found a space, turning off the car and watched Michael fidget. “Come on, let’s go in.”

Michael once again manned the cart as Ian strolled beside him, apparently not in any hurry.

“Why do you think I’m freaking out about this?”

“I’m just surprised you weren’t freaking out on Christmas. Maybe this is a delayed freak out.”

“If it was your mom, would you have freaked out?”

“It’s hard to say, considering mum and dad aren’t divorced. What happened when your dad remarried?”

“They went to the courthouse one day and told us all later but Dad and Jackie had been sort of dating for a couple of years.”

“Do you think your mom and Ryan are moving too fast?”

“They met in what, September? It’s been three or four months. We hooked up in late August, we were already dating by October, although I had to work to get you to admit it,” Michael smirked at Ian. “By December, I knew I loved you. In fact it was a year ago today when I realized it. Some people would say that’s moving too fast but it felt just right to me.”

“A year ago today? Really?” Ian tried to remember what they’d been doing a year ago.

“Yeah, it was twelve fifteen am, December twenty seventh. I’m pretty sure I was in love with you before then but that’s when it hit me.”

“I thought I flew into Baltimore on the twenty sixth?”

“You did but your plane landed around nine, we didn’t get to mom’s house until after ten thirty and we went up to bed around eleven thirty, remember?”

“Yes, vividly. But was it just what we were doing at the time?”

“No, you called me ‘love’.”

“Why haven’t you ever told me this before?”

“It never came up.” Michael shrugged and noticed they’d come to a stop so he began pushing the cart again.

“We’ll have to discuss it later then. Back on the subject of your mum; if Ryan came to you later today and asked for your permission to marry your mum, what would you say?”

“Whoa! Why would he ask me?” Michael stopped and turned to look at Ian.

“It would be the traditional, well neo-traditional thing to do. You’re the man of the family after all.”

“I hope he doesn’t ask me that, it’s too weird. It would be different, if I was still living at home I guess. Can you imagine having to deal with all his kids if I was still at home?”

“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned his kids or his family.” Ian reached into a bin and pulled out a strange looking fitting of some type.

“I’m not comfortable about being suddenly related to all those strangers. What the hell is that?”

“I have no idea. Tell me something, did you get a chance to meet Jackie’s family before she and your dad got married?”

“No, not really. I think I talked to her older daughter once or twice on the phone. Dad had a crab feast at his house a month or two later.”

“So you showed up at a party and had all these new relatives you’d never met before?”

“I like Jackie but god, her cousin really freaked me out. She kept touching m.”
.”

“Ah. Touching you how?”

“Like putting her arm around me, patting me, giving me hugs. She kept making these little jokes about kissing cousins. They didn’t really seem like jokes to me because she wouldn’t leave me alone.” Michael leaned against a shelf and dropped his head. “I’d forgotten all about it.”

“How old where you? What was your dad doing?” Ian moved until he was standing next to Michael but didn’t touch him.

“It was two years before Athens so I was sixteen I think. There were a lot of people there; not just Jackie’s family but dad’s family and friends of his from work. He was busy I guess. I don’t remember seeing him until right before I left.”

“How old was this cousin?”

“She was my age; maybe a year or two older but she was really experienced or so she said. There was something about doing it on the picnic table in front of everyone, how fun that would be.” Michael made a face and clutched his stomach. “I really can’t believe I didn’t remember this. I wasn’t there very long, either. Only an hour or so, dad was really pissed when I left early.”

“Did you leave early because of that girl?”

“No, I felt sick. Wait.” Michael shook his head. “Yeah, I think I did. I was sick to my stomach and I just wanted to get out of there.”

“Sick to your stomach like now?”

Michael nodded his head and swallowed, suddenly looking pale. “Yeah. Uh, where’s the bathroom? Do you know?”

“Michael, I think you need to sit down.” Ian helped Michael down to the floor, “No, don’t put your head down. Put it back and stare at the ceiling and bend your knees. Here.” Ian got Michael situated and rubbed his wrists.

“Take deep steady breaths. Just breathe.”

“Sir, is everything okay?” One of the blue vested employees said as he came running down the aisle to crouch down in front of them.

“Yes, thank you. I think he’s got a touch of the flu, his stomach suddenly went a little wonky.”

The guy backed up a little but still looked concerned, “Do you need me to call an ambulance.”

Michael gave a weak moan of protest and Ian shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. We’ll just give him a minute to get himself together.” Ian smiled at the employee and look at his name tag. “Thank you for your concern, Rick but we’ll be fine.”

“Can I get y bot bottle of water or something? Do you need help getting to the bathroom? It’s just down this aisle and three aisles down to the left.”

“Water would be great, here.” Ian reached into his pocket and pulled out three dollar bills. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you.”

“No problem. I’ll be right back.” Rick strode down the aisle and after consulting with another employee at the end of the aisle, he disappeared around the corner while his coworker cleared away the small crowd that had gathered.

“Sorry you had to lie for me.”

“I didn’t lie. You could actually have the flu.”

Michael rolled his eyes.id yid you suspect something like this? About that girl?”

“No, I sort of wondered about a few things but I wasn’t expecting this.”

“Wondered about what? Wait. Let’s talk about it later.” Michael spotted Rick running back towards them with two bottles of water in hand.

“Sorry it took so long.”

“Rick, you were moving like the Flash. Do you run track?” Michael asked as he took one of the bottles.

“Yeah, at U of M. We had geography together.”

“Gosh, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.” Michael looked stricken.

“No problem. I always came in late and sat in the back, you probably never even saw me. You’re looking better, how do you feel?”

“Much better. Guess I didn’t hydrate enough after training today.”

“You swim guys, always in the pool and still thirsty.” Rick laughed. “Your coach is going to have some words for you.”

“Ugh. Don’t remind me. I think I can get up now.”

Ian had stayed out of the little bonding session but now leaned in. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I feel better now; we’ll just have to come back and look at kitchen stuff later and get your caulk.”

“Hey, I can get caulk for you. What kind did you need?”

Michael chuckled and leaned on Ian as he rose to his feet. “Ian, say it.”

“Caulk.”

“Huh?” Rick looked at Ian and shook his head.

“We don’t need caulk, Ian just likes saying caulk.”

Rick laughed. “That was you saying ‘caulk’? That’s some accent.”

“I talk just fine; it’s you yanks who’ve ruined the language.” Ian tried to look offended but was too relieved that Michael was upright and looking pretty steady as they walked slowly towards the exit. Michael finished the first bottle and Ian handed him the second, taking the empty one.

Rick hovered just off Michael’s right side, just making sure he’d be nearby if needed until they reached the door.

“Rick, would you mind waiting with Michael while I get the car?” Ian gave Michael a look to tell him he’d better not even think about protesting and Michael sighed.

“Not a problem, Ian. We’ll be right here.”

Ian strode off and Michael sighed again. Rick gave him a look. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah. Just tired all the sudden.”

The SUV pulled up as close to the door as Ian could get it and Rick walked over with Michael and opened the door for him.

“Thanks, Rick. You’ve been a big help.”

“Not a problem. Hope you’re feeling better, Michael. Good meeting you, Ian.” Rick closed the door and waved before walking back into the store.

Michael put his seatbelt on and waited until Ian had gotten back out of the parking lot. “I’m-”

“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry.” Ian spoke through clenched teeth.

Michael flinched and said in a small voice, “Are you mad at me?”

Ian took a deep breath and held it before releasing it. “No, I’m not mad at you. This was not your fault. You’d just had a shock and you reacted in a perfectormaormal manner. I am mad but not at you.”

“What are you mad about?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t want you apologizing for something that wasn’t your fault.”

“Okay.” Michael said slowly.

“Actually I’m mad that that girl got away with doing that to you. Didn’t anyone notice?”

Michael shrugged and looked out the window. “I don’t know, her brother thought it was funny. I guess it was her brother. Maybe another cousin. What am I going to tell my mom? And my dad?” Michael groaned and buried his face in his hands.

“You don’t have to tell them anything right now. We’ll go in and you can go right upstairs. I’ll make our excuses without telling them anything, bring up some provisions and we’ll just hang out in our room.”

Michael dropped his hands and looked at Ian with astonishment and giggled, a little hysterically. “You’re sending us to our room?”

“I prefer to call it ‘strategically regrouping’.” Ian extended his hand and Michael latched onto it.his his doesn’t change the way I feel about you, Michael.”

“Even if I’m a head case?” Michael asked ruefully.

“You’re not anymore of a head case than I am. You do know what she did was wrong, don’t you?”

Michael didn’t answer right away. “I should have stopped her, I just didn’t know how.”

“Maybe because you weren’t expecting someone to do that to you?”

“I was just trying to be nice and get along. She didn’t grab my crotch or do anything overt; she was just really grabby and suggestive.

“And if you’d been a woman and she’d been a guy? Would what she did cross a line? What if you’d done that to a woman?”

Michael thought about it for a minute. “My mom would have strung me up and left me for my dad to kill.”

“And?”

“She didn’t molest me, I wasn’t molested.”

“She harassed you, sexually and she got away with it because you didn’t know how to deal with it.”

“I was just trying to make dad happy! I didn’t even want to be there, he didn’t even notice I was there until I left and I wouldn’t have gone if mom hadn’t made me!” Michael snapped his mouth shut and realized he’d been shouting.

Taking a deep breath, he hit the controls of his seat and lay back and put his feet on the dash. At Ian’s curious look, he shook his head and closed his eyes. “I feel a little woozy.”

“No wonder. It’s never fun when stuff bites you in the ass and you haven’t eaten in almost six hours.”

“Did it ever happen to you?”

“Not that situation but I used to be afraid of cats. I was scratched badly by the neighbor’s cat when I was six or seven. I didn’t remember it until Christina got a cat. I wouldn’t go near it until mum brought up what happened with Churchill. It’s not quite the same situation but I think we deal with a lot of traumas that way. We think we’re safe then something happens that makes us feel unsafe so we don’t want to think about it.”

“Are you still afraid of cats?”

“No. It was a shame because Churchy was my friend. He’d follow me home everyday and I’d sit and pet him on the front step. He only scratched me because he was startled by a slammed car door. I had to go to hospital and get a shot; mum wouldn’t let me swim for a couple of days. Churchy didn’t understand why I didn’t want to be his friend anymore. Again, not really comparable to your situation.”

“Are you worried that I’m going to become a raging heterosexual now that I know why I’m afraid of women?”

“You’re not afraid of all women, just a certain type of woman and do I have a reason to worry?”

“No, I’ve got you now. I have no intention of giving you up. Is that whatggedgged you?”

“What? That you’re very cautious around some women?”

“Yeah.”

“Well that and how you reacted to what happened when that girl got into the house. It could have just been a prank or a dare but you saw her behavior as aggressive.”

“You think I overreacted?”

“No, you felt threatened so something she did set off your alarms. You acted appropriately in the situation for both your safety and hers. Even if it was a prank, it was a very ill conceived one. Going into the house of a stranger is never a good idea.”

“Ian, where are we going?”

“With our relationship?”

“No, I mean where are we going? That’s the third time we’ve passed that house.”

“Oh. I guess I’ve just been driving around in a big circle or rectangle in this case. I didn’t think you were ready to go home yet.”

“I’m not but I guess we’d better go on back anyway.”

“What do you want to do once we get there?”

“Can I decide when we’re actually there? I’m not really ready to deal with my parents but I feel like I should tell them. They’re going to know something’s up.”

Ian made a left turn onto Pontiac Trail and glanced at Michael. “So that’s what you can tell them. Something’s up but its not life threatening or dangerous. You’re just not ready to deal it right now however you will discuss it with them once you think it through.”

“You want to write it down for me?”

“I’m a little busy at the moment but don’t you think it will go over better if you aren’t reading it from a script?”

“I just don’t want to ruin the holiday. It’s nice having everyone here.”

“It is nice and telling your parents won’t make it less nice, they might not like hearing it but they love you and they’ll still love you afterwards.”

“You don’t give me any breaks do you?” Michael raised the back of his seat and squeezed Ian’s hand.

“No, because you would think I was patronizing you if I did. That’s our turn. Are you sure youreadready for this? We can always go and get a hotel room.”

“Ian, you’ll have to marry me before I’ll let you take me off to random hotel rooms.”

“Canada is only an hour away and gay marriage is legal in Ontario; just give me a time and a date.” Ian said slyly, shooting a glance at Michael from the corner of his eye.

Michael put his seat back down and put his free hand over his eyes. “Argh. Don’t do this to me.”

“It was only an observation but look, you’re no longer thinking about talking to your parents.” Ian grinned and scratched Michael’s palm.

“I really hate you sometimes. I just wanted to share that.”

“And I appreciate your sharing. I confess sometimes I hate you too. Like when you eat the last of the ice cream and put the empty container back in the freezer.”

“It was a mistake. I meant to throw it away but the phone rang and I got distracted, it was one time.”

“Oh, that’s a good story. What about the second time?” Ian reached up and pushed the garage remote button.

“What second time? You mean the time you put the empty carton back and then blamed me?” Michael raised his seat yet again.

“Why would I do that? Put an empty carton back? Wait a minute, was that the time you attacked me in front of the fridge? If so, it was too your fault.”

“Ian I’ve told you a thousand times; if you’re naked and I’m overcome with lust, it’s your fault.” Michael opened his car door and leaned out.

“Michael?”

Michael leaned back in and turned to Ian. “What?”

Ian lifted his hand to Michael’s cheek and urged Michael forward until their faces were together. “A year ago today?”

Michael blinked and smiled shyly. “Yeah.”

“Remind me later to tell you about the first time I saw you.” Ian leaned forward and put his lips on Michael’s. He drew away a few moments later. “Are you ready, love?”

“Yeah.
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Last Swim