All persons engaged in sexual activity are over the age of 18.
A little side journey, taking a look at how QT may play out a bit differently at some other home in Dallas.
Once again thank you to Corrupting Power for letting me and others play in the QT sandbox. Thank you to all the guys I the QT writer's room for editing, ideas, and moral support. And thank you reader, for following me on this crazy ride.
QT: DiD Intermission 1 -- Logan
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September 20, 2020
Logan was worried. His dad had taught him to get work done first, then give air to your turmoil. But he'd gotten his work done. Logan had made his evening meal, tried to feed dad, and cleaned up. There was no work left to occupy his thoughts. And his thoughts were dark and worrisome.
He, his dad Daryl, his mother Carrie, and his sister Misty had locked down hard when the word came. They'd been careful bringing in deliveries. Disposed of boxes on the porch, not even bringing them inside. They sanitized the outer cartons of each individual item as they brought it in. When it became apparent that men were in greater danger, Mom and Misty did the shopping runs that couldn't be handled online. Which sometimes left Logan stir crazy. At least Dad let him go on jogs around the neighborhood, as long as he stayed away from houses and people. Misty and Dad started doing the same. Well, Dad walked, and only once a week.
Still, when the guy had come around to tell them there was a vaccine, but with some
really
weird consequences, Dad was already showing some breathing problems. He was still ok to sit and fill out the incredibly invasive questionnaire. He and Logan stopped multiple times to look stuff up. That was an awkward conversation to have with your dad.
Granted, Mom would be matched immediately to Dad, as an existing relationship, but there were going to be other women paired with Dad and the system needed data to make good matches. Misty would get her own pairing, and there should be someone matched to Logan by the end of the week. As the screening guy left with Misty and Carrie, he said there was a decent shot he would bring Logan a partner when he brought Mom back.
That was supposed to be yesterday. Mom was supposed to be back in time to heal Dad. He'd come up positive when the guy tested all of them. He had started coughing sometime last night, and it could have been anything. But. A few hours after Mom and Misty left, there were spots of blood in the stuff Dad brought up.
The test results confirmed the fear none of the four of them had voiced. Screening guy was very reassuring, or tried to be, that Carrie's return would be expedited, and they'd get priority for a second partner to help ensure Daryl bounced back.
Yesterday. Mom was supposed to be here yesterday. Yesterday morning, early, like first thing. It was now Sunday night. Logan had tried to feed Dad a bit of warm broth, but he couldn't take it. At the last time he'd checked, an hour ago, there were bits of dried blood around Dad's eyes.
Logan cleaned it the best he could. His hands were shaking though. That blood carried death. Yes, he was eighteen, and nominally safe, but only in terms of age. Except biology doesn't draw neat lines like engineering. Several people his age had dropped off social media, unresponsive to contact. Mostly guys, which got hit harder by this thing at any age -- the other reason Logan was nervous -- but there were a number of girls his age missing too.
The knock at the door had him moving in an instant. When he opened it, there was a soldier, his mom, and a cute little blonde, maybe six inches shorter than his 5'11". The pink roller case at her feet bore several stickers.
Carrie, Logan's mom, looked like a collie under restraint while a whole host of kids ran amuck. He noticed the other woman's eyes flicked up and down him before the soldier drew his attention back.
"Are you Daryl or Logan Hoskins?"
"I'm Logan, Daryl's my dad." Carrie pushed her way past Logan. The soldier reached to stop her, but resigned to the situation even as she halted the futile gesture.
"That's good enough to sign for both of them."
With both pages signed, the soldier grabbed the clipboard. "Ya'll have a good night." She gave Logan a little wink as she left.
Logan showed the young lady in and closed the door.
"So, Lacey, um, how about we ... talk a bit?" As much as he'd had trouble keeping his eyes off her earlier, he had trouble looking at her now. This woman that had just shown up on his doorstep was now ... his girlfriend? Or just a fuckbuddy? ... assigned by the government.
She nodded, then looked puzzled. "How --"
"The form had your name on it."
"Oh, right, duh." She tapped two fingers on her forehead with a self-deprecating grin.
Logan chuckled as he led her to a seat in the living room. That's when he heard the tortured wail that shred his heart in two. Lacey's hand flew to her mouth. Obviously, she had some idea what was going on. That made Logan feel a bit less of a heel as he sprinted towards his parents' bedroom. He already felt his heart ripping, knowing what awaited him.
His mother lay on top of his dad, sobbing hysterically. His eyes already watering, Logan forced himself to tread the path to stand at his father's bedside. He placed his fingers against his dad's neck, certain what he would find, but having to check anyway. He knew his mother had probably already done so. Cold, and no pulse. Logan held his fingers in place far longer than necessary, hoping for something. It never came. His dad was dead.
Life comes with tough times son. It's a man's job to stand tall then, be the rock his family needs to navigate the rough waters. Don't bury your feelings, that's unhealthy too. But sometimes, you have to tell them to shut up for a bit so you can do the things the people that rely on you need done.
Dad's advice came back to Logan as his mother keened over his dead body. That spurred Logan to action. Gently, he took his mother by her upper arms and guided her off the bed. Once she was standing, he led her out of the room. Logan took her to Misty's room so she had a bed to lie on. After getting her under the covers, he hugged her and kissed her forehead.
"Mom, I'm going downstairs to ... check on a few things. I'll be back up in a bit. Just rest here okay?" He had no idea if she registered a single word of that in her mind. As he passed his parent's bedroom door, He slipped his hand in and locked it. No one needed to go in there, and he worried his mother might try.
Lacey waited for him on the couch. "I ran out to stop the truck from leaving, but they were already out of sight."
"Thank you." Logan pulled out his phone and collapsed beside her. Lacey wrapped her arms around him. Well, as far as they would go. Her slight frame was dwarfed by his stocky build. He took comfort in her closeness.
"Did that cry mean what I think it meant?" The look on Lacey's face conveyed her sympathy, knowing the answer to her question.
