There was applause from the men and Ellen, smiling, leaned to Dean. “They’re excited. Good. We need that.”
Dean opened the box and reached in. He pulled out a specimen cup and turned to face the men. “Gentleman, I will give one to each of you.”
“Oh!” Andrea stood up. If anything else she was a medically smart woman. “Oh.” Her hand covered her mouth. “I think this isn’t a conversation I should be party to. I really don’t, Dean, I think ...” She pointed back to the door. “I think I may want to leave for this.” She moved to the door. “Thelma, Maggie, would you care to join me?’
Thelma and Maggie looked clueless as they stood up, but they weren’t going to question Andrea’s invitation to leave. They welcomed it.
Andrea paused by the door. “Ellen?”
Ellen shook her head. “No, I’ll stay. I have to touch it anyhow.”
Andrea, shuddering, hurried out with Maggie and Thelma.
Dean tapped on the cup. “Now back to what I was saying.”
Henry still snickered in amusement at Andrea. “That was so funny. You told her you need it from the men. You would think she would enjoy not having to pee in a cup.”
Robbie’s hands lifted and dropped to his legs with a slap. “Finally, a painless test.”
Dean’s mouth tightened up. “I hope it isn’t painful.”
“A piss test,” Frank barked out in relief.
“I need a sample,” Dean said. “But it isn’t urine I need from you men. It’s something else.” Dean waded through the silence. “I need seminal fluid.” It was so quiet a pin could be heard dropping. “I need to extract DNA from a sample of fluid that can only be produced through the glands of a male. I’d also like to take a look to see if the spermatozoa are the predominant carriers.”
“Um Dean?” Robbie held up a finger. “Are you saying you want us to ...” He brought his hand, fingers curled, to his groin area.
“That is exactly what I’m saying.”
Henry whined in embarrassment, bringing his hand to his face and hunching.
Robbie shrugged and shifted his body upright in the chair. “I don’t have a problem with it. Just keep in mind, Dean, I shoot blanks. You’re not gonna find any spermatozoa in my glandular fluid.” Robbie winked with a nod.
“No fuckin’ way!” Frank blasted out. “Science or no science, no way am I jerking off in any fuckin’ cup especially for you to play with. That’s sick. That is really sick. I wondered about you and now you’re bringing El into this. Fuck. The only time I want her playing with my sperm is ...”
“Frank!” Joe yelled. “Can you learn some goddamn control over that mouth please?”
Dean hid his amusement. “I’m not telling you gentlemen to do this. It is strictly on a volunteer basis only. You can or not. It’s up to you. I need this information and if you help me out, at least now you can give it a scientific excuse.”
“And.” Ellen giggled. “We plan on showing some enticing pornographic videos to help those who do volunteer.”
“El,” Dean whispered, “you’re not helping them.”
“Oh no.” Frank shook his head. “She better not be helping.”
“Frank.” Joe scolded and smacked his son’s leg. “Shut up.”
“Thank you, Joe,” Dean spoke up. “Now that we have the uncomfortable part out of the way, I’ll continue. We need a sample ...” Moans came from them. “Your cups will be coded so only I know whose sample is whose. Ellen will not know. Also, those of you who wish to provide, in order for me not to ask for more, I’d like to get a healthy half a fluid ounce from each of you. Now, I know that sounds like a lot ...”
“Ha.” Robbie scoffed. “Dean, please. We’re men. Most of us are young.”
“Robert,” Joe said softly.
“I don’t think you understand.” Dean explained. “A half a fluid ounce is a lot. Depending on the last time ejaculation occurred, the more recently it happened, the less there will be. The average male releases two to five milliliters of fluid. It takes approximately thirty milliliters to make a fluid ounce.”
Henry held up his fingers counting with a horrified look. “Oh, my God, Dean. I’m young. But I’m not that young.”
“Well.” Dean cleared his throat. “Just give it your best ... um ... shot?” Dean tossed the specimen cup back in the box. He grabbed his clipboard. “Now, for privacy purposes, Ellen will leave, and each of you will take a cup so I can mark down who has what code. If you don’t return the cup.” Dean lifted his shoulders “You didn’t volunteer. No problem.” He looked to Ellen.
“I’m leaving.” Ellen made sure she smiled in a sneaky way to all of them as she crept out of the Social Hall. Frank followed right behind.
Dean waited by his box, clipboard in hand, while the men in the room hesitated to move, all but Robbie. He was the first to stand and approach Dean.
<><><><>
It was the first evening in Beginnings Ellen couldn’t recall not knowing what to do with herself. She wondered at first if the other women in the community were as puzzled as she was with how to spend their time and she deducted that they just weren’t faced with it like she was. After all, Robbie, for privacy and comfort reasons, asked if Ellen could stay out of the house for awhile.
She went to the Social Hall which was spooky when no one was in there. She shot pool, played music, switched the heads of the darts, wiped the bar, and played pinball, but even after all that, she hadn’t passed that much time.
She felt very awkward.. There wasn’t a male in the community she felt comfortable visiting because she just didn’t know who, if any, were going to be helping with research. She knew it was safe with Frank, but then Johnny was in a down mood. Ellen could have stayed there, but felt it best not to. That’s how she ended up at the Hall. After rearranging the tables for the eighth time, Ellen decided she would do something out of character for her, go to the library. There were some books in there and she was sure she could find one with pictures interesting enough to keep her attention. Just as she was about to leave, William walked in.
Ellen froze. Was she looking differently at him? Should she look differently at him? Ellen couldn’t help it. The vision with William holding that cup came careening through her mind. A part of her wanted to know yet a part of her didn’t.
“Evening, Ellen,” William spoke.
“Hi. Here for a ... uh ... drink?”
“Yes.” He moved to the bar.
“Do you need a drink, William?”
“You could say that.”
“Um ... an after drink?”
“Ellen.” He shook his head and grabbed a bottle. “After drink? Why don’t you just come right out and ask me if I am volunteering.”
“Are you?”
“That really isn’t any of your business.” He poured a shot’s worth. “Joking. No. I didn’t. I’m too old to worry about meeting my son’s expectations.” He raised his eyebrow as he lifted the glass to his lips.
“Speaking of your son, did he kick you out of the house?”
“For?”
“So he can meet his own expectations?”
William chuckled. “As far as I’m aware, Dean is at the lab preparing just in case he has work to do, courtesy of those who volunteered.”
“Really? Dean’s at the lab?” Ellen’s eyes lit up.
“Yes.”
“William, would you think I’m rude if I left you here alone?”
“No, not at all.”
“Thanks.” Ellen raced to the door. “Oh, William, don’t mess up the tables. I just arranged them.”
William finished his drink when Ellen left and looked at the tables and saw how neat she had them. They were all lined up with the chairs pushed in and just because she told him not to, William poured another drink and proceeded to come up with his own geometric way of placing tables.
<><><><>
A corridor light and the lab light were the only illuminations coming from inside the clinic except for t
he overhead light that hung above the double entrance doors. Ellen walked in slowly as if she was just on a time passing stroll. She crept up toward Dean’s lab, peeking through the open door and spotting Dean moving quickly back and forth from his lab. She stepped back and walked again passing the door, stopping, backing up, and poking her head in. “Dean?” She said with such surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, hi, El.” He set down some papers. “Getting ready for tomorrow?”
Ellen walked in. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Bored. Robbie kicked me out of the house. He’s uh ... helping you out.” She winked.
Dean chuckled. “I would think Robbie Slagel would want you there.”
“So would I.” Ellen folded her arms and moved to the counter by Dean. Through the corner of her eye she spotted an empty specimen cup. “So uh, Dean.” She picked it up. “Is this yours?”
“Yes.” He took it from her hand and set it back down. “And don’t look at the code on the bottom.”
“O.K.” Ellen shrugged. “Dean? How does one go about preparing for sampling?”
“What?” Dean chuckled as he collated a stack of papers on the counter.
“Do you dim the lights? Play soft music ...”
“Ellen.” He shook his head.
So softly Ellen spoke as she moved closer to Dean. “Dean?”
Dean turned around. Ellen was right there, an inch away. “Ellen ...”
“Dean.” She laid her hands on his chest. “I’m bored.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He backed up, sliding away, but Ellen stuck to him like glue.
“You said you’d like to help entertain me.”
“El.” He cleared his throat. “I have some paper work for you to ...” He was silenced by a soft kiss by Ellen. “What are you doing?”
“Hitting on you.”
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Um ... because.”
“Because?” Ellen raised one eyebrow. “Dean?” She moved her hand down across his chest and to his stomach. “You know, you shouldn’t waste your efforts tonight.”
“Ellen.” Dean closed his eyes. “Why are you doing this?” He saw how close her mouth was to him and felt her hands on his body, hands that gave him chills. “Do you realize how ...” His voice cracked with her touch. “Hard ... I try to not get involved with you.”
“Then don’t try so ... hard.” She smiled and tried to kiss him.
“Oh God.”
Ellen moved her lips to his neck, up and to his ear. “You said I’m your research assistant. Let me assist you with this.”
Dean’s eyes rolled as he felt her lips touch in a slight nibble to his ear. “You don’t know how badly I’d love to be with you.” His hands gripped to her back and up to her neck.
“Then why don’t you?”
“With all that’s happened ...”
“Dean.” Ellen kissed him. “Pretend I didn’t make the mistake. Pretend I wasn’t with Frank. How would you be with me right now?”
“Like this.” Bringing his hands to her face with an edge, Dean pressed his palms firmly to her cheeks, spread his fingers, and opened her mouth with his thumbs. The moment her lips parted, Dean moved his lips on hers. Wide and hard, he kissed her, bringing Ellen against him. His hands moved with anxiousness, fast and with the touch of his excitement. He basked in every second, the feel of her lips and mouth, projecting the gnawing hunger in his gut through his kiss. His breaths intensified, feeling Ellen’s hands move to his waist, pulling out his tee-shirt and undoing his jeans. He pulled away from the kiss, bringing his hands back to her face. “We can’t.”
“We can.”
“No, El. We can’t.”
“Yes. What did you say today? We’ll give it a scientific excuse.” She kissed him again, easing off his shirt, “Dean. No commitment. I won’t think of it tomorrow if you want, but just give me tonight.” Her lips grazed up his stomach.
Dean flung off his shirt and tossed it across the room. It hit something with a crash and he pulled Ellen into him as he leaned against the counter. His chest moved with hers. Through his excitement, was nearly out of breath. Lips pressed and moving, Dean spoke through the kissing. “We’ll ... have ... to.” He moaned, kissed her and felt her. “We’ll have to get a clean sample.”
“Oh it’ll be clean.” Ellen’s head flung back as Dean’s moist lips slid up her arched neck. “Very clean.”
Kissing her quickly one more time, Dean, with exuberance, spun Ellen, grabbed her hand, and led her to the back of the lab. Half way there, he stopped. He held up his hand to her, raced to the counter, grabbed his specimen, cup, returned to Ellen, took her hand again and brought her to the back room.
CHAPTER SIX
October 29th - Beginnings, Montana
Everything was lined up so neatly straight across on the counter. Ellen walked by the stacks of paper, moving toward the fridge. “So, why all these measles work-ups? Are we testing measles, Frank?”
Dean looked up. “Quit calling me Frank. And yes, we are. We’ll have to get blood from everyone.”
“They’ll hate us, Frank.”
“Ellen. Quit that.” Dean peered up and turned to look toward the other side of the room when he heard his father snickering. “And you encourage her.”
“No. I don’t.” William held up a pencil. “I tell her to stop chasing your ass around. Give up on you.”
Ellen, with her hands behind her back, reached for the refrigerator door handle. “I think I will stop chasing him. After all, if he’s going to be like Frank, I might as well be with Frank.”
“I am not like Frank. Get out of that fridge Ellen.”
Ellen shut it. “Why?”
“Because.” Dean walked over and pulled her away. “I don’t want you peeking at the specimen cups.”
“Why?”
“When I break it down, you won’t be able to snicker. So you have to wait until I do that or until you become scientifically focused.”
“Whoa. Big word.” Ellen moved to him. “Frank doesn’t use big words.”
“Will you quit talking about Frank?” Dean snapped.
“I can’t help it. Even though he’s out somewhere in a truck with Robbie, I feel like he’s here with you being like you are.”
Dean’s hand slammed to the counter. “Why am I being like Frank?”
“Ignoring me after I lent you a ...” Ellen giggled. “Hand last night.”
“Ellen, please. My father is present.”
“No.” William held up his hand. “Don’t stop talking shop on my account especially since I must go.” William set down the things he was working on. “I did all the blood groupings for you, Dean, and set up who you should test first.”
“Thanks Dad.”
“If anyone needs me, I’m working with Andrea.” He moved to the door. “I hope she lost that damned flower.” William shook his head and walked out.
As Dean placed his views back to Ellen, she was standing close to him. “Ellen.” Dean moved back.
“You really want to stick to what we agreed with last night?”
“Yes. Not that I want to.” Dean held up his hand. “But I can’t let myself get that wrapped up in you. I can’t.”
“I understand.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll let Frank know.”
“Let Frank know what?” Dean asked.
“Your father said to forget you and go back to Frank. I’ll tell Frank that he and I can be together now.”
“My father told you to do so?” Dean asked.
“Yes.”
“I can’t believe my father would do that,” Dean gasped out. “Well ... well you can’t sleep with him.”
Ellen laughed. “Why can’t I sleep with him?”
“You’re pregnant with my baby.”
“So.”
“So?” Dean laughed “So I don’t want Frank ..
. I ... . I don’t want him there.” Dean held out his hand.
“You don’t want to be there.”
“I never said that.” Dean moved from the counter and across the lab. “I said I couldn’t.” He went into the backroom. “There’s a big difference, El.” His voice carried out. “It’s my baby. I really think that I should have some rights when it comes to invading our baby’s ... space.” He came back out holding a box of tubes “Will you get out of that fridge?”
Ellen slammed the door. “I can’t help it. Just tell me which man besides your father and Frank didn’t volunteer.”
“I can’t do that, not until I’ve broken them down. You giggle too much.”
“I bet specimen ‘B’ is Robbie’s.”
Crash! The box of tubes fell from Dean’s arms. “How do recognize Robbie’s ...”
“No.” Ellen held up her hand. “Not recognize please.” She shuddered. “That’s kind of gross. I just saw the amount. There isn’t anything there. I kind of figured he’d have a hard time giving a half a fluid ounce.”
Dean crossed his arms and moved closer to her. “And just how did you know that?”
“Dean. H probably is self indulging all the time.” Ellen gasped. “And he’s sterile. Geez, you knew he’d be missing something.” She walked away from the fridge. “And you call yourself the big scientist.”
“Ellen, that has nothing to do with it.” Dean scratched his head. “At least I don’t think. I have to bring him back and ask him to try again. Him and one other man.”
“Who? Cup ‘D’?”
“Yes. Cup ‘D’. But I can’t tell you who.”
“Please.”
“No. But if you’re around in a couple hours when I call them ...” Dean tossed his hands up. “What will I be able to say?”
“Thanks.” Ellen smiled.
“Anyhow, enough talking about this test. Let’s stop and talk about your decision to be with Frank.”
“Let’s not. William says once I make up my mind not to discuss it any further with you. William knows. He’s wise.” Ellen moved to the door. “And speaking of wise-William, I’m gonna go watch him teach. I’ll be back in a couple hours.”
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