Into the Sun: Part 5/11-Angels with Black Wings

Story by VoodooRoo on SoFurry

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#5 of Into the Sun


This fic contains acts between MALE furries of a homosexual nature. If you are not legally allowed to view pornographic material, are under 18 (21 in some states), or don't like gay action, don't read!! Otherwise, enjoy =3

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Cold. Absolutely freezing. Like sitting on an ice-cube.

Like any doctor's office examining table. Race was fairly certain they kept the room at an even twenty degrees below zero. Of course, being stripped naked and putting one of those pathetic gowns on (which he was fairly certain the doctor left the room to laugh at him in) didn't help. His balls were plastered well against his crotch, and he crossed his arms to try and stay warm; he was surprised he didn't see his own breath.

Of course, his heart was also pounding rapidly, pumping blood through his body quickly. He'd had to lie just to get Lance to bring him here, telling him it was a 'regular checkup,' even if it was anything but. He'd been dreading coming to the doctor's for about a week now, since he started getting grinding migraines and he was light-headed all the time. When it didn't go away with time and aspirin, he knew he needed to do something.

Race took a deep breath and leaned forward, putting his face in his paws. He was afraid of what the doctor was going to say; he wanted to hear that he was okay, that he was over-reacting, but in his gut, he knew that would not be so.

The door opened and the doctor, a lion, stepped in, carrying a clipboard.

"Hello, Race, I'm Dr. Rollins," he said, sitting on a stool opposite the table.

"Hi," replied Race, weakly.

"My nurse tells me you're having chronic headaches and dizziness," said Dr. Rollins, flipping through the pages.

Race nodded.

"Hmm," pondered Rollins. "And how long has this been going on?" he asked, getting up and taking a penlight from his pocket.

"About a week, I guess," said Race as Rollins pried his eye open and played his light into it.

"Mmhmm," mumbled Rollins in that doctoral tone. He checked Race's other eye. "Did the light bother you at all?"

"No more than normal," said Race, rubbing at his eyes. "Is that bad?"

"Not necessarily, just sort of rules out a migraine," said the doctor. "Do you feel...pressure on the back of your eyes?"

"Not really," said Race.

"Have you had unexplained bleeding, specifically from the nose or ears?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Images appearing blurry or distorted?"

"A little, every now and then."

The doctor opened Race's muzzle and peered inside. "Hmmm." He closed Race's mouth. "Race, I'd like you to come back this Saturday for a CAT scan and x-rays, okay?"

Race looked stricken. "Why??"

"Just want to check you out a little further," said doctor. "I'll give you a prescription for two days of pain-killers until then. That'll help your headaches."

"Okay," said Race as the doctor wrote the prescription. "Do you have any idea what's causing these headaches?"

"I'll know better on Saturday," said Rollins. "Until then, take two of those pills twice a day, and you'll feel better."

"Then why do I need to come back?" asked Race, warily.

"Just...because the tests will help, okay?" said Rollins, assuringly.

"O...kay," Race said slowly.

"You can get dressed and go when you're ready," said the doctor. "Everything's covered under your parent's insurance plan." With that, the lion left.

Race shucked the paper gown off himself, letting it settle slowly to the ground. He looked over at himself in the mirror, looking at his trim stomach, long legs, and bulbous sheath. He rubbed himself absently, then set about putting his regular clothes back on.

He walked into the waiting room, where Lance put down the magazine he was reading and got up.

"So?" asked Lance.

"Doctor says I'm fit as a fiddle!" exclaimed Race, faking enthusiasm. "He does want me to come back on Saturday, though."

Lance furrowed his brow. "Why?"

"Ah, some other tests or something," said Race. "Medical stuff, I wasn't paying attention. Come on, I'm hungry!"

Lance followed Race out of the office, still not quite believing that everything was fine.

***

"Oh, God! Faster! Harder!!"

"Like that, huh?"

"Mmhmm."

Kale ground his claws into the bedsheets, gritting his teeth as he was mounted, and hard. The coyote was slamming his knot in and out with each thrust, grinding Kale's rear-end. Kale whimpered, but did sort of enjoy it. This was the third time he'd been taken that day, and his well-stretched hole was nowhere near being sore.

The coyote kept thrusting his cock back and forth, feeling his pre-cum dribbling out into Kale's butt. This did concern Kale; he was letting the coyote bare-back him. But, he didn't care anymore.

The coyote finished off, pumping his semen into Kale. Kale purred and closed his eyes, for the first time in awhile feeling ropes of cum uncoil into his tailhole. He pressed his butt backward, trying to sink the coyote into himself even deeper.

When the canine's last spasm passed, he disengaged from Kale. He took two twenties from his jeans' pocket as he was putting them on and threw it at Kale. "Thanks," he grumbled, and left.

Kale threw the forty dollars on the nightstand, feeling cum dribbling from himself; but it was a feeling he was getting used to. Ever since Lucas had mercilessly turned down his offer to go steady, he had broadened himself from the usual four or five guys he serviced, and opened himself to anyone that wanted to fuck him. He didn't even apply his condom rule anymore. He stopped caring even less when he heard Lucas had already found someone else to bed when he felt horny.

Kale rolled over on the bed, sighing. He still felt unfulfilled, even if he had been with six guys in the last twenty-four hours. Not one would ever offer to be his mate, or want more than just his body. They'd just pound him in the ass, or he'd suck them off, and they'd be out the door.

But this was what he felt he wanted. Why try and get someone to love you when they'd just hurt you? It was pointless. Sex was the best part of a relationship, and that was all he was getting here.

There came a soft knock at the door. Kale got up and went to the door, quickly throwing on his boxers. He cracked the door and a nervous brown bear was standing there.

"Are you...uh...free?" asked the bear.

"Forty dollars anal, twenty oral," said Kale.

The bear handed Kale a twenty, and Kale stepped aside, letting him inside. Kale sighed, and closed the door behind them.

***

DJ's paws roamed all around Cody's chest and abs, scritching him and massaging him. But Cody made no response.

"Still on your mind?" asked DJ.

Cody nodded.

It had been a month since Jaime's death, and Cody had been quiet and sullen ever since. Cody blamed himself for letting Jaime go to the party, and had been upset at his services; Jaime's parents hadn't even come, an aunt and uncle had taken care of the funeral. Which had been small to say the least.

"It wasn't your fault," said DJ, hugging Cody from behind.

Cody still said nothing. DJ just hugged him tighter.

DJ got off the bed. "Come on, we don't have plans for spring break, and it starts Saturday," said the otter, trying to cheer Cody up. Neither of them planned to go home for spring break, especially Cody.

Cody shrugged. "We don't have much money."

"Doesn't matter," said DJ. "We're gonna be crazy for a week." He went back to Cody and put his arms around him again. "And later on tonight we can be crazy."

"I don't feel like it," said Cody; they actually hadn't had sex since Jaime died. Cody looked at the clock. "You're going to be late."

"Damn," said DJ. It was already two o'clock, and his swim meet was at two-thirty. "I don't want to leave you al--"

"No, it's okay," said Cody, cutting him off. "You can't skip another one." DJ had already missed two in the month.

"Well, okay," said DJ. He reached into his top drawer, taking his swim suit out and grabbing his bag. He kissed Cody on the cheek. "I'll be back right after, okay?"

Cody nodded, saying nothing.

DJ opened the door, looking back at his mate sitting on the edge of the bed. He then turned and left.

Cody looked up at the door as it closed, then away again. He didn't know what to do with himself; he'd been dragging himself back and forth to class and that was it. DJ had been bringing him all his food, and making him eat. Even then he barely ate anything.

Lance and Race had been dropping by to see how he was, but they'd been coming less; Race hadn't been feeling so well last time, holding his head a lot.

Cody knew DJ was worried about him most. He wanted to tell DJ he was okay, not worry, but couldn't. Because he didn't know if he was going to be okay.

There was a soft knock at the door.

Cody stood up, sighing. He went and opened the door, and was a little surprised to see who it was.

"Hello?" said Cody.

"Hi, there," said the jackal. "Remember me? Your boyfriend whooped me at pool."

"Oh, right," said Cody. "Vincent, right?"

He nodded. "Right."

"What did you need?" asked Cody blandly.

"Well, it occurred to me I'd never come down to visit you guys once I met you," said Vincent. "So, here I am!"

"Oh," said Cody.

"That, and I heard about your friend."

"I see," said Cody. "You...wanna come in?" He stepped aside.

Vincent walked in, looking around. "Nice room. Big."

"It originally had three people in it," said Cody.

Vincent said nothing.

"Anyway," said Cody, "I'm afraid I don't have much to do; unless you like to play XBox."

"Well, I was sort of thinking of going out somewhere," said Vincent. "I need new CDs and I've seen all my DVDs a hundred times; wanna come with me shopping?"

Cody sat back down on the bed. "Not really."

"Oh, come on," said Vincent, taking his paw. "Can't mope forever."

"I'm not ready, yet," replied Cody. "That, and I need a shower."

"So, go take one," said Vincent.

"Don't feel like it."

"I'm not leaving until you do something," said Vincent in a playful tone. "Grab some clothes, I could use a shower myself."

Cody sighed. He picked some clothes from the closet. Vincent dragged him out the door, down to the bathrooms.

"Where're your clothes?" asked Cody.

"Oh, I'll just put these back on," said Vincent. "I already showered."

"You're gonna shower again?" asked Cody, following him.

"I'm not gonna miss a chance to see the nekkid husky butt," he answered, grinning.

Cody averted his eyes.

"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm just a big flirt," said Vincent.

"You're gay, too?" asked Cody, whispering.

"Bi, actually," said Vincent. "Though girls are more of an exception than a rule for me. I still take cock over boobies." He grinned. Cody laughed a little.

"Let's go," said Vincent, holding the bathroom door open. Cody shuffled in, noticing the showers were mostly empty. But a lot of students had started their spring break early, since it was Thursday, and tomorrow was the last technical day of classes. The college gave the students until Monday to be out of the dorms; no one was allowed to stay in the dorms on breaks except the RAs.

Cody stood near the entryway to the showers, taking his shirt and pants off. "I feel sort of awkward being watched."

"Then I'll start," said Vincent, fully stripping and getting into the showers. Cody blushed when he caught himself staring at Vincent's butt.

Cody kicked his boxers off and got under the water, turning it on full blast and letting it cleanse away all the filth from not showering in several days. He soaped himself up, scrubbing at his face and muzzle, lathering himself up good.

"Huskies; sexy when wet," said Vincent, grinning under the water. Cody blushed again.

The bathroom door opened again, and Cody looked over his shoulder, seeing a familiar face bounce in.

"Hi, Cody," said Kale, quietly, getting under a shower himself.

"Hi," said Cody weakly back. He twitched his nose a bit; he could smell at least ten different scents on Kale. Cody frowned.

"Who's your friend?" asked Vincent, looking over his shoulder.

"Oh, that's Kale," said Cody. "Kale, this is Vincent."

Kale nodded at Vincent, soaping himself down. Cody was still puzzled by the smell of semen from several sources.

"Nice to meet you," said Vincent. "Still amazes me how many furs I don't know in this building after being here for three months already."

Kale shrugged, cleaning out under his tail. Vincent got a distinct smell of musk of canines; several canines.

Cody turned off the water, grabbing a towel and drying himself off. He was spiffing himself up in the mirror as Vincent finished under the water and got dressed himself.

They walked back into the hallway, heading to Cody's room so he could put his things away.

"That's your friend back there?" asked Vincent.

"Kale? Yeah, he is," said Cody. "I...haven't seen him in some time though."

"Hmm," said Vincent.

Cody had almost forgotten about Jamie while they were in the showers, and now it was flooding back on him.

"Don't," said Vincent.

"Hmm?"

"Stop beating yourself up," said Vincent as Cody opened his door. "It's not good for you."

Cody said nothing, stepping into his room, putting his shower items away and his dirty clothes.

"So, let's get going," said Vincent. "I want to spend money!"

Cody smiled weakly. "OK, I guess."

***

DJ got out of the pool, grabbing his towel and throwing it around himself. He'd placed second in his run, which was okay, since the rest of the team had managed to secure first-place in their runs.

He walked into the locker room, opening his locker and stripping off his speedo, standing there nude. He caught several of his team mates checking him out from the corner of his eye. He slipped his boxers on, and they lost interest.

He was pulling his pants on when he saw Lance walk in.

"Hey," said Lance, walking over to DJ.

"Hi, Lance," said DJ. "What're you doing here?"

"I swim a few laps now and then," said Lance, starting to undress, opening the empty locker next to DJ's. "Good exercise."

DJ glanced back to his locker. "Uh-huh."

Lance was down to his boxers now. "I like to swim, but then I smell like chlorine all day." Lance laughed.

DJ feinted a giggle, more trying to sneak a peek at Lance's crotch from the corner of his eye. He could see Lance's sheath, his pink member hinting out the top.

He snapped his vision back forward. No sex for a month was starting to get to him; he was horny as hell, and pawing off just wasn't cutting it anymore.

"So how's Cody?" asked Lance, pulling his speedo on.

"He's....doing," said DJ. "I can't seem to snap him from this depression."

Lance nodded. "It's not everyday someone close to you dies. He's taking it pretty hard."

"Yeah," said DJ. "And on top if it, we don't know what we're going to do for spring break; I was thinking of taking him somewhere, but we can't really afford it. But I don't want to make him go home."

"You guys should come with us," said Lance.

DJ furrowed his brow. "Where?"

"Race's cottage," said Lance. "Well, his parents' cottage, but, they're letting us stay there for the week. It's only about five hours from here, and plenty of room, or so he tells me."

"Think he'd mind?" asked DJ.

"I"m sure he won't," said Lance. "I'll run it by him this afternoon, and let you know tomorrow, okay?"

"That would be great; thanks, Lance," said DJ, smiling.

"Maybe a change of scenery will help Cody, too," said Lance, grabbing his towel. "Well, I'll see ya later."

"Later," said DJ. As he watched Lance going out, he saw Lucas on the other side of the locker room. He was bent over with a malamute, and they were talking quietly. Then Lucas patted him on the ass, and they walked out.

DJ wasn't sure what Lucas' angle was; he thought he'd seen him coming from Kale's room one night a month ago, and then was sure he'd heard Kale crying a bit. But he hadn't been totally sure. Kale had also been really out of it lately, and had lots of company at all hours of the night; DJ didn't know what was going on, but knew it wasn't good.

***

Lucas and his new bed-partner slipped back into the main pool area, Lucas pressing the malamute back against the wall, kissing him fiercely.

"Utility closet is right around the corner," gasped the dog.

"Okay," said Lucas, the two of them ducking into the hall and down to the closet, which was just spacious enough to hold both of them.

The malamute stood with his back to Lucas. "Ready whenever you are," he said, wagging his tail.

Lucas was trying to undo his pants and rip the packaging on his condom at the same time, and eventually just held the package in his teeth as he undid his pants, letting his intense hard-on come into view. The malamute whimpered with pleasure when he saw Lucas' erection.

Lucas opened the condom wrapper. "Drop your pants...slowly," he whispered.

The malamute did as instructed, his belt jingling as he undid and gently shucked his jeans from his hips, wriggling his ass back and forth as he let them drop to his ankles. He stepped out of them, accentuating his curves of his thighs and buttocks. Lucas licked his lips hungrily, his fingers absently tracing along his own cock.

"Wolfy likes what he sees?" asked the malamute.

"Much so," said Lucas, slipping his prophylactic over his throbbing member. He shuddered as he rolled the rubber over himself, which stimulated him a bit.

The malamute turned to face Kale, the tip of his cock peeking through the slit in his boxers. Lucas' eyes were trained on the little bit he could see.

The canine put his paws over himself. "Wanna see it all?"

Lucas nodded.

The malamute slipped his paws into the waistband of his boxers and slowly pulled them down, purposefully bending over to get them off all the way.

Lucas moved closer, his erect cock poking the malamute in the crotch. He picked one of the dog's legs up, putting it around himself, and the canine got the idea, putting his legs around Lucas and using the wall as leverage to hold himself up against Lucas.

Lucas pressed his encased cock up against the malamute's tailhole, not putting any of it in yet, just letting it sit there.

"Doggy want a little ass-fuck?" he asked, teasingly.

The malamute whimpered and nodded. "Please."

Lucas loved to hear his bed-mates beg for his cock in their ass, and eventually he was more than happy to oblige.

He bucked his hips up and lowered the canine at the same time, sinking his cock into the malamute a bit at a time, making it almost agonizingly slow. The malamute squealed and whimpered as he felt the wolf cock pressed into his rear end, closing his eyes and slowly moaning, "yesssss." This just made Lucas' heat rise, thrusting himself deeper into the dog, grunting a bit as he hilted himself up inside of the canine. He grinned when he got himself all the way in and saw the expression on the malamute's face. The malamute clenched his legs tighter around Lucas, and Lucas yelped a bit as his ribs were compressed, but it didn't stop him from starting to slip from his partner, beginning to fuck him.

"Tight doggy," murmured Lucas. "I like it tight." He shot his cock back up sharply, and the dog barked a bit in pain and pleasure. Lucas kept thrusting himself up and down, feeling himself inside the malamute; he hated to use a condom, but most guys enforced that rule for quick-sex.

The canine whimpered more, burying his face in his Lucas' shoulder, but feeling in total ecstasy. Lucas had been taking him now for about a month, and he loved to feel the wolf's dick inside him, especially his knot. He whimpered again as Lucas started another upward thrust, hilting himself.

"Like that, don't you?" grunted out Lucas, continuing his rhythm inside the malamute. The dog just nodded in Lucas' shoulder, almost everything gone except the feeling of his ass being penetrated.

Lucas was so revved up, that his knot was forming already; he felt the bulbous part of his cock escape his sheath, pressing against the malamute's tailhole on his upward thrusts. But he was waiting for the dog to ask him for it. It didn't take long.

"P-please....tie me," gasped out the malamute. Lucas continued to deny him his knot, just slamming it against the dog's tailhole. The dog whimpered again, almost crying, wanting to feel the wolf tie him.

Lucas eventually stopped his quick thrusts, and slowly let the malamute lower further onto him, rather than taking himself up to the dog. Lucas allowed the dog to ride down over his knot, slipping it into the tailhole of the malamute. The dog gasped in pleasure as he felt the enormous bulge slip into his ass, his own cock spasming as so much cock was forced into his ass at once. Lucas also gasped as his the malamute's tailhole clamped firmly around his knot, holding it inside himself. But Lucas slowly started to rock his hips, managing to stimulate himself despite being clamped in place by the dog.

The malamute felt the wolf's cock flex inside his tight tailhole, his knot locked inside, Lucas cock stroking his prostate; the dog hadn't even touched himself, and he felt he was on the verge of cumming. He loved to have someone else's cock in his ass.

Lucas kept finding little ways to stimulate himself, the malamute helping by flexing and relaxing his muscles around Lucas' cock. Lucas groaned and moaned, moving his penis back and forth a bit, not being able to slam himself in and out anymore, but still felt semen inside his cock, ready to explode forth.

The dog grunted as he felt his own cock spasming a bit already, reaching down with one paw to paw himself off, his cock pressed straight up as it was pressed against Lucas' stomach. He reached down and rubbed his testicles, then back up along his cock. Lucas grinned as he could feel the dog play with himself, and also made Lucas feel even closer to cumming.

Lucas pressed himself up as far into the malamute as he could, feeling his orgasm inching closer, his semen pushing up inside him, just on the other side of his head, his cockhead expanding as he felt himself on the verge of cumming. He closed his eyes and moaned as the malamute flexed his muscle around Lucas' knot once more, and he felt his cock start to spasm with his orgasm, shooting semen up into the malamute, which was caught in his condom, and Lucas felt his own warm semen wash back over his cock.

The malamute moaned as he felt Lucas' cock flex in his ass, and his own load shot across his and Lucas' stomach and shirt, semen dribbling down his cock and over his paw as well.

Lucas took a deep breath, feeling fulfilled. He loved to be the one in power, feeling the body-racking pleasure of his orgasm shoot through his body.

He disengaged from the malamute, setting him back on the ground.

"Guess we showered too early," said the malamute, and grinned.

Lucas also smiled. "I guess so. Why don't you swing by my room tomorrow, before we leave for break, and we'll have a quick round before we go."

The malamute nodded. "Okay. I'll see you then, Lucas."

Lucas pulled up his pants and opened the door. "See you then, Jack."

***

DJ walked back into the room, dropping his swim bag next to the door.

"Hey, Cod--" he began, but stopped in mid-sentence when he noticed the room was empty. He furrowed his brow; where had Cody gone?

He went down the hall and to the bathroom, poking his head in to see if Cody was in there, but it was empty. DJ went back to the bedroom, sitting down on the bed. Where would the husky have gone?

DJ lay back across the bedspread, putting his paws behind his head, staring at the ceiling. He was worried about Cody. He just couldn't figure out a way to end his boyfriend's depression.

His mind was also crowded with impulses; he hadn't 'been' with Cody since Jaime's death, and he was quite horny. He understood Cody needed time, but he needed OTHER things.

He closed his eyes and thought of Cody; the dog standing in their room nude, beckoning to DJ as he rubbed at his erect canine cock. DJ grinned and murmured at the daydream, feeling his pants tent under his growing erection. He massaged his own penis through his denim, breathing hard now. His paw roamed up and over the waistband of his pants, and down to the front of his boxers, where he rubbed at his cock and testicles. He reached over with his other paw and undid his pants, inching them half-way down his thighs. His boxers were pointed from his boner, which was undeniable now.

In his mind, he was seeing himself taking Cody, undressing the husky and bending him over the bend, both of them grunting and panting at the idea of impending sex.

DJ kicked his jeans off and across the room, sliding his boxers down next, letting his full erection come into view, his pink, glistening glans emerging first, followed by his long shaft, and finally his furry testes. He rolled his balls around in his paw, moaning a bit at his own attention. Then he went back to pawing himself off, moving his paw up and down his cock.

He was leaning over Cody, biting on his ear, whispering in his ear all the things he was going to do to the canine, and Cody just whimpered and giggled with delight at all of them.

The otter thumbed his cockslit, gently working all the sensitive spots along his head, making himself gasp out in pleasure. He let his paw loosely roam over his shaft, gliding back and forth, tightening on the spot just under his head, which sent a shiver of pleasure over his entire body.

He pulled Cody's tail up (not that it needed encouragement) and pressed his cock against the husky's tailring. Cody buried his face in the sheets, ready to be mounted, being totally submissive to his lover.

DJ shucked his boxers off, totally nude from the waist down now. He slowly jerked his cock, not wanting to make himself come too fast. As he pleasured himself, we let his other paw slowly drift down between his legs. He spread his legs apart and tickled his own tailhole a bit, lightly rubbing against it with two fingers. He bucked his hips a bit as he pressed the fingers against it, threatening to penetrate himself.

Back in his mind's eye, he was putting his cock deep inside Cody, pressing his maleness into the husky, reveling in his whimpers and moans, even more so when Cody said, "Deeper, please." And DJ was more than willing to accept the plead.

He slipped his fingers into his tailhole, slowly fingering himself as he pawed off. The angles of his arms were awkward, with one paw on his cock, the other in his tailhole, but he managed to make it work, as he'd done before. He probed himself, exploring his rear end as he rubbed his shaft, speeding up a bit now, more from excitement than intent. The fingers inside his tailhole rubbing at the walls, pressing into his prostate, and this made him gasp with delight.

DJ was now moving his himself in and out, rocking his hips back and forth, making love to his mate. He looked down at his own cock, as it disappeared into Cody's ass, and then reappeared before being sunk into the dog once again.

He kept working over his cock, feeling his paw a slick bit of precum dripping from his head and down the front of his shaft, which smoothed his rhythmic pumping before it was absorbed into his fur. He managed to work a third finger into himself, panting in joy, wanting to cum but denying himself.

Cody was gasping now as DJ continued to slam his cock in, then agonizingly-slowly remove it.

DJ could feel his orgasm welling up, moving his paw slower now to try and keep it back. He reveled in the feeling as his semen moved through his shaft from his testicles, sitting inside him, ready to burst forth across him and the bed. But he wasn't ready yet. He started to work his fingers in and out while he vigorously masturbated, pulling paw from the base of his cock up over the head, stimulating every inch he could touch. He clenched the muscles in his cock, trying to hold his orgasm back further; he wanted to spray his seed as far possible, and make as much of it as possible come out.

He kicked his feet a bit as he got closer, clenching his teeth as he entered himself over and over, faster and faster, being sure to catch his prostate on the way, and ever time he did he felt another twinge of pleasure pass into his cock, right up to his slit, which was leaking pre-cum all over.

His body went completely rigid as he came, shooting cum onto himself. He felt his hot seed hit him abdomen and legs, some of it surely getting onto the bedspread; but the only place he was picturing it going was inside Cody as he released himself into the submissive husky.

Cody let his tongue loll out as he opened his eyes, looking at the sticky whiteness all over himself. He grinned, feeling fulfilled, and slightly less horny now. He milked the last few drops of semen from his cock, licking his paws clean of himself.

He swung his legs over the bed, grabbing a nearby wash towel and giving himself and cursory wipe-off. But he knew he'd have to go shower now, and get these sheets into the wash.

But that could wait. He reached into his duffel bag and grabbed one of his dirty magazines, flipping through it. It wasn't long before his paw was around his cock again.

***

Cody hung back a bit, watching Vincent go through CDs, not really looking at anything. The smell of coffee from the cafe in the store drifted under his nose, and a New-Age CD was playing over the speakers of the store.

"Nothing eye catching?" asked Vincent over his shoulder. Cody shook his head.

"Come on, grab something, anything, it's on me," said Vincent.

"I don't want to spend your money," said Cody.

"It's ok," said Vincent. "My parents send me enough of it every month; I guess we're pretty well off."

'Well off' was an understatement for Vincent's family; mother a lawyer, father a doctor, they made more than enough to send Vincent to school. His mother had even encouraged him to look at more-expensive, private schools, but Vincent wanted the kind of atmosphere and friends that were made outside of such preppy places. He'd hated his short, but memorable, stint at Fairweather Academy For Boys, a highly-exclusive private elementary and secondary school. It only admitted forty students into each grade, and the tuition had been astronomical. He'd been there until seventh grade, when he was caught in the coatroom with another male student, and then he was promptly expelled and placed in public schools, which he had liked much better. His grades were much better, and his attitude improved.

He'd met his last boyfriend is high school and lost his virginity to the guy he thought he would spend the rest of his life with; but, like so many high school romances, it came to a crashing halt when they realized they wanted to go to school at opposite ends of the continent. So they'd said good-bye and gone their separate ways. They'd E-mailed for awhile, but even those had stopped after a few months.

Vincent pretended to look at a CD, but was actually appraising Cody. The husky was a fine specimen of a male; very cute, and sexy. But taken, Vincent depressingly reminded himself.

"So how are things with you and DJ lately?" asked Vincent.

"What do you mean?" asked Cody, flipping through a few CDs.

"Well, you've seemed awful down lately; I'm sure DJ's been trying to cheer you up a lot."

"Yeah, he has," said Cody.

"Doesn't seem very effective," said Vincent.

"I'm...I just..."

"You blame yourself for Jaime's death," said Vincent, setting his CD down.

"Partly," said Cody. "We knew he was having a problem with alcohol and drugs, and I still let him go that party." Cody stopped looking at the CDs and faced Vincent. "I should've made him stay back from the party."

"Look," said Vincent. "What Jaime did was not your fault, okay? It was HIS choice, and no one could've made it for him. You did what you could; you were there for him as a friend, and that's all anyone could have asked of you. What's important is that YOU are alive, and you have a life to live, and you have someone loving to share it with."

Cody looked at the ground. "I guess so."

"No guessing; DJ cares for you a lot," said Vincent. "I saw it when you two were together."

"Think so?" asked Cody, looking up again.

"I know so," said Vincent. "You wanna go back and see DJ?"

"Yeah, I...I think I do."

"Okay," said Vincent. "Then let's go," he said, smiling.

***

DJ was toweling himself off, pulling his boxers on when the door opened and Cody stepped inside.

"Hey," said DJ.

"Hi," said Cody, crossing the room and throwing his arms around DJ. DJ looked surprised, but hugged his lover back.

"This is a switch," said DJ. "Feeling better?"

"I am," said Cody.

"What changed?"

"Nothing changed," said Cody. "I just realized....we have a life to live, together, and we can't do that if one of us isn't living." He kissed DJ.

DJ smiled. "I'm glad you're happy again." He sat down on the bed with Cody. "And I've got something that should make you happier. Lance asked me if we would like to come to Race's cottage with them for spring break, so the two of us don't have to go home for the week."

Cody's ears perked up. "That would be great!"

DJ grinned. "I thought you would like the idea." He hugged Cody again. "So...where did you go for the day, anyway?"

"Remember that jackal you played at pool awhile ago? He swung by and we went out for awhile; he sort of helped put some things in perspective."

"I'm glad someone did for you," said DJ, running his paws across the front of Cody's pants. "So....feel like playing?"

Cody grinned. "Maybe later. We can go to out spot one more time before we have to leave."

DJ smiled again. "I like that idea."

***

Race braced himself over the sinks in the bathroom, gripping his head. He'd already taken his painkillers, and was ready to take more. His head was pounding, and even the slightest noise was an intrusion on him. He winced at even the sound of his own breathing.

The collie looked at himself in the mirror, at his blood-shot eyes and the area around his eyes all puffed-up, visible even through his thick fur. He put his head back down, splashing some cold water onto his face. He paused when he saw a faint red spot in the water falling to the sink bowl. He looked up and saw a small trickle of blood coming from his nostrils. Race delicately touched it, like his nose was made of glass and would break if he poked it too hard. He could see the blood absorb into the fur on his finger, more of it leaking from his nose.

He grabbed a paper towel and soaked up the blood, holding it to his nostril until the bleeding subsided. He threw the towel into the waste basket and washed the blood from his snout.

What the hell was happening?

***

It was after dark. The sun had long-since set, and now stars painted the sky, a new moon casting no light over the lunarscape. Crickets chirped softly, and two figures made their way across the campus in the darkness.

The door swung open silently on well-oiled hinges. The pair slipped inside, closing and locking the door behind them.

The building had the normal smell of chlorine as the door was opened to the pool. DJ and Cody slipped inside, closing the door.

"Our spot," said DJ, hugging Cody from behind.

"Yeah,' said Cody. They'd only been here once in the last month, and that was just for a quick dip. But it was the first place they'd truly been with each other, so it was special for both of them. And they both wanted to be with each other again.

Cody watched as DJ stripped down to nothing, tossing his clothes on the bench nearby. He stood in starlight filtering through the windows, his penis already stiff.

"Looks like someone's ready," said Cody, smiling.

"Just a little," said DJ, grinning with embarrassment. He went to the edge of the pool and slipped into the shallow end.

Cody took his shirt and pants off and threw them on the bench next to DJ's, standing at the edge of the pool. DJ was floating on his back, but started to pay rapt attention as Cody slowly stripped off his boxers. Even in the darkness, DJ could make out the husky's figure, and his cock slightly emerged from its sheath.

Cody sat on the edge of the pool, letting just his legs swing freely in the water. DJ paddled over to him, standing between his legs.

"Been awhile since we've done this," said DJ, letting his paw trace over Cody's bulging sheath.

"I know," said Cody. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," said DJ. "I know you were hurting...but now, I just want you to feel good." He fondled Cody's testicles a bit, and this made Cody's cock jump and emerge fully, his pink member gliding into full view and hardness, his knot still hidden in the grips of his sheath.

DJ slipped his paw up the underside of Cody's penis, Cody murring deep in his throat at his lover's touch, which he had not felt in some time. He looked into DJ's eyes as the otter fingered Cody's slit, then bent down and tongued a bit. DJ worked the end of his tongue down inside the slit, making Cody jump a bit, but he liked it.

DJ worked his way lower, licking all the way to the base of Cody's shaft, and then to his balls, sucking on the gently, one at a time. He licked at the spot underneath Cody's sac, lifting it up a bit with his nose while he moved his tongue around. Cody pressed his paws into the deck of the pool, groaning.

The otter brought his attention back to Cody's cock, licking all around the head, letting his tongue roam everywhere; across Cody's glans, the underside of his shaft, up and down his penis. He jiggled Cody's balls with his free paw. Then engulfed Cody's cock in his mouth, running his tongue around in a lazy figure-8 pattern, catching every part of the husky's penis that made him moan and groan.

Cody closed his eyes, just letting DJ go to work. He, unlike DJ, had not even masturbated in a month, and it was very nice to feel his cock stimulated again. He leaned back on his paws, getting his cock as rigid as possible, bucking his hips up a but and rubbing his cockhead against the roof of DJ's muzzle. He smiled in pleasure, wrapping his legs around DJ in the water.

DJ got as intensive with his tongue as possible, rubbing all over. He bobbed his head a bit, but mostly let his tongue do all the work. He pushed it across Cody glans again, smiling a bit, or as much as he could, when the husky jumped from the touch. He felt the husky's cock flex slightly in his mouth, and knew he was already beginning to bring Cody to cumming. He kept right on him, pleasuring him in every way he knew, tonguing his loose shaft skin, nibbling a bit on his cockhead. When Cody's knot burst forth, he teased that lovingly with his tongue as well, squeezing a bit as well. This made Cody toss his head back and moan loudly, which changed to a growl and a howl.

Cody gasped and panted as he felt his cum pushing through his organ, ready to spill into his mate's mouth. He flexed his cock muscles, feeling his head expand, and let his seed come forth. His penis spasmed and shot his semen right down DJ's throat from force alone, after being pent up for a month. He bucked his hips up further as he climaxed, loving every contraction that seized his penis, bringing onward more of his cum.

DJ marveled at how much semen was coming from Cody's cock, but he drank it all down, loving the taste of the warm, slightly salty, cum on his tongue, slowly slipping down his throat. He suckled on Cody's head, being sure to get all of it, rubbing Cody's cock to milk out any errant remains.

The otter freed his lover's cock, looking up at him. "How was that?"

"I think I forgot how good it was," said Cody, giggling with embarrassment.

"Remember other good things?" asked DJ, getting up and out of the pool, his cock throbbing with the excitement of his erection.

"Mmmm....I do," said Cody as DJ crawled over to him, Cody lying back and DJ bracing himself over the canine, kissing his deeply, their tongues entwining.

DJ reached a paw down over Cody's crotch, past his testicles, down between his legs, slipping a finger into Cody's tailhole, loosening it up a bit. Cody yelped a bit, then murred and grinned, feeling DJ's finger probing inside of him.

"Please," said Cody. "I want to feel you inside me."

DJ repositioned himself so he was lying on top of Cody. "Okay," he said quietly, kissing Cody on the cheek. He removed his finger from the husky, and put Cody's legs over his shoulders, so his butt was angled upward. DJ gripped Cody around the hips and pressed his cock downward, putting himself inside of Cody.

Cody gasped a bit, and sucked his breath; he'd only ever been penetrated twice, and it had been a month since the last time. He closed his eyes as he felt DJ's cock sink lower into him, stretching his tailhole out, sliding along inside him, the head tantalizing every inch it touched. He opened his eyes and looked up at DJ, who was gazing back at him with those hauntingly-beautiful emerald eyes, looking into Cody's azure-blue eyes. This was the moment the two of them loved most; not the sex, not the orgasm, but being with one another, the two of them made as one. Their heat and bodies mingled with one another, before DJ's fluids would spill into Cody.

DJ had hilted himself inside of Cody, pressing his cock as far into Cody's recesses as he could physically reach. He stayed that way for a long while, his maleness a perfect part of his lover. He bent over Cody, the husky's legs still over his shoulders, almost bending the husky in two, getting better leverage. Cody whimpered a murmured, but still felt good, and felt even better when DJ started to extract himself, his long cock slowly withdrawing from Cody, sliding perfectly and effortlessly from the husky. Cody hugged DJ tight to him as DJ's penis just about came out, just the tip of his cockhead remaining within.

Then it was gradually pumped back inside, sliding back into it's familiar spot. DJ felt all his sensitive spots teased and touched, and Cody felt his prostate gently stroked by DJ's firm penis. DJ flexed himself once he was deep inside Cody, and it made both of them shiver in extreme pleasure.

DJ kept his slow pace up for a few movement, then slowly sped himself up, humping Cody more fiercely, both in speed and force. Cody grunted a bit from taking the otter's cock faster, but adjusted, and soon was back in a state of bliss as he was taken. DJ panted a bit from the exertion, bucking his hips back and forth, taking his mate and loving every moment of it. Feeling himself inside of Cody's warmth, his penis being wrapped inside of the depths of Cody, being caressed by his silky, smooth insides. Being a part of his mate as he felt himself wanting to come to the verge of orgasm, and from the tingling in his testicles, he could tell it wouldn't be long.

He sped up more now, slamming himself in and out, a bit rougher than before. He let his full length ride in and out of Cody, from the tip of his head to the base of his shaft and every delightful inch between. DJ's cock had gone even more rigid, absolutely straight and ready to deliver his load of semen into Cody. He could feel it pressing up inside him, collecting inside his shaft, begging, aching to be released.

Cody could feel DJ's cock tighten up, and knew this meant he was on the verge of cumming. He pulled DJ down to him, tightly locking him into a passionate kiss, Cody's tongue pressing into every inch of DJ's mouth. DJ closed his eyes and eased his penetration back into a steady rhythm, which just made his impending orgasm feel closer.

DJ felt a little spasm pass through his penis, followed by a tremor that rippled through his cock and whole body, feeling his semen welling up inside him.

"Ohhh....I'm gonna....gonna...," panted DJ.

"Let it come," said Cody, looking into his mate's eyes. "Just come."

With that, DJ clenched his eyes as his semen shot forth inside of Cody, his fluids being deposited into Cody in one moment of rapture for DJ. And also for Cody, and he felt DJ's warmth spread out in his rear end, some dribbling out of his tailhole and onto his rear end and the pool deck.

DJ pressed himself hard into Cody as his orgasm finished, letting every spasm of his climax feed into Cody. He gasped and panted with delight, and Cody grinned up at him.

"Like that?" asked Cody, smiling playfully.

DJ bent down and kissed Cody. "Very much."

They rolled over so DJ was on his back, Cody still sitting on his cock. The two of them just stayed there with each other in the dark, not saying anything, not needing to say anything.

"Cody?"

"Hmm?"

"I think we should go; it's after midnight," said DJ.

"I guess," said Cody, slowly getting off of DJ's cock. He helped DJ to his feet, kissing the otter again.

The two of the grudgingly got dressed.

"We can get naked again back in the room," said Cody, encircling DJ's waist as he hugged him.

"You bet we can," said DJ, and they both laughed.

They went outside, looking up the sky that had been darkened by clouds that had moved in while they had been love-making. They bulged and threatened to let loose with a rain shower; thunder peals and lightning flashes in the distance only enforced the warning.

"Guess we should hurry and get back," said Cody. DJ nodded, and they walked back to their dorm, hand-in-hand.

***

It was around four AM. The only light that was in the room was from the clock-radio on the desk, which cast a faint red glow from its illuminated numbers.

Lance rolled over, only half-awake in the gloom. Raindrops pattered against the windows that he couldn't see, since the shades had been drawn. The first thing he noticed was that he COULD roll over; there was no collie blocking his path. He half-sat-up in the bed, looking around; Race was nowhere in the room.

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Nude, he went over to a chair and grabbed a T-shirt and pair of boxers slung over the back. Putting them on, he headed down to the bathroom.

Lance barely cracked the door, and could hear sounds from inside. Hacking and gagging, followed by someone vomiting. He figured it was some frat-boy working off too much party, but when he went inside, he could see Race in the last stall, bent over the toilet and retching. Lance thought maybe he was sick, stomach flu or something.

"Race?" he asked as he came in.

Race made a gurgling sound, before pitching once again.

"You okay?" asked Lance, standing behind his mate.

"I'm....fine," said Race miserably. He wiped his mouth, looking over his shoulder. "Just not feeling well, I guess. Go back to bed, don't worry."

Lance looked into the bowl, and saw blood mixed in with everything. "Race--"

"I said I'm FINE," said Race quietly. "Now...please...go back to bed." He hung his head over the bowl.

Lance backed out, afraid at what was going on, but apparently Race didn't want help. Lance padded back to their room, going inside and sitting on the bed. What was going on? Race had been acting weird for almost two weeks. And going to see the doctor hadn't improved anything. But, he did have to go back Saturday for more 'tests,' which Race would not tell him what that entailed.

Lance was worried that Race was keeping something from him; that there was something wrong with him, and he wouldn't let it out. Lance didn't want to pry, but didn't want to Race in such obvious pain, either.

Lance sat up for another hour until he heard the doorknob turn. He quickly lay down and pretended he'd been asleep for awhile. Race came in, stripping his clothes off and lay back down behind Lance, hugging his tight.

"I love you," said Race, obviously not expecting an answer as he snuggled up with Lance.

Lance wanted to say it back. Race didn't say that often, and Lance always loved to say it back. But he didn't want Race to know he'd been up worrying over him; Race was always so proud, self-confident and stubborn, he rarely openly asked for help or admitted anything.

But now that he was back in the room, Lance just concentrated on his body heat, and hearing Race's heartbeat in his chest, and he was out in moments.

***

It was late afternoon when the two of them awoke, and in the same position as when they'd gone to sleep; Lance in Race's arms.

Lance looked over his shoulder, smiling. "Good morning."

Race gave Lance a quick lick on the cheek. "Heya."

The fox giggled and looked over at the clock; 1:15. "Well, make that afternoon."

There came a soft knock on the door. Race untangled from Lance, getting dressed quickly and answered the door, opening the door so it still blocked Lance naked on the bed.

"Yes?" asked Race, looking around the door.

"Is there a Race in this room?" asked a stocky cheetah.

"That's me," said Race.

"There's a phonecall for you; says it's urgent," said the cheetah, waiting.

Race furrowed his brow. He turned to Lance. "I'll be back in a minute."

Lance nodded. "Okay."

Race followed the cat down the hall to where the dorm phone was. The cheetah pointed into the office. "Line one."

"Thanks," said Race, going in and closing the door. "Hello?" he said, picking up the phone.

"Hello, Race?"

"Yes."

"This is doctor Rollins, from the medical facility," came the familiar voice.

"Oh, right," said Race. "Calling to refill my pills? Because they aren't really working."

"Are you exhibiting any of the symptoms we discussed the other day?" asked Rollins.

"Yeah; nose-bleeds, dizziness, nausea, and throwing up," said Race. "The dizziness is almost constant now."

Race could hear pen scratches on the other end. "Mmhmm, I was afraid of that once I saw your test work from the other day."

Race felt his stomach tighten, then drop somewhere down around his knees like a lead weight. "Is it bad?"

"Well, before I say anything further, I'd to bump up your examination from tomorrow to today, if that's alright."

"Sure," said Race. "Today starts our spring break; most of the professors are canceling class for the last day here, so I can come no problem."

"Excellent; say around three?" asked Rollins.

"Okay," said Race, worried.

"I'll see you then; just come to my office," said Rollins, and with that hung up.

Race put the phone back on the cradle, staring off into space. None of this sounded good; what would the doctor have seen that would make him want to move his second examination up to today?

He walked back upstairs, walking in on Lance as he was getting up. Race let his eyes trace over Lance's hips, down over his smooth buttocks, with just a hint of his sac peeking through the cleft in his legs.

"Like what ya see?" asked Lance, looking over his shoulder seductively.

"Sure do," said Race, grinning.

Lance teasingly pulled on a pair of boxers, hiding all his pleasing parts. "So, what was the phone call?"

"Oh, just the doctor," said Race off-handedly. "He's pretty busy and asked if I would come in today," he lied.

"I see," said Lance. "Well, I didn't have any plans for the day, you can have the car."

Race nodded. "It's not until three, but by the time I get myself together and over there, it'll be time." He grabbed some clothes. "I'm going to go shower; wanna come with?"

Lance grinned. "You have an evil mind." He collected his own things. "I love it."

***

Race stepped through the automatic doors and into the medical center; the scent of ammonia and other sterile products caught his nose and made him sneer.

He climbed up to the second floor, to the doctor's office, and stepped in, going right to the receptionist's desk.

"Can I help you?" asked a pert lioness; from the name on the plate, Race was guessing it was the doctor's wife.

"I'm here to see doctor Rollins, I believe he's expecting me," said Race.

"Name?" asked the lioness.

"Race," he said.

"Ah, yes, right on time," she said, smiling. "Go right on through to waiting room B, the doctor will be right in."

Race did as instructed, passing through the door into the back room, going into the room on the right and sitting on the desk, not undressing at all; he was in no hurry to put that paper gown on.

He wasn't sitting long before Rollins came in. "Hello, Race. How are you?"

"Head still hurts," said Race. "Like I said on the phone, the painkillers didn't seem to do much."

Rollins smiled. "Probably because they were nothing more than placebos; sugar pills."

"Oh," replied Race dumbly. "I see."

"Well, I think we should get you down for a few more tests in the lab," said Rollins. "We should have a conclusive answer by today."

***

The machine hummed and clicked as Race was slid into the CAT scan apparatus. He glanced around nervously, his heart beating rapidly.

"Just calm down," said Rollins over a microphone in the observation room. "And try to remain as still as possible."

The 'bed' Race was on thrummed into place in the tunnel. In an instant, it was illuminated in a flash of fluorescent lighting. There was a gentle humming and a thin beam of light played over Race, from heard to toe.

Rollins watched the feedback on the screen. "Give me a better view of the cranium." The machine hummed again and scanned just Race's head, and the image fed into the computer.

Rollins' eyes went wide. "My God."

***

Race was re-dressing as the doctor put several images onto a lightboard. "These are the scans we took of you this afternoon."

Race could just pick out a bunch of squiggles and black and blue colors. "So?"

Rollins put another picture up next to it. "This is a scan of a normal adult collie. See any differences?"

It was still just a blur to Race. "No."

Rollins pointed just behind Race's eyes in his image. "See this black spot here? It's absent in the normal picture. That's because these are malignant cells; cancer cells."

Race looked up from tying his shoes. "They're what?"

"You have an exceedingly-rare ocular-degenerative disease. It's strictly hereditary, and only one in one-hundred-thousand actually exhibit the disease; it's a recessive trait on the y-chromosome, so it also only affects males. It only affects ocular tissue; specifically the nerves that transmit images from the eye to the brain to be processed. It will not spread to any other part of the body. It accounts for your dizziness, bloody noses, and nausea. The excess pressure from the cancer cells is being exerted on your brain, and causing it."

Race felt a lump catch in his throat. "And this is....treatable?"

Rollins frowned. "Normally we could treat it, but usually we know to watch for it in cases where other family members have exhibited this problem. But it's so advanced in your case...the amount of cells we would need to remove would destroy your vision anyway. And radiation therapy runs the risk of deadening the cells anyway. Eye transplants are experimental at best, and if it doesn't take, again, there's no reversing it."

"How long will it be before I....I...," trembled Race.

"About sixteen months in the left eye, twenty in the left," said Rollins. "And you'll probably need corrective glasses in the meantime as your vision worsens.

Race leaned back against the table, feeling dizzy and for once not from just his headaches. "And you're sure of this?"

Rollins nodded sadly. "I'm afraid so. Once I saw your blood work, that was why I asked you to come in, and after the CAT scan, there really is no doubt. You can go home, talk this over with your parents, think about your options. We can let your vision run as long as possible, or try and do an eye transplant. Those are really your only two options. But if you want to try the eye transplant, we can't wait longer than six months."

"And the headaches and such will persist?" asked Race.

"No," said Rollins. "They should go away soon; within a month at best, and I can prescribe actual painkillers for you this time. They're related to the growth of the cancer; once the rate 'normalizes' the pain will go away."

Race nodded, feeling like he wanted to cry, but not wanting to do it here.

"I know it's a lot to take in," said Rollins. He gave Race a prescription. "Here, that's for a month's worth, and is also covered in your insurance, so don't worry."

Race nodded. "Thank you."

Rollins said nothing else, just opened the door and left.

Race left the office a few moments later, feeling numb. A year and a half at best and he was going to be blind. And in the meantime, his vision was going to slowly worsen. How much longer would he be able to see things as he saw them now? A sunrise coming up, a sunny day, water coming against the beach....Lance.

Lance. How was he going to tell Lance? That, eventually, he'd never be able to see him again.

He got into his car, clenching his fists tightly around the steering wheel. In little more than a year, he'd never be able to see Lance again...never see his deep blue eyes, his perfect body, his smile, see him laugh as the two of spent time together, and see him sleep when they were together at night. It would be all gone, and he would just see blackness....

He started the car and reversed, driving back to Lance as fast as possible. Every moment seemed precious, and, suddenly, a year was a very short amount of time.

***

The weekend passed uneventfully, but eventually it was time for all the students to be out of the dorms for spring break.

DJ zipped up his bag, tossing it on the floor.

"Ready to go?" he asked Cody.

Cody nodded, hefting his own bag. "Yep. How far is it to the cottage again?"

"I think Lance four or five hours at most," said DJ. He picked his bag up, opening the door and stepping into the hallway. They made sure the door was locked and made their way downstairs.

Race's car was parked in front of the lobby, Race arranging things in the trunk, Lance behind the wheel.

"We all set?" asked DJ, bending down and looking into the car at Lance.

"Sure are," replied Lance. "Got a full tank of gas, directions, and the full collection of 'Bread' on CD."

DJ looked stricken.

Lance laughed. "I'm kidding! Settle down, I've got good music."

"Okay," said DJ. He went around to the back of the car, taking Cody's bag, and handing both to Race. "Just these."

"Alright," said Race, taking them and gently packing them into the trunk. "Guess we're ready to roll."

Race went around and got into the passenger's seat, DJ and Cody in the back. Lance pulled the car around and out of the college lot, heading toward the interstate.

"Thanks for letting us tag along," said Cody.

"No problem," replied Lance. Race said nothing.

Lance looked over at his boyfriend from the corner of his eye. He had been worried all weekend; Race had assured him after coming back from the doctor's everything was okay, all the tests came back in a positive way, but Race still hadn't been himself since. Lance was worried he wasn't being completely honest.

"We should get there around dinner time," said Lance, trying to sound upbeat. He watched Race, who was just staring out the window, seeming like he was trying to take it all in.

In the back, DJ pulled out a book, Cody settling in with his Gameboy with the sound turned off.

Lance sighed, turning onto the interstate, stepping on the gas and speeding off.

***

It was just about dark when they pulled into the cottage's dirt driveway. It had taken longer than expected on account of a traffic jam from a car accident.

DJ and Cody got out of the back, stretching and groaning.

"I'm starved!" exclaimed Cody. Even with stopping for fast food a few hours ago, most of them were famished.

"Okay," said Race. "I'll go in and see what food is left in there for us."

"Want to grab the bags first?" asked DJ, pointing to trunk.

"We'll get them later," said Race, peeling back a corner of the welcome mat on the stoop and grabbing a key. He unlocked the door and pressed in, the other three right behind him.

"Wait here for a second," said Race, crossing the room and opening a small closet door. There was a quick metallic noise, and then a low thrumming noise.

A lamp clicked on in the middle of the room, Race standing next to it. "Generator," he explained. "No power lines out here."

The cottage was fairly simple in layout; the front door opened right into the living room, with a kitchen/dining room just beyond. To the left was a bathroom, and beyond that a short hallway opening into two bedrooms. On the opposite side of the room was a large sliding-glass door that opened onto a back porch. The decor had been in an outdoorsy-theme; animal carvings everywhere, paintings of outdoor scenes adorning the walls, and everything done in hardwoods.

Race walked over to the couch, fluffing a few cushions. "Have a seat," he said. "I'll check on food." And with that, he walked towards the kitchen.

"Seems like a nice place," said Cody, walking over and sitting down.

"I can think of worse places to kill a week," agreed DJ, sitting next to Cody and snuggling up next to him.

"Well," began Race, coming from the kitchen, "cereal seems to be all we have."

"Food is food," said Cody, looking into the kitchen hungrily.

"Is he ever not hungry?" Lance asked DJ.

"I'm wondering the same thing myself," said DJ, looking at Cody, who just grinned.

The four of them gathered in the kitchen, grabbing bowls and spoons, spilling milk and cereal all over while they goofed around with each other, nudging elbows while they poured and such.

It wasn't long before two boxes of cereal and a gallon of milk were gone.

"Not bad," said Cody. "Though now I'm wondering what breakfast will be."

"Thinking with your stomach," said DJ, poking the husky.

"Better than what you think with," retorted Cody.

DJ stood up, stretching. "I could use some air," he said, casually, looking over at Cody. The husky perked his ears up, and followed DJ to the glass door, where they slipped out.

"Wonder where they're going," mused Lance.

"Same place I want to go," said Race, standing up and taking Lance's paw. He led him to the corner of the room, and pulled a ladder down from the ceiling. He climbed up and opened a trap door in the roof, that led onto the roof.

"Where're we going?" asked Lance, following Race up the ladder.

"You'll see," said Race. "It's my favorite place."

The two of them climbed onto the roof, Race helping Lance up.

"Wow....,' gasped Lance when he got the top. From the roof, he could see over the forest and to the sky above them.

Race sat down, patting the roofing next to him. "C'mere."

Lance sat down next to Race, putting his head on his shoulder. "Race?"

"Hmm?"

"If something was wrong....you'd tell me, right?"

Race paused for a second.

"Race?"

"Of course I would." He kissed Lance on the cheek. "But nothing's wrong, so don't worry."

"Nothing?"

Race opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again. "No, nothing. Right now, everything is perfect. I have you here with me, and I just want to enjoy that, and make as many memories with you as I can."

Lance took his boyfriend around the arm, snuggling up close, kissing him. "Okay. We can do that."

***

DJ stood in a clearing not far from the cottage. "Cody, come see this."

Cody stood next to DJ, looking up like DJ was doing. "It's beautiful...."

The starscape spread out above them, a million tiny points of light twinkling back at them. The midnight-blue sky seemed to go on forever, no end in sight, enveloping the world. A sliver of silver moonlight hung low in the sky.

"Makes everything else seem so far away," said Cody, taking DJ's paw in his own.

DJ looked Cody in the eyes. "Sometimes we need to make everything go away." He kissed Cody gently. "Especially lately."

"Yeah....," said Cody, glumly.

"My mother used to tell me stories when I was younger," said DJ. "That everyone had an angel watching over them, making sure they got nice things in their lives. But they also had other ones watching them; angels with black wings that brought malice into your life. It wasn't intentional, just balance." He squeezed Cody's paw. "Sometimes I think we've got more than one black-winged angel in our lives."

Cody looked back at the stars. "My dad always said if you're good, you went to heaven. Think Jaime's up there?"

"I'm sure of it," said DJ quietly. He looked back up as a shooting star crossed the sky, leaving a string of light behind it. "Make a wish."

Cody hugged DJ tightly. "I already got everything I wanted."

___________________________

Wow, this part took FOREVER to write, but I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out. The main reason it took so long is because there were a LOT of parts I changed. Some things just didn't work for me. So, I kept going back to the drawing board, and eventually got what I wanted.

The next part I'm really looking forward to writing; it definitely won't be one to miss.