Hypnos: The Sleeper Awakens by O'Melissokomos (mm mc)

Hypnos: The Sleeper Awakens (mm mc)

by O'Melissokomos

The following story is a work of fiction. The characters portrayed within are a work of fiction as well, and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is a coincidence and unintentional.

Visit the Bee Keeper's Hive: http://www.pridesites.com/omelissokomos/

Chapter One

The kids were laughing and chasing each other all around the lawn. They were playing a game of tag, and everyone was trying to avoid being the next one 'it'. Seated near the patio were their parents engaged in small talk, and who, from time to time, were checking up on the children to make sure no one had tripped or anything of the sort. Soon enough, one girl did just that, but the fall didn't stop her from rejoining her friends after a quick look-see-and-she's-ok from her relieved mother. After all, it's not everyday somebody in the neighborhood celebrated a birthday, and the parents were more than glad to have a chance to get their kids out of the house and under the sun.

It was just about that time when a haggard-looking man carrying a box came out of the house. He seemed as if he came rushing in from somewhere; his hair was a mess and his clothes were all wrinkled. Nonetheless, an elated woman jumped up from the patio to greet him.

"Oh, Sonny. I'm so glad you're here. I thought you weren't going to make it. You said you were going to be in by noon."

"Hi, Sam." He gave her a slight peck on the cheek and a warm hug. "The flight got delayed by a couple of hours. How're you holding up?"

"Considering the logistical nightmare I had to go through to set up this party by myself, I'm actually ok. In fact, I look a whole lot better than you do," she teased and gave Sonny another hug. "MJ will be so happy."

Samantha was really happy to have her brother-in-law around. Ever since her husband, Mortimer, died over a year ago, she had been raising her son on her own. Were it not for the support of Sonny, life would have been a lot more difficult for her. They had known each other even since she was his twin brother's girlfriend in college and he considered her the sister he never had. Samantha knew Sonny was gay; she was the first person he came out to. She was instrumental in getting his family, in particular his twin, to accept him for what he was. From then, the three of them became such good friends that Sonny had a heck of a time deciding whether to be his brother's best man, or Samantha's man of honor. (In the end, he did both.) He and Samantha were devastated when Morty died in a fatal car accident, and from that time, it was mostly her taking care of her son. Sonny's job kept him from visiting or staying over more often, but when the need arose, he'd be there in a pinch. Fortunately, for the first time, his job actually gave him a legitimate reason to visit his sister-in-law; he had a meeting with the regional office of his company in the city the next day and decided to surprise his nephew with an early and unannounced visit.

"I didn't tell him anything like you said, I can't wait to see the look on his face," she chuckled.

Sonny nodded in appreciation, spotted MJ chasing his friends all around the field, and called out to him. "Hey, now where's my that favorite nephew of mine?"

MJ stopped in his tracks and his eyes brightened when he saw Sonny standing by his mother. With a big smile on his face, he ran and leapt into the waiting arms his uncle. "Unca Sonny! Unca Sonny! I thought you weren't gonna be here today!"

"I wanted to surprise you. And 'sides, I told your mom not to tell."

"Didya get me anything? Didya?"

"Me, why would I get you anything? Is there anything special happening today?" teased Sonny.

"Aw, Unca Sonny."

Sonny put MJ back on the ground and handed the boy his present. "Here 'ya go. Happy Birthday, sport."

"Can I open it now, please Mom?" MJ asked with eager anticipation. His mother said sure; the boy tore the wrapping to shreds and burst out in delight. "Wow, it's Hypnos!" he cheered. "My friends said the stores were all out. They're gonna freak out!"

"I know, your mom here told me all about it. I couldn't even find it on the eBay. But then on the way here from the airport, I took a chance and passed by the old toy store downtown, the one your Dad and I used to go to when we were kids. Have you been there before, Sam?"

"No, I can't say that I have," she replied. She grabbed Sonny's arm and hugged it tight. "He's so happy."

"Thanks Unca Sonny! This is really great!"

"Now, MJ," his mother said. "Why don't we give your uncle some time to rest? He's had a long trip and, 'sides, all your friends are waiting. Looks like you're still 'it'. Let me bring that in for you."

"Ok, Mommy." After giving the box to his mother, MJ ran back to where his friends were and continued their game. Sonny and Samantha went in the house to bring in of the rest of his luggage. He'd be staying in for the next few days before he returned to New Jersey.

***

Later that night after dinner, Sonny paid MJ a visit in his room. He and Samantha had just finished cleaning up the house with a little help from her friends.

"Hiya sport," he knocked before entering. "Whatcha doin' still up." The floor of MJ's room was flooded with a sea of toys, and right smack the middle was sitting the birthday boy.

"Just playing, Unca Sonny. It's Saturday tomorrow and Mommy said I can stay up 'til 10 tonight."

"Wow, you sure have a lot of friends," remarked Sonny making sure he didn't step on anything on the way to MJ's bed. When he sat down on the edge of the mattress, he noticed the toy he bought for his nephew was still in the box. "Saving the best for last, I see."

"Yeah."

Sonny carefully took the 12" action figure from its package to examine it. The toy wore a white turban with a ruby pendant on its head. Its features belied an Indo-European influence as the skin was slightly grayish in tone and its face bore thick menacing eyebrows, strong cheekbones, and a trimmed mustache and goatee. Next was the suit. Though purple in color, coupled with the smart leather-like shoes and the velveteen cape, the entire ensemble looked it could have been designed by Armani. If this character were alive, he'd be devilishly handsome.

"So, what's so special about this guy? What's his name, again? Hypnos? Sounds like a name of a disco band."

"Yup, he's like the number one bad guy on my favorite TV show."

"Really, and what does he do?"

"He 'zonks' people, and then they have to do what he says."

"Do'h!" Sonny slapped himself on the forehead for not figuring it out sooner. "So, how do you make it work?" he said handing over the figurine to his nephew.

"You hold it up like this." MJ demonstrated by positioning the toy upright with its legs. "And then, you press the button on its back to turn him on. See?"

Sonny took the doll back from MJ, flipped the cape over and saw that there was a button embedded in its back. "And, I just press this thingie here?"

"Uh-huh. Just press."

"Okay, here goes." Sonny pointed the puppet back towards MJ's face and turned it on. Almost immediately, its eyes started to glow and a faint tune played.

"Isn't it cool?"

"I can see why. What else can it do?"

Before MJ can answer his question, the figurine bathed the boy's face in an eerie light. Spiraling patterns swirled across his eyes, and the music grew louder. Sonny was so caught up with the scene that he almost dropped the doll out of shock when it started to speak.

"Look into my eyes, you cannot resist / listen to my voice, only I exist / You're mine to command, your will is now gone / You have no control, you are now my pawn / When all this is done, one truth shall you crave: / I am your master, and you are my slave!"

The lights and sounds faded away when the poem ended. Sonny was impressed to say the least. "Well, that was special," he said looking over the toy again. "Your Dad and me never had anything like this growing up, huh MJ?"

MJ didn't answer; he just stood there like a statue. Sonny smiled thinking MJ was playing around with him. "Oh I get it, you're supposed to be 'zonked' and I'm supposed to giving you commands. Ok, let's have some fun. Bark like a dog."

"Rawrf, rawrf."

"Stand on one leg." Again, the boy did as he was told to. Sonny then had MJ jumping up and down, singing his favorite song, and talking like a pirate. ("Shiver me timbers!") After a while, Sonny felt it was getting late and decided to turn in.

"Ok, sport, your Uncle Sonny's had a long day. If you want to keep playing, go right ahead."

Once again the boy remained silent. As he was about to get up from the bed, Sonny wondered why his nephew wasn't responding. "Umm, MJ, did you hear what I just said?"

Nothing.

Sonny sat down and studied the boy's face to check if he was faking it, but something about his nephew's countenance disturbed him, and Sonny started to get worried. MJ was practically catatonic.

"Hey MJ, snap out of it. I'm not kidding." Sonny couldn't figure out what had happened until he saw and picked up Hypnos from the bed. He realized that the toy must have been somehow responsible for the boy's condition and had truly hypnotized him. Fortunately, Sonny had had experience with hypnosis himself in college as a Psychology student and knew how to reawaken MJ from his trance. He resolved to personally investigate the matter but had to ensure he kept the toy hidden from everybody else, especially his nephew.

"Sorry, MJ. I guess I'm going to have to get you another birthday gift." Before Sonny initiated the deprogramming of his nephew, he needed more information. "Now, I'm going to ask you some questions, and I want you to answer them as best you can."

"Yes, sir."

"That's good. MJ, this isn't the first time you've played with this toy, is it?"

"No, one of my friends brought one to school last week."

"And when it was used on you or your classmates, did it 'zonk' them for real?"

"No. We only played pretend then."

"That confirms it, at least," thought Sonny. He had enough to work with for now. "MJ, I'm going to count to five, and when I snap my fingers, you're going to wake up. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master Hypnos."

Master Hypnos? There's really more to this doll than meets the eye. "That's very good, MJ. Ok, listen carefully to what I'm going to say. When you wake up, I want you to forget that you were ever hypnotized, and that your toy didn't work. If somebody asks you about it, tell them it was broken and I had to return it? Is that clear?"

"Forget. Hypnotized. Present. Broken. Yes, I understand, master."

"You're a smart kid. You're going to be fine. I'm going to start counting, are you ready, MJ?"

"Yes, master. I am."

"One, you can feel your body getting lighter. Two, your eyelids are beginning to move. Three, you're almost there. Four, you're about to wake up. And... five, you're awake." Sonny snapped his fingers, and MJ opened his eyes. A bit disoriented, the boy looked around to regain his bearings and was wondering why he was standing in the middle of his room.

"Sorry about your gift, MJ. I should have checked it out before I bought it."

"Huh? Oh, right. It's OK, Unca Sonny. I don't mind."

"Tell you what. Tomorrow I'll pass by the shop again and pick you out another toy. How does that sound?"

MJ beamed. "Sounds great!"

"Anyway, I'm kinda beat and need to get some sleep. I still have a meeting tomorrow. I'll be heading back to my room, now. How 'bout you? Still gonna play?" Sonny asked after successfully renegotiating the toy-filled terrain on his way back to the door.

"Maybe," yawned MJ. "Night, Unca Sonny."

"Goodnight MJ," replied Sonny. He closed the door and carried Hypnos with him back to his room.

Chapter Two

The next morning, Sonny told Samantha that the gift he gave MJ was defective, and he wanted to replace it with a new one from the toyshop downtown. In reality, he wanted to visit the store to gather more details about the toy before he went to his appointment in the afternoon.

"But I thought the plan was MJ and I were going to drive you to your meeting after lunch and meet up again afterwards. How are you going to get there? It's a long drive to the city. You should take the car," she suggested.

"No, but thanks. I'm sure you're going to need it more than I would. That's why I called a taxi over a while ago. It ought to be here any minute."

"Are you sure? 'Cause I can go do my errands next week."

"Really, I'll be fine." Suddenly, a car horn blared from outside of the house. "That's him," Sonny said glancing at his watch. "And right on time." He went to the door and picked up his jacket and his satchel, the one where he stashed MJ's toy in. On the way out, he gave Samantha a little brotherly kiss on the forehead and said, "Don't forget about tonight. Remember I'm treating you and MJ out to dinner at Chez Le Poisson. I know how you guys love fish."

"Oh Sonny, you shouldn't have. I don't understand how you always seem to get your way."

"Hey, it's what I do for a living--telling people what to do." Sonny grinned.

"Yeah, you're such the sweet talker. You really don't know how much it means to us to have you around."

"Hey, I love you guys. I don't need any other reason. I'll see you at the restaurant tonight, OK?" Sonny got into the back of the cab and directed the driver to head into the city.

***

The drive from Samantha's house to the highway was rather uneventful, and they were making good time until, a few miles into the highway, the taxi blew a tire. The driver apologized, and, to make up for the delay, he offered to take Sonny the rest of the way for free.

While waiting for the wheel to be changed, Sonny decided to make the most of the situation and think about the events that transpired the night before. He took Hypnos out from his bag and began looking for clues as to how it worked. It was almost surreal the way the doll was able to place MJ under its spell so quickly and easily. He wasn't sure how it was able to do what it did and if there was magic involved or not. Sonny's train of thought was suddenly derailed when he heard a motorcycle pull over several meters behind the taxi and saw a highway policeman step off the vehicle.

As the cop approached, Sonny was immediately taken with what he saw. The officer stood about 6'3" and was wearing a long-sleeved uniform that looked like it was sown onto his muscular body right from the hefty chest down to his lean waist. Even from afar, Sonny could discern how well the cop filled out his pants. To top it off, he looked positively gorgeous with his shiny Ray-Bans, white gloves and the black leather boots. Does he even realize how hot he looks thought Sonny.

"Good morning, gentlemen." His deep baritone voice sent shivers up Sonny's spine. "What seems to be the problem?""

"Ah umh," Sonny was speechless; he was actually tongue-tied. This almost never happened to him, but for the times it did he was literally at the loss for words.

Luckily, the taxi driver heard the policeman and said, "Just a flat, officer"

"Are you in need of assistance?"

"Nah, We'll be finished in a jiff."

"OK, then." The cop was about to return to his motorcycle when he caught Sonny staring at him. "And what are you gawking at?"

Busted! "Wha... oh. Nothing. I was just... er... thinking." Sonny was usually more subtle and careful when admiring beautiful men, but this time, he was too enamored with the officer to do otherwise.

The policeman--fortunately for Sonny--believed him but noticed the strange but familiar object in Sonny's hands. "Is that one of them Hypnos toys? Heard those things were hotter than Pokemon."

"This? Oh, yeah, it is."

"Everyone seems to want one these days. Not yours, is it?" The cop asked if he could get a closer look for himself to which Sonny relented. He didn't want to raise any suspicion by being uncooperative.

"Uh, yeah. It was actually a birthday gift for my nephew, but I think it's broken. I'm going to see if I can't have it replaced." A little white lie or two couldn't hurt he figured.

"What's this on its back?" The cop felt something loose beneath the cape and pressed it with Hypnos facing him.

"Wait, don't..." Sonny tried to warn him but he was too late. Before he knew it, the toy illuminated the officer's face with its eerie glow and began to speak its poem:

Sonny hurriedly retrieved Hypnos from its unintended subject who was now standing motionless. For a minute, he didn't know what to do. The expression on the police officer's face was empty and his body was stiff and rigid. (Not that it wasn't already hard to begin with.) Sonny waved his hand in front of the cop's face but there was no response. The toy had done it again; last night wasn't a fluke.

Sonny checked on the driver and saw that he was still busy changing the wheel and was unaware of what had just happened. He decided to finally confirm that the toy was indeed the genuine article.

"Can you hear me?" Sonny asked the entranced cop.

"Yes, sir." God, what a voice thought Sonny, even when he talked like a zombie.

"What's your name?"

"Officer Mulchahey. Aidan Mulchahey, sir."

"And who am I?"

"You're my master. Master Hypnos, sir."

Sonny couldn't help but feel tingly all over from the sense of power that he suddenly but inadvertently possessed. Like in the case of his nephew, the cop had been just placed in a very deep hypnotic state. But unlike with MJ, there was something strangely exciting--and erotic--about having this tall and sexy man "zonked" and awaiting orders. Ah, the things he could make him do.

Sonny was taken aback at his own thoughts. Where did *that* come from he wondered. Maybe it's the heat; it was playing tricks on him. He was about to awaken the cop when the driver startled him with the loud noise of the trunk being slammed shut.

"All done. We'll be on our way," the driver said to Sonny as he went into the taxi and started the ignition.

Thinking hastily, Sonny leant over the cop's ear and whispered, "Officer Mulchahey, in about 2 minutes, you will wake up from your trance but you will forget all about the toy and what it did to you. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," came the response.

"Very good. And by the way, you're also going to start feeling very horny. In fact, your cock is already getting hard right now and you won't be able to get until you reach home." Sonny took one last look at his unintended slave stud before going back inside the taxi and speeding off for the city to make up for lost time. He would have loved to have seen the expression on the officer's face when he woke up but he still had that meeting to go to.

Around two minutes later, the highway policeman snapped out of this trance and wondered why he was standing alone by himself on the side of the road. The last thing he remembered was a taxi with a flat with some guy he whose face he could barely make out but both were nowhere to be found. And why the hell did he have a huge hard-on? He scanned the immediate vicinity to check if anyone might have seen him. He was about to give his package a quick readjustment to alleviate some of the pressure but was taken aback by the way his dick jumped from the slightest contact from his hand. Maybe the heat was playing tricks on him, after all.

Chapter Three

In the city, Sonny got off the taxi and went inside the shop from he bought the toy intended for his nephew's birthday the day before. He inspected the premises and noted how much of the place still reminded him of his childhood years with Morty. Much of the ambiance remained: the fine yet musty smell of dank wood, the flittering light that never seemed to had gotten fixed, and the certain old atmosphere to the entire store. The moment the door shut behind him, a portly, bald-headed, man wearing a pair of thick glasses suddenly appeared from beneath the counter at the opposite end of the store.

"Why, hello, Sonny," greeted the bespectacled individual. "I thought I heard someone come in."

"Hi, Mr. Winslow," replied Sonny.

"Back so soon? Is there a problem?"

"Wha-? Oh, nothing. I'm just here to pick out another toy." Sonny was trying to come up with a credible pretense for his unexpected visit. "Apparently, one of MJ's friends has a birthday party next week and I wanted to get him a little something before I left." You're such a liar thought Sonny. Oh well, nothing wrong with a little white lie and on-the-spot embellishment of the truth. Besides, people always seemed to fall for his stories hook, line, and sinker.

"Why, how nice. Is there any toy in particular you're thinking of getting him? Aside from a you-know-what." Mr. Winslow was grinning.

"Not really," Sonny said. "Maybe you have a suggestion or two."

"Hmm, how old is he?"

"Turning eight. Same as MJ."

Mr. Winslow raised his fingers to his mouth as he usually did when deep in thought. "You might find something at that corner over there that could be good for an eight-year-old boy."

"Thanks." Sonny made his way to where Mr. Winslow indicated he might find a suitable gift and saw a number of ideal candidates: remote control planes, heavy-duty Matchbox trucks, and even a few high-powered telescopes. After some careful consideration, he deemed the plane was an excellent substitute for MJ's birthday present and he returned to the counter to pay for it.

"I'd like it wrapped, if you don't mind." Sonny handed the package to the shopkeeper.

"Not at all." Mr. Winslow selected an appropriate design from his stack of wrapping papers beneath the counter and Sonny watched in amazement how the shopkeeper's practiced hands zipped around the box and finished gift-wrapping it in no time.

"Mr. Winslow, can I ask you a question?" asked Sonny.

"Sure, Sonny," said the shopkeeper.

"Remember that toy I got from you yesterday?"

"Yes, I do."

"Was there anything unusual about it?"

"No... I don't think so. That toy's been a big hit. For me, it's my number one bestseller. It's been a bit difficult keeping up with the demand even in our small town, but I've managed."

"Are you sure there's nothing else you can tell me about it? Where it came from?"

"No, I'm sorry. By the way, you don't know how lucky you were that I had still one left in my inventory. A couple of people came in the store right after you left and asked about it too."

It happened so automatically that Sonny hadn't realized that he had brought out the doll from his satchel and was already holding it in his hand. It felt so natural. "Maybe this will help you remember, Mr. Winslow. Take a look."

"Huh?" Before he could get in another word, the shopkeeper was under Hypnos's, or rather Sonny's, control. If he couldn't get the answers he needed normally, then there were other ways to help extract the information. After all, he was just going to help Mr. Winslow remember. That was it, nothing more. But then, the tingly sensation came back, and Sonny had to admit to feeling a little more than exhilarated at how easy it was to hypnotize Mr. Winslow. Again, it felt so natural.

"Mr. Winslow, when I wake you up, you're going to remember everything you know about the doll from the time it arrived at your shop to when I bought it yesterday. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir." responded Mr. Winslow in a sleepy monotone.

"Excellent." Sonny stuffed the doll back into his bag. "On the count of three, I will snap my fingers and you will wake up but will not know that you had just been hypnotized. One, two, three."

The shopkeeper was slightly disoriented when he woke up but quickly recovered.

Sonny pretended to continue the conversation as if nothing had happened. "Try to remember, Mr. Winslow."

Mr. Winslow started out slowly. "Now that I think about it, I seem to recall that very toy you bought yesterday was shipped in separately from the rest of my stock. It was strange because there was only one box. I'm surprised I didn't remember it earlier. Must be old age, huh, Sonny?"

"Thanks, Mr. Winslow." For a moment, Sonny was silent contemplating everything he had just heard. MJ's gift was that extra toy Mr. Winslow had just mentioned, and it was certainly clear that he didn't know anything more about it. Hmm... curiouser and curiouser. And with that thought, Sonny picked up his package, thanked Mr. Winslow again, and exited the store with MJ's new plane.

Chapter Four

"I'm telling you Sonny, this just isn't possible."

Sonny was exhausted to the point of exasperation. He had been spending the last four hours in the office of Dennis Hiller, the director of the regional office of their company. Along with Dennis was Ron Delos Santos, his chief operations supervisor, and the three of them were discussing the directions they needed to take their company to in response to the faltering economy that threatened to worsen in the coming months. In truth, Sonny was sent personally by the central office to deal directly with Mr. Hiller and convince him to take action on a number of things that could initially have an adverse effect in the short-term but may ensure the company's long-term future. The meeting started out civil, but just after two hours of negotiations, things had begun to get bloody.

"Dennis, please understand. In order for our company to be able to weather the storm, we need to be able to make some tough decisions."

"And I'm telling we simply don't have the resources to be able to act on your recommendations. And after all, that's all what they are, aren't they? Recommendations."

Sonny bit his lip. He knew that he was in for a fight but not one like this. Almost every point was contested; every proposed solution shot down. "Yes, they are. But I can't simply just fly back to headquarters and tell them that."

Ron stepped in saying, "But you can, Sonny."

"What do you mean?" asked Sonny.

"Just fly back and tell them we can't do it," Ron replied. "And not because we won't. We would if we could."

Sonny was about ready to give up but he knew unless he was able to persuade Dennis and Ron that his proposals were the best course of action for the company to take, he wouldn't have a job waiting for him back home. Even in college, Sonny had always found it easy to convince people into listening and following his advice but today was a different matter. Those two were just too hard-headed to break.

"Look, I need a break, we've been around in circles."

"Finally you've said something that I agree with," bellowed the director. Dennis stood up from behind his desk and stretched his toned and fit 50-year-old body, a fact that Sonny didn't miss. Mr. Hiller was a powerful man in more ways than one. As an executive, he was a force to be reckoned with both in and outside the boardroom. Dennis was in the military and got to where he was from his dedication and iron will, the two things that were working against Sonny unfortunately.

Sonny then turned his attention to Dennis's younger companion, Ron, and noted how his mixed Hispanic-American heritage showcased an intriguing combination of features from the slightly olive skin to his light green eyes. The 32-year-old Ron wasn't a slouch himself when it came having a good body. In fact, he had a great body, one honed and tested through many years in the service where he and Dennis met for the first time and became very good friends. When he earned his honorable discharge, he came to work for Dennis who had retired by then and the two had been together in the company for the past five years. They were like father and son.

While it was obvious that they were very much concerned about the stability of their company as a whole, they were looking out for the survival of their own regional office, as they should. Sonny understood that reality very well. It wasn't because he was right and they were wrong. It was all about a difference of opinion, one that had been deadlocked from the very beginning.

There has to be a way for me to do this thought Sonny, then suddenly, it came to him how--the doll. He was reluctant at first. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do but was there any other choice? If he lost his own job, how will be able to take care of Samantha and MJ? They were his only family.

"Before we continue, I'd like to show you two something that could let us come to terms on a lot of issues." From the chair he was sitting in, Sonny reached down, opened his bag, and carefully brought out Hypnos. The moment he touched it, he once again felt the sensation he had encountered first with the Officer Mulchahey and then with Mr. Winslow. It was compelling and even strangely pleasurable.

Dennis was adamant in his ways and wondered what Sonny could possibly have to convince him otherwise. "They better not be anymore of those damn charts because..."

"No, it's something better, I assure you." Sonny lifted the doll above the table and faced it towards the two executives who were a little more than amused by the toy in Sonny's hand.

"You're not going all pansy on us, are you?" Ron was incredulous.

"No, just watch." Sonny calmly answered and then he pushed the button. The crystal glowed, the music played, and the doll chanted. Sonny already knew the outcome. Dennis and Ron were sitting on their seats dazed and in a trance. After placing Hypnos back into his satchel, he stood up from his chair and walked towards his hypno-zonked colleagues.

"Now, let's see if I can't talk some sense into the both of you."

***

"Well, I'm glad we were able to work something out, Sonny," Dennis firmly shook Sonny's hand and gave him a friendly slap on the butt.

"I can't believe we were fighting over nothing. You were right all along, sir." Ron added.

As Dennis was packing up his things, he asked Sonny, "So, do you have plans for the night? Ron and I know this great place down the street and..."

Sonny responded, "I really would love to join you two for dinner but I already have a previous engagement with my sister-in-law. It was my nephew's birthday yesterday."

"Give them our regards then," replied Dennis. "Another time perhaps."

Sonny said, "And besides, I really think the two of you have a lot to talk about."

"Yeah, about what, sir?" asked Ron.

Sonny smiled at his hunky co-workers who were standing beside each other. "About how first love never dies."

The moment he uttered those words, both Dennis and Ron gasped simultaneously as a jolt of pleasure shot through their bodies. They faced each other and looked deeply into each other's eyes. Memories of the time they spent together in combat missions and business trips came crashing back in, and it seemed that after all the years, they were seeing each other for the first time. It suddenly became clear to them that from the respect and admiration they had for one another grew something more, something they never suspected, until now.

Dennis was the first to speak; his hand was trembling as it reached for Ron's face. "Ron..."

"Dennis," his friend softly replied as he gazed even more deeply into his mentor's eyes. He felt weak, vulnerable, and scared but a feeling from the pit of his stomach gave him the strength and courage to do what he needed to do next. He brought his face closer's to Dennis and kissed him tenderly on the lips. "I... I love you, Dennis. You've always been like a father to me and..."

"Ssssh." Dennis put his finger on Ron's mouth. "You don't have to say anything. Not anymore."

Before showing himself out, Sonny took one last look at the pair kissing each other with unbridled passion. During their Hypnos-induced trance, he discovered that Ron had pushed aside the feelings he had been harboring for Dennis for the sake of their work and their friendship. But that wasn't the only thing Sonny learned. Apparently, Dennis wasn't as dense as he had been pretending to be, and kept his affections from Ron as well believing that such emotions would drive his friend away. They never realized what the other was truly feeling but now, thanks to a little post-hypnotic nudge, they were finally free from their self-imposed inhibitions.