Carter separated from his passionate kiss with Daniel, and gently pushed him into a sitting position on the bench. He took the pistol and held it in front of him. "What's this all about?" he sternly asked.
Daniel was ashamed, but said, "it's all done, Carter, it's all done. Everyone is better off without me; mom, Peter, and even you." He leaned down and put his face into his hands. It was genuine pain, not some dramatic gesture meant to draw attention to himself.
Carter thought for a moment, then set the pistol down on the bench and pulled him back. He slapped Daniel's face. Carter wanted it to sting as much as the slap he had felt from Daniel when they were together in his car last March.
"We're going to talk about that. But first, this has to go back where it belongs," he said, tucking the gun into his waistband and covering it with his shirt. He stood up and extended his hand. "It's time to go home, kiddo," Carter said, thoughts racing through his mind.
Daniel reached up and gently took his hand, feeling the understanding touch. "Okay, Carter," he said. They walked together along the shoreline and climbed into Carter's car, then drove the short distance to Daniel's house.
They got out of the car and went in together, then took off their sandals. Carter took the gun from his waistband and pulled the slide back, ejecting the single cartridge onto the floor. He leaned down, picked it up, and held it in front of Daniel's face.
"This wasn't meant for you, and never consider it again," Carter said, staring into his eyes. Daniel felt a shudder run through his body, almost as if his father was speaking to him.
"Now put these away," Carter ordered, handing him the pistol and cartridge. Daniel sheepishly took them into his hands, then quickly returned to his mother's bedroom, where he placed them back into the box from which he had originally taken them.
Looking at the picture of his father, the final thing he put back on top, he whispered, "where do I go from here, dad? Please tell me."
Daniel returned and found Carter sitting on the couch. He settled next to him, wishing the fireplace was working, even though it was July. Oddly, they both looked at it, somehow mesmerized. "Tell me what pushed you this far," Carter asked quietly, pulling him close.
"Peter saw us together when you said good-bye. I broke my promise to him of not touching you without him being there, but I couldn't help it. He thinks I'm a cheater, a liar, and that I betrayed him. I can't blame him for feeling that way, but did I really do anything so wrong?" Daniel asked softly.
"I don't know him like you do. There was no reason for him to feel that way and you did nothing wrong, but clearly he can't stand you loving someone else," Carter reasoned. He knew that Daniel was young and vulnerable, yet still couldn't understand his suicidal choice. "There's more to it than that, isn't there?" Carter asked.
Daniel hesitated, his heart pounding, but finally shared what had actually driven him to it. "He's got a new friend ... a boyfriend," he said. Daniel's body melted against Carter, who held him tightly. "I don't know if Peter feels anything for him, or if he's just trying to hurt me," Daniel pouted. "We haven't talked since you left."
"Who is it?" Carter asked, feeling his pain, yet trying to understand. There was a pause before Daniel answered, not wanting to betray Peter any more. "His name is Alex. He's on the cross-country team with him."
Daniel could almost feel an electric shock between them as Carter immediately asked, "Alex Myer?" "Yes," Daniel softly replied.
Carter didn't say anything further, but Daniel clearly sensed that he had struck a nerve. "You know him, don't you?" Daniel asked. "Yes, I do," he said, gazing into the lifeless fireplace. Carter was concerned and lost in thought.
