[In Chapter 3, Dan sent to Mike's house. They had a date. Dan rang the doorbell several times and no one answered. "I've been stood up again, damn, damn, damn," said Dan. He jumped in his car and sped toward Merriman Road. Just as he reached the road, another car turned quickly into the driveway and slammed on the brakes. The cars stopped inches from each other.]
"Oh, my God," Dan shouted, as he looked at the ambulance that had stopped only inches from his car.
"Get out of the way, Buddy," the driver of the ambulance shouted to Dan.
Dan backed his car down the driveway and made room for the ambulance. The drive and the medics jumped from the ambulance.
"What's going on," Dan asked.
"Don't know. Someone called 911. You live here?"
"No, I don't live here. I was invited over for dinner."
"Let's check this out," said a take-charge medic. The men tried the door. Locked. They tried a set of pass keys. Finally, a key clicked and the door opened.
"Where are you?" the medic called.
"Here in the bathroom," a voice responded.
Dan recognized the voice as Mike's. Dan bolted up the steps and started opening doors. In a bathroom, off the master bedroom, Dan found Mike lying on the floor.
"I fell," Mike said. "I think I broke something. I can't get up."
Dan looked at Mike, lying on the floor nude, and he wanted to take him in his arms and protect him. But, he knew he couldn't do that now. Dan stepped back and made room for the medics to help Mike.
Dan rode to the hospital in the ambulance with Mike. The siren screamed as they made their way to Akron General Hospital. Drivers pulled their cars to the side of the street and made way for Mike.
"Are you hurting?" Dan said.
"Uncomfortable. But, no pain. You know, I'm not a delicate guy. I usually can take care of myself. But, I slipped when I got out of the shower and down I went."
"Don't worry. I'll stay with you and see that you're comfortable in the hospital."
"You'll give me a rain check on the tour of the flower garden?" Mike laughed.
"I don't know," Dan laughed, too. "I think the evening plans included dinner. The food at Akron General is good, but not the atmosphere I had in mind."
"Well, I'll probably be in bed, if that gives you any ideas."
"I've had an unfair advantage," Dan smiled. "I saw you naked back at your house. So, the idea of seeing you in bed gives me a lot of ideas."
Dan touched Mike's hand and then took Mike hand in his hands. The ambulance took a few quick turns and was at the emergency entrance to the hospital. The siren stopped screaming.
Dan said, "I'm going to get out of the way and let the medics do their work. But, I'm going to be nearby and I'll be able to see you at all times. Call to me if you want me and I'll be right there."
"I want you," Mike said.
The medics opened the ambulance's rear door and slid the stretcher out that held Mike. Dan stepped back out of the way as the men wheeled Mike into the hospital.
[What's the diagnosis? Will the men have dinner together? How serious is Mike's injury? For the answer to these and other important questions, read the next chapter of Tales of Akron.]
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