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Epilogue Authors Note I feel the need to apologize for having drug out this story longer than I had originally planned. As I read over the final chapter I realized that I had not really wrapped it all up, and I had not done justice to some of the characters; So instead of going back and making rather major modifications, I merely extended the last chapter until it had become two. So this, the Epilogue, really is the final instalment. Thank you all for sticking by Jeff and Steve and all the others. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed the writing. Good morning beautiful, How was your night I didn't see the light, I didn't know day from night Good morning beautiful, How was your night I'll never worry If it's raining outside Good morning beautiful, How was your night A good morning beautiful...day
Sunday, October 13, 2002; 8:30 AM: The insistent ringing phone finally brought Jeff Allen to life, sort of, so he picked up the receiver and said Hello sleepily. Under normal circumstances 8:30 would not really be considered early, but Jeff had been partying the night before. He and Steve had taken full advantage of having a day off together, and had spent the entire day enjoying themselves. They had gone water skiing, then out to dinner at one of their favorite restaurants, and then to a gay friendly bar they liked to frequent. They still didnt really consider themselves gay... neither had any interest in men other than each other; but they did dearly love to dance and be with other people who could accept them for who and what they were, so they naturally gravitated to the Gay community. At the bar they danced and drank, met old friends, and just had a great old time until 3:30 AM; so on this particular Sunday morning 8:30 was extremely early. Good morning, sir, the official sounding voice came back to him. Please excuse my calling so early on a Sunday morning, but I was told this is the best time to find someone at home. I am looking for Lieutenant Commander Jeff Allen or Lieutenant Commander Steve Price. Command... Uhhh... Mr. Allen, this is Commander Stevens, US Navy. I have been authorized to call you to inquire if you or Commander Price... uhhh sorry, Mr. Price, would be interested in returning to active duty. We at the Navy have good reason to believe that we should be fully prepared for an all-out war in the Middle East, and your names have been mentioned several times during our planning. In fact Admiral Adams, USN Retired, told us in no uncertain terms we would be foolish to prepare for war without you and Commander Price involved. We would be honored to have you aboard, sir. I would like to meet with you both at your earliest convenience to discuss the matter. Im flattered, Commander, Jeff said. But as I told the Navy after we finished our little tour of active duty last year in Afghanistan, Im all through flying Tomcats. I think I speak for Steve Price as well, but Ill be glad to put him on the phone if you want to hear it from him personally. Jeff and Steve had returned to active duty after completing their degrees in Engineering, but they hadnt seen very much action. They worked instead in California as instructors, training young pilots like themselves in the intricacies of the F-14 Tomcat. They had enjoyed their three year stint in the Navy, but of course theyd had to once again put their love life on hold, and that they didnt like. In 1998 the enthusiastic flyers, together with Jeffs brother Mike, who had also earned his wings in the US Navy, had a chance to buy a charter business in Arizona. The trio had plunged into unbelievable debt to make the purchase, then they had managed to raise even more money to purchase two brand new planes; now, four years later, they had built the foundering business into a thriving enterprise with no small amount of assistance from a Canadian firm called Bombardier. When the terrorists attacked New York City in 2001, all three aviators had left their business in the capable hands of one of their trusted employees, who was also part owner, and returned to active duty. When the War on Terrorism began, the two eunuchs were once again seated in the cockpit of F-14 Tomcats, this time accompanied by Jeffs brother Mike. They had served six months this time, then returned to the more peaceful world of charter flying where they were having great success. They had a fleet of five planes now: three Lear Jets and the two brand new Bombardier Dash 8 Turboprops they had purchased against all their accountants best advice. The planes are almost constantly in the air. It should be added here that the two Dash 8's came from Canada, the home of Bombardier. They chose these particular planes because of their superior range and quiet operation, their almost jet-like speed and their ability to land on very short runways. But there were more, less obvious reasons. You see, one of the executives at Bombardier now is none other than Becky, the young Canadian nurse who had a brief affair with Jeff. She managed to get them a very good deal on the magnificent machines, due to their continuing friendship. Of course the fact that the new planes are so new in the marketplace didnt hurt. When Becky presented Jeffs and Steves flying record to the board of directors, she convinced them that it would be to their advantage to place the two planes in the hands of these two veteran young pilots. With or without the new airplanes, Becky and Jeff had remained close personal friends who continue to see each other on a regular basis. And then of course there is Cathy, the other Canadian nurse who spent three days with Steve in Africa and dated him several times after that. They still date from time to time; in fact she was with them last night as they danced and partied. Cathy works for Steve now. She is one of the pilots of their new Dash 8's, and is part owner and vice president of the charter company. She was absolutely devastated by the news that Steve had been nullified; not for any selfish reasons because she had known from the start that his first love was his best friend Jeff; but she loved him nonetheless, and determined to become a lasting part of his life. She also seemed to know before Steve himself did, that whatever life had in store for him, it would include flying; so she had taken advantage of her friendship with Becky and the latters position at Bombardier to learn to fly. She became one of the test pilots for the new Dash 8's as they were developed. No one knows the Dash 8 better than Cathy. It could be said that she was another reason for the purchase, and as the business grows, if it grows, there will be more Bombardier aircraft in the fleet. I dont know, Commander... Im sorry, what did you say your name was? Jeff knew the name, but he had learned long ago that sometimes it could be beneficial to forget a name. Tell him, Steve whispered. He had been listening to the entire conversation as he held his lover. Tell him why we cant go. Commander Stevens, Jeff said with a new authority, Steve Price and I simply cannot go back to active duty. For one thing we have a successful business to run. For another, were in the air a lot these days, often on opposite ends of the world. But when were both on the ground as we are right now, were together, and thats not negotiable. You see, were lovers, and we already spend too much time apart. As you well know, we cannot be lovers when were on active duty. Ok, heres the deal, Commander, Jeff said as he grew weary of arguing. I already told you that Steve and I have had three tours of active duty, and at no time during those tours did we act in any way unbecoming our status as US Navy officers. I dont know that I agree with the rules, but we obeyed them. Now we are in a very successful charter business which forces us to be apart more than we like; but when we are together we can be completely together, including sleeping in the same bed as we are right now. We are not prepared to give up the time we have together, Mr. Stevens; and the last time I was on an aircraft carrier I dont remember seeing any double beds. Is that clear enough for you? There was a long pause. Steve had picked up the other cordless phone now, and was smirking at Jeff as they waited for the pompous Commander to speak. Im afraid I dont understand, the man finally said weakly. I thought... I mean, I was led to believe... Im so proud of you, sailor! Steve exclaimed after they had hung up. I love you, Steve! Jeff exclaimed as he embraced his lover, groping his smooth crotch. God, how I love you! They lay in the bed, looking into each others eyes, neither moving or saying a word, for a good fifteen minutes; a quarter hour in which a telepathic connection that had not been used much lately came alive and told two 31-year-old men what neither had the will power to say out loud. You know well have to go if theres a war, Steve observed. Were only 31, and if they go to full scale war... I've been telling my dreams to the scarecrow So I confessed my sins to the preacher But how do you wait for heaven? My daddy he was grounded like the oak tree Oh, How do you wait for heaven? So how do you wait for heaven? You were born to fly, fly, fly, fly, hey Two handsome young men lay in bed, each with their own thoughts. Neither knew it, but they were both thinking the very same thing; they were pondering the song that was resounding in their heads: YOU WERE BORN TO FLY! I think we should call em back and say well go now, Steve observed. Steve, if we go back on a carrier, well be alone again! And you know after what I just told Stevens theyll be watching us like hawks. I dont wanna do that to you again! Well never be alone, Jeff. Neither of us will ever be alone again. Besides, itll only be for a little while, Steve said somewhat sadly. But Jeff, you and I have both been told we have a gift. I believe were given gifts like that for a reason, and that reason is not to blow off the Navy when they need us. Just think of all the training we can do before the war starts, if it does start. Think of the lives we could save just by making sure those young pilots are well trained before they have to face real bullets! You really dont mind? Jeff asked haltingly. Its ok with you if we go now? They did call Mike. He invited his brother and his lover for Sunday dinner so they could discuss it, which both Jeff and Steve accepted readily. They both adored Mikes wife and beautiful children, so it was never a chore to visit the happy home. When they got there Cathy was there as well, but that was no surprise. She was not only an important force in the charter business, but a valued friend to Mike and his family. After a long discussion, Mike agreed to forego the Gulf this time, unless things got really desperate. He would stay here and take care of the business, raise his children and love his wife, while Jeff and Steve would do what they do best of all: Fly Tomcats. Sunday Night, October 13, 2002; 10:00 PM Jeff and Steve had just got in bed, still savoring the wonderful day theyd had with Mike and his family. They were comfortable with their decision, but the next week or so would be hectic to say the least as they prepared to leave for an undetermined period of time. Of course there was always the possibility that one or the other, perhaps both, would be leaving for good, would never come home; but they considered the benefits worth the risk. Steve reached to his bedside table and idly flipped on the small table radio. A song started to play: one of those half-sung, half-spoken country songs that are a lot less popular now than they used to be. The two lovers lay staring at each other, totally at peace, as they listened to the words of the song: I would have spent a lot more time out in the pouring rain And I would have gone on and saw Elvis that night he came to town... And I'd went skinny dipping with Jenny Carson that time she dared me to... Oh I, I would have done a lot of things different I wish I would have spent more time with my dad when he was alive... And I wish I would have told my brother how much I loved him before he went off to war... I wish I would have gone to church on Sunday morning when my grandma begged me to... I wish I would of listened when they said boy you're gonna wish you hadn't... Oh I, I would have done a lot of things different People say they wouldn't change a thing There was this red dress she wanted one time so bad she could taste it... She wanted to paint our bedroom yellow and trim it in blues and greens... She loved to be held and kissed and touched... And If I would have a known that dance was gonna be our last dance... Oh I, I would have done a lot of things different People say they wouldn't change a thing Oh I, I would have done a lot of things different... I think we'd all do a lot of things different. I gotta call Becky, Jeff said as the song ended. Youre heading for the Gulf again, arent you? Becky said after listening to Jeff stutter and stammer and beat around the bush for about five minutes. Rain check, Becky said. Becky? Ive gotta ask, Steve said reflectively as they lay in bed, both visibly moved by the song, by Jeffs conversation with Becky. If you could do it again, would you do it? And the other? Would you do the thing with the jet fuel again? I mean, when you think of Mike, all married and normal and raising those kids, Becky, and what a great gal she is... You know after all this time shed still marry you in a heartbeat... Monday morning at 5 AM, October 21, 2002 Two very handsome young Naval officers boarded one of their own Lear Jets for a direct flight to Langley, Virginia. There they would bid the pilot, Jeffs brother Mike, good-bye, then board another Lear, this one owned by the US Navy and equipped to land on a carrier, which would fly them to the Middle East where they were to rendezvous with their carrier and assume their duties as squadron commanders. They will stay this time, they said, until either the war is over or the threat of one is past. And then they will say good-bye to the Navy forever. Again. The jury is still out whether a war is necessary or even advisable; but if and when it comes, there are about a dozen jet fighters on a certain aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf that will be piloted by young men who have been trained, and are now under command of two of the best pilots ever to sit at the controls of a Tomcat: The Flying Eunuchs. They wont win the war all by themselves, if it comes, but theres no doubt they will make a difference. The end... unless theres a war, then well see.
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