In The WingsA Beau to Beau Romance short storySensual and Sexual, with Passion, Pleasure, and Longing.In the four years that they had been apart, Dans andGannons friendship had not waned. Reunited by eitherchance or fate, it seemed as though the more things changed,the more they had remained the same. The yearly medicalconvention quickly proves them wrong, however. Things hadchanged, and they had changed a lot. Wishing that he couldturn back time but knowing tha t he cannot, Gannon is facedwith a decision he was not prepared to make.~Shannon Pearce~Copyright 2010: Shannon PearceBeau to Beau BooksAll rights reservedThis ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Thisebook may not be re-sold nor given away to other people.
Ifyou would like to share this book with another person, pleasepurchase an additional copy for each person with whom youwish to share it. Thank you for respecting the hard work ofthis author. Images in this ebook, taken from the Internet, areassumed to be in the public domain. If you own the rights tothese images and wish them to be removed, please contactBeau to Beau via e-mail and they will be promptly removed. Dan was not looking forward to the yearly medical convention, not this year. He and a colleague were to present a grant proposal this year and so far Gannon, his colleague, was the only one who had had time to work on it. Gannon had assured Danny that he didnt mind, but Dan felt that he was letting Gannon down.
Gannon knew that something had been bothering Danny for awhile now, and didnt want to pry into his personal affairs. He admired Danny, and he also loved Danny, though Dan was unaware of Gannons love for him. Gannon had loved Danny since they had met in medical school five years ago. They had completed their residencies in different states, and joining the same practice at the end of their residencies had to be fate. Gannon had been in a couple of relationships since medical school, but no one could take Dannys place in his heart. The two of them had so much in common.
They respected the others desire to succeed in their practice and most importantly, they understood the time and pressure involved in the practice of medicine. Dans wife did not understand the demands on his time. She had met him when he was in medical school, being a nursing student herself, but had quit the program half way through so that she could plan their wedding. She had done nothing since but pressure and manipulate Danny into getting what she wanted. Now, they had a baby. Gannon didnt ask much about Dannys home life.
The stress showed very clearly in his face. He just wished that he had been honest with Danny about his feelings years ago. There were times when they would study together and would give each other back rubs, and Gannon was certain that if they had had just a little more time, he would be Dannys life partner. Gannon often wondered if Danny had ever had feelings for him, the way that he had for Danny, but would never ask. He would never do anything to break up a family. The presentation had been an added stress in Dans life, so Gannon had completed most of it, but he didnt mind.
Danny was his colleague and his friend. When they had joined the same practice, it was as if their four years apart hadnt even happened. Their friendship picked up right where it left off. Gannon was waiting for Danny at the airport, nervously looking at his watch. Danny would be cutting it close this time. Dan came running up to Gannon out of breath.
Im sorry, Gannon. You wouldnt believe this morning. What a mess! Dont worry. Ive got all the notes and I will prepare you on the plane. Dan didnt know what he would have done without Gannon. He was always so supportive of him, no matter what.
They waited in silence for their time to board. Dan had always thought of Gannon as a skinny guy, but realized now that he was very well toned and slender. He had filled out during their years apart, and nicely. He always dressed well, and today was no exception. He was wearing a suit and tie that looked like it had just come from the cleaners. Dan felt like a rumpled slob standing next to him.
He didnt feel like talking this morning, and Gannon knew it. It wasnt until they were on the plane and had finished their drinks that Gannon turned to him and said, Ready to work? Okay, sure. Dan began to fumble through his carry-on for his folders and when he looked up, Gannon had all his materials laid out neatly in front of him. Thats the Gannon I remember, always prepared. Gannon had been his rock during their last year of medical school. You sure are prepared, he said.
We have to be today. Our audience will be the best in their field. They will know if we are faking it. I was beginning to get nervous and Gannon noticed. Youll do great, Danny. Ill set you up and then at just the right moment, you will take over.
Danny smiled at his friend. As luck would have it, Atlantas airport was backed up on landings due to bad weather and they had to circle several times before landing. Looks like well be heading straight to the conference, Danny. Good thing we prepped on the plane. Danny was getting more nervous the longer they waited. When they did finally land, they grabbed their luggage and hurried to get a taxi to take them downtown.
The traffic in downtown Atlanta was never good, but today seemed especially heavy. Dan looked in the rearview mirror from the backseat. He needed to freshen up. Gannon looked great, not a hair out of place. They finally arrived at the downtown high rise and were whisked by the elevator up to the floor of the office where once inside, they were ushered into the inner conference room. The room was beautiful, with Persian rugs and pecan furniture.
Everything was set up for them, and Gannon had his laptop open and ready to go. The presentation was on the screen in seconds, just as the room was filled with the best in the field. Gannon ran through the presentation as if he had done it a hundred times, cueing in each new slide at the proper time, never losing his place. About halfway through, he turned to me and said, And now my associate, Dr. Dan Hartman, will explain the molecular process. Dan had been dreading this moment, but Gannon had set everything up so well that all he had to do was tell them what he knew, which he knew very well.
They finished their presentation and answered a few questions, and that was it. Dan hadnt realized how tense he had been until they packed up their stuff and were on their way down in the elevator. All of a sudden his knees turned to rubber and his head was spinning. He leaned against the wall of the elevator, closed his eyes, and began to take deep breaths to keep from passing out. Gannon had been watching him. Hey buddy, you all right there? Dan nodded, and said, Ill be fine.
Clearly he was not. Lets sit down a moment after the elevator stops. They found a bench in the lobby and sat down. Gannon set down his things and lifted Dannys legs up onto the bench. Feeling a little better? He felt cold and beads of sweat had begun to form on his forehead. Gannon wiped his forehead with his hand.
He was genuinely concerned. I guess getting up early and worrying just got the better of me. Youll feel better after a good dinner and a nights rest. Gannon smiled again, that confident, kind smile of his. We did it, Danny. We proved that we could teach the best in the field a little something they didnt know.
No, Gannon, you did it. It was all you. No, you always did know how to explain things at the molecular level. Always had the biochem down pat. Lets celebrate, Danny. Lets go to a really nice restaurant.
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