The Healing Path

Disclaimer: I do not own anything...nothing, at all, it's rather sad

Notes: this is my first Degrassi story, I started to watch it because it had a lot of issues that I was dealing with in my own life and now I really like to watch it so I decided to give writing a story about it a try, so review and tell me what you think!

So it was Friday night and Marco was so excited, he could hardly pay attention during class. After what had happened on his last date with Dylan he really wanted this one to be perfect. They were trying something simple, food at The Dot. Dylan was picking him up at six thirty at his house, and then a thought struck him, what about his parents, both will be home. They might notice something; they might find out that he was gay. Marco started to hyperventilate, he knew his dad would kill him if he knew that he was gay, he would disown him and maybe worse.

"Mr. Del Rossi is everything alright, do you want to see the nurse?" the teacher asked, she had heard someone breathing heavily and became worried when she saw it was Marco, he was a very good student.

"Yea, I think I should," Marco said, he felt light headed and sick to his stomach. As he stood he swayed slightly, he got a worried look from Paige who had been sitting next to him when his odd breathing had began.

"Excuse me but would it be okay if I helped him down, he doesn't look to good," Paige asked the teacher and Marco closed his eyes to stop the room from spinning. The teacher nodded still concerned and Paige stood and took Marco by the arm and led him out of the class. As soon as they exited his breathing started to calm down a little bit. There was a stray desk outside a classroom and Paige led Marco over and sat him down. "Marco, are you okay, you seem really freaked about something."

"I'm going to be fine, I was just thinking about my Pa. How he is going to kill me when he find out what I am. Just the thought of how upset he will be makes me sick to my stomach." Marco said, tears coming to his eyes, he tried to be strong and hold them back but he wasn't winning. Paige embraced him and told him that it wouldn't be all that bad, and that he had friends to be there for him.

At that moment Dylan decided to make his entrance, coming out from the boy's bathroom. He noticed Marco right away and when he saw that his sister was holding him as he cried he instantly became worried. He walked over to them quickly and Paige's head came up to meet his worried look. "Marco, are you okay?" he asked patting the younger boy on the back.

Marco tried to wipe the tears away so Dylan wouldn't see how pathetic he was but Dylan stopped him. "Marco, what's wrong?" he asked, he was worried, Marco looked really distraught.

"Yea, I'm fine, I just had some scary thoughts, but there gone now, and I feel a lot better," he said, trying to sound convincing but he wasn't sure how he sounded.

"Marco if your not okay we can postpone our date, maybe you would like to go home and," but Marco frantically cut in.

"No, please, I can't just go home today, please," he pleaded and Dylan actually took a glance at his sister to see what she was thinking. He normally would never even consider her when it came to who he was with but Marco was close with her and she knew him well. She smiled sadly but nodded, it would be in Marco's interest for him to keep the date.

"Okay Marco, do you still want me to pick you up at your house at six thirty?" Dylan asked still concerned but not about to push it.

"No, um, not at my house, how about spinner's house?" he asked, he just couldn't go home thinking about his father. Dylan was surprised a little, Spinner had been great to Marco but he bashed him at first.

"Okay, I'll see you then," he said and then Paige left the two alone. "You know if you need to talk I will always be there for you right?" Dylan asked, Marco nodded and smiled at him. Dylan gave him a little peck on the cheek and left Marco to get back to class.

The rest of the day went uneventful, as soon as school was out he went to his locker and Spinner came up to him just as he was finished. "Hey Marco Paige hinted that you wanted to chill at my house after school, its fine with me, I have nothing better to do," he told Marco, who nodded and smiled in return.

Spinner could tell something was bothering Marco and he was really hoping that Dylan could help his friend when they went on his date. When the door rang he quickly answered it to see Dylan all ready just like earlier in the week. "Listen up Dylan, take care of Marco. Something's up with him right now and he needs someone." Spinner said and he left no room for argument. Dylan nodded and smiled as soon as Marco came into view, he couldn't help but think about that afternoon anyway, Marco had looked devastated.

Marco and Dylan got a nice seat near the corner of the room so they could be somewhat concealed from the eyes of those who didn't approve of their relationship. "Marco, I wanted to ask you something, have you told your parents that you were, well gay?" Dylan asked, Marco's eyes went up in almost horror. How could Dylan even ask that, he saw how his dad reacted at the restaurant, Marco felt as if he could never tell his dad, ever.

"No, they wouldn't understand, I would almost be afraid to tell them, you have no idea, they are all about tradition. I would never be accepted in their eyes," Marco cried out, he was so afraid of his parents.

"Marco, I know that you may think that now, but in time, they will learn that you are still their son. I know my parents weren't thrilled when I came out, my mom got over it rather quickly but my dad seemed to hate me for a long time. Eventually he just told me that I was still his son and as long as I still played hockey he didn't mind. I think they need to know Marco," Dylan said, he knew that postponing the inevitable would only make it worse.

"I don't think I can do this, you heard my dad, how could he ever allow me to live under his roof? I can't do this Dylan," Marco said, this was becoming uncomfortable for him; he didn't want to tell his parents.

"Marco, whenever you are ready, I will be there for you," Dylan said grasping Marco's hand tightly.

"Dylan, if and when I decided to do this, would you be there, with me?" Marco asked hopefully. Dylan smiled and nodded, his face reading, whatever you want.

"Okay, I will think about it, how about for now we just enjoy ourselves," Marco said taking another small sip of his soda. After Dinner Dylan drove Marco home, he could tell Marco was becoming very uncomfortable. His hand went over to cover Marco's to try and give him some unknown confidence.

As Dylan pulled into the drive way Marco could see his mother through the window, she had been waiting for him. As soon as the car came to a stop her face was out of the window and out the door. "Marco, where have you been, you said you would be with Spinner for a little while in your message, me and your father have been worried sick! And why is it that every time you say you are with Spinner you are with Dylan?" she asked finally noticing the other boy in the car.

"Mom, me and Spinner took a walk to Paige's house and we watched a movie there. Dylan just decided to ask if I wanted a ride home and it was thoughtful of him so I didn't have to walk," Marco said his voice trembling slightly.

"Dylan, thank you for giving Marco a ride home, but I suggest that you leave NOW," Marco's mother said leaving no room fro Dylan to speak back.

"No Ma, he shouldn't have to leave because I misinformed you, don't make it seem like it was his fault," Marco said, he didn't like the way that his mother spoke to Dylan.

"You have been different lately Marco. Ever since you broke up with that nice girl Ellie, you have been spending more time with him, and less time at home and with girls. What is going on here?" Marco thought his mother knew for a moment, but calmed down when he noticed that she was still clueless.

"Mom, we need to talk, is Pa home?" Marco said, he wasn't ready to do this but if his mother figured it out somehow it would be so much worse. His mother nodded and Marco had to swallow before trying to talk again, "Okay, then we have to talk, Dylan too." Marco said looked to Dylan for strength. Dylan stepped out of the car and walked beside Marco, knowing he couldn't put his hands on him but still trying to give him comfort. He heard Marco whisper, "I can't do this."

"Yes you can, you are strong, and remember, they will love you unconditionally. Deep breath," Dylan told him, he wanted nothing more then to hold him but that wasn't possible.

They entered the den area where Marco's father was sitting and his mother took a seat next to the father. Marco took a deep breath and Dylan stood behind him. "Ma, Pa, I have been keeping a secret," he started out, that seemed like a good thing to say.

"He's doing drugs isn't he," Mr. Del Rossi said automatically. But Marco's mother came to his defense.

"He would never, Marco is a good boy, he would never do anything to shame the family," she said.

"No, it's not drugs, it's just. Remember when I broke up with Ellie," they both nodded. "Well, we were never really going out, she was just pretending for me, and then I met someone I really liked so I said we broke up," Marco said wondering if they had figured it out yet.

"So you met a nice woman then Marco, what is the big secret, you didn't get her pregnant did you, because then you are on your own, get a job and support her," Mr. Del Rossi started to ramble.

"No Pa, it wasn't a woman, it was, it was Dylan," Marco said stuttering a little. "Pa, Ma, I am gay," he finally said feeling like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. For a moment nobody in the room moved, and nobody breathed or so it seemed.

Finally Mr. Del Rossi stood up, his face turning red, "You, you sick faggot, get to your damn room. And you get the fuck out of my house, right now. I never want to see you on my property again. My son will not be gay, I will not allow it; get out of here right now you flaming homo," Mr. Del Rossi said. Marco had tears in his eyes, and Dylan sent him a sympathetic look that said we'll talk tomorrow. Marco turned to go to his room and Dylan was literally thrown out of the house. Though he wasn't a big man Mr. Del Rossi was a strong man. Just as he was starting the car he heard a pain filled cry and his heart almost stopped.

Marco was half way up to his room when his father caught up with him and pulled him back down causing him to fall down a bunch of the stairs. He hit the floor and let out a cry of pain.

"Now you will be straight, or I will beat you till you are. I will not allow my son to be a faggot. Look at these pictures and tell which one turns you on," Mr. Del Rossi screamed, Mrs. Del Rossi had left the room, to upset and angry to watch it. In his hand he held two pictures, one of a man without his shirt on and the other was a woman totally naked. Now of course Marco was going to say the girl to get his dad to leave him alone but his eyes were on the male as he said it. "Don't fucking lie to me homo," Mr. Del Rossi said as he kicked Marco in the ribs. This reminded Marco of the bashing he got on the way to Dylan's hockey game. That memory made him cry even more then he was already and that angered his dad more as well and the beating continued.

Dylan was very worried on his ride home, he wasn't sure if Marco was okay but he was almost sure that Marco's parents wouldn't hurt him. He thought that maybe Marco was trying to clear his head like he had shown Dylan once. Still he was worried when he went into his house and Paige picked up on that right away.

"Dylan, is everything okay, you looked worried and concerned," she said sitting her brother down.

"I don't know, when I brought Marco home his mom was all over him and then he came out, I don't think he was ready. His parents took it bad, worse then ours; they called him names, and literally threw me out of the house. What is really worrying me is that as I was leaving I heard a scream, I don't know. I am going to go to bed now, I'll see him in school Monday and make sure he's okay," Dylan said he got up and went to bed, still worried.

Marco's eyes opened and all he was aware of was the pain, it was everywhere. Most of the pain was from his shoulder and his chest, though he did have a major headache. He tried to find out where he was, it looked like he was on his bedroom floor, he was cold and in pain so he started to cry. He wanted Dylan, he wanted Dylan to hold him, make him feel safe, and he wanted to talk to him. Marco started to look around his room in search of his cell phone so he could call. As soon as he spotted it sounds were heard from the hallway and Marco stopped breathing.

Mr. Del Rossi was getting a drink from the kitchen when he passed his 'sons' room. He could hear crying from it and became angry, real men didn't cry, his son was acting gay again and he wouldn't allow it, so another session of 'beating the gay' out of Marco began.

Monday rolled around and Dylan was really worried, he hadn't heard from Marco all weekend and everything someone called and asked for him his parents would say he was unable to come to the phone, or he was sleeping, or busy or something like that.

Paige, Spinner, and Dylan stood by Marco's locker waiting for him to come in until the late bell rang. Then they had to leave for class. At lunch Paige went into the bathroom to try and call Marco's house again, this time there was no answer at all, she knew that the Del Rossi's were probably out but if Marco was sick he would have answered the phone. When she told this to Dylan he insisted that they go to his house.

"Dylan, we can go, just wait for mom and dad to get home, I have a bad feeling that we may need them. From what Spinner told me, Mr. Del Rossi was an extreme homophobe and Marco was scared of him that Friday, he was afraid of what he would do when he found out about him, just wait, I promise we will go right after they come home," Paige made her brother promise that he wouldn't go to Marco's house right after school.

Dylan couldn't pay attention in class, he was really worried about Marco, and the speech Paige had given him made him even more worried. If Paige didn't think that she and he couldn't handle it alone then it was serious.

It seemed as if the day would never end and as soon as the last bell rang Dylan, Paige, and Spinner were the first out of the classroom. Even though Spinner didn't like the fact that his friend was gay and liked guys he was still worried about him.

They all sat down on the couch at the Michalchuk house counting the second until Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk would be home. When they finally did arrive they were slightly surprised to see the three sitting on the couch looking extremely worried.

"Okay children, spill it," they said.

"Mom, Dad, we have some reason to believe that one of our friends is getting hurt, could you, um, come with us to his house, just to check on him," Paige said, she didn't want to give away Marco's secret so she was trying to be discrete.

"Who is it and why do you think that you will need out help," Mr. Michalchuk asked.

"Well, you know my friend Marco, well a while ago he realized he was gay, and he didn't tell his parents until Friday after he and Dylan got home from their date, they didn't take it well, they called him names and when Dylan was leaving he screamed. We just want to make sure he is okay," Paige said, and Dylan and Spinner nodded.

"Dylan, you didn't tell us you had a boyfriend," Mrs. Michalchuk said, she had tried to be supportive after Dylan came out but she could tell that he was still uncomfortable talking about his sexuality around his father.

"It's all new, for him and me, we just started to date last week, but now I think he really needs our help, his dad, after calling Marco a faggot, literally threw me out of the house, please, I know he needs us," Dylan said sincerely.

"Alright, everybody in the van, honey, grab a few blankets," Mr. Michalchuk said, he wanted to be prepared for anything. The ride to the Del Rossi's had to be one of the most painstaking rides Dylan had ever taken. When they pulled up to the house Dylan was ready to charge up and demand to see Marco but his mother put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

They calmly walked up to the house though everyone was anxious. Mr. Michalchuk knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer; he heard an Italian accent say that they would be right there. A medium size woman answered the door; her smiled vanished when she saw Dylan within the crowd at her door.

"I don't mean to be rude Mrs. Del Rossi, but we are here to see Marco, your son. He wasn't in school today and my son and daughter were worried, it won't take long, only a minute, just let them see him," Mr. Michalchuk said calmly, hoping it would all end peacefully.

"No, my son, as you call him, will not see anyone, especially that son of yours, it is his fault that my son in gay, but don't worry, when my husband is done with him he won't be gay anymore," she said and was about to shut the door when Mr. Michalchuk put his foot in the door.

"I don't know what that means but we are not leaving until we see Marco," Mr. Michalchuk said.

"Please, just let me see that he's okay," Dylan pleaded with her, but she wasn't budging. In the back he could see Mr. Del Rossi catch what was going on at the door and was coming over.

"What is the fag doing at my house, I thought I told you to never come back," Mr. Del Rossi said approaching Dylan.

"No one speaks to my son that way, I think you need to step back right now before I make you," Mr. Michalchuk said, Mrs. Michalchuk grabbed Paige and pulled her back a little and Spinner sort of placed himself between the girls and the Del Rossi's.

"Get off my property, before I call the police," Mrs. Del Rossi said. Dylan had been loosing his patience ever since he arrived and now his worry had increased because of what Mrs. Del Rossi said.

"Get out of my way now," he said pushing past them all and running up the stairs, it wasn't hard to tell which door was Marco's, it had a sign that said, Marco's room, keep out. Dylan wasted no time in knocking he just went right in, but he wasn't prepared to see what he did.

On the floor near the corner was Marco, he was curled up a little and on his side. Dylan ran over to him and kneeled next to him. "Marco, speak to me please, wake up Marco," Dylan pleaded quietly. He wanted to see the extent of his injuries so he laid him on his back, earning a painful groan from the smaller of the two boys. Dylan could tell that his shoulder was out of place as soon as he saw it; he had seen many dislocated shoulders at hockey and knew that it could be put back into place by his father. Marco also was supporting a rather nasty black eye and his eye was almost swollen shut. His body was littered with bruises and cuts, up and down his arms.

Dylan carefully lifted Marco's shirt slightly and gasped at the sight of Marco's chest. It was almost completely black and blue. Dylan's eyes watered at the sight of someone he seriously cared about in this much pain. His gingerly ran his hands over the bruises looked from soft spots in his rib cage. He thought that he might have found one but he was hoping it was just a badly bruised rib cage.

"Dylan honey, is everything okay up there?" Paige's voice called from downstairs. Dylan couldn't form the words to speak of what he just found. He grabbed a blanket and covered Marco's shivering body. "Dylan?" the voice came again, this time with a hint of worry.

Finally Dylan found his voice and called out to his sister, "Paige, I need some help up hear, please," he had no idea how scared he sounded, but this was someone he really cared about, maybe loved, and it was stressful to see him like that. He heard feet on stairs and soon Spinner and Paige entered the room.

"Dad is keeping them busy in the kitchen; mom is getting the car ready for our get away, God Dylan, what happened?" Paige asked as she ran over to see Marco's condition.

"His father, Paige he's really hurt, we need to get him out of here, go downstairs and open up the car door and get the back seat ready, Spinner pack everything he might want in a bag with clothes or something, quickly. I am going to carry him into the car, just make sure his parents stay out of my way," Dylan instructed, they both nodded and went off to do their task. Dylan gently placed Marco's arm that had a dislocated shoulder with on his chest and wrapped the blanket to sort of keep it in check but not to hurt his ribs too much. Then he put one arm under his knees and another under his neck to support his head and picked him up. Luckily Marco was a short boy and not heavy at all so Dylan had no problem carrying him down the stairs.

Paige had the back seat of the van all ready for them; she had one of the soft down blankets laid across it and another one waiting to cover Marco up. As Dylan passed his mother she gasped at the sight of Marco and Dylan gave her a sad look as he continued to the car. He laid Marco down and tried to make him comfortable, and then he sat on the floor space, which was not much, next to Marco and held his hand. Soon Spinner was back with the clothes and he and Paige sat in the middle seat.

After what seemed like an eternity Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk came out of the house but they were walking calmly so it wouldn't have to be a crazy get away. They sat in the car and for a moment all was quiet as the car was started up and they pulled out of the driveway.

"Dylan, sweetie, how is Marco?" Mrs. Michalchuk asked as she looked back, Dylan didn't raise his head to answer, she wasn't even sure if he heard her, he was very caught up with Marco.

"Mom, how could they do that to their own son?" Paige cried out, and Spinner let her cry on his shoulder.

"They said we could take him, that he was a disgrace to their family, when we get home I will look him over and see if we need to take a trip to the hospital," Mr. Michalchuk said rather calmly. It was almost eerie how calm he was after what had conspired in the last half hour.

When they arrive back at the house everyone was quiet, Mrs. Michalchuk got the couch ready for Marco with the help of Mr. Michalchuk and Spinner and Paige were walking with Dylan as he carried his precious bundle back into his home.

As soon as Dylan placed Marco down Mr. Michalchuk went to work, he unwrapped Marco from the blanket and looked at his shoulder, "I can put this back in it's socket," he noted, he heard Dylan say something about his ribs so Mr. Michalchuk got a scissor and cut away the fabric of Marco's thin shirt to reveal his chest. There was a gasp from everyone expect Dylan who had already gotten over the shock. Like Dylan had Mr. Michalchuk ran his hands over Marco's badly bruised chest.

He took a deep breath and shut his eyes for a moment to collect himself, "Okay, so his shoulder is dislocated and I can fix that, none of his ribs are broken but they will hurt for a while. I don't think he needs to go to the hospital and since we haven't reported his parents to the police I think we can take care of this. What do you think?" he asked the group, Paige and Mrs. Michalchuk were both crying silently Dylan just nodded and Spinner couldn't express anything because he was in shock of what happened.

Dylan moved next to his dad as he went to relocate Marco's shoulder, Dylan grabbed his good shoulder and placed a hand near his chest, more close to his neck and nodded. It was quick in and out but Marco woke with a cry. Mr. Michalchuk left to get some ice and Dylan grabbed Marco's hand.

"Marco its okay, I'm here, I've got you, no one will ever hurt you like this again," Dylan reassured and Marco cried, Dylan wasn't sure if it was from pain or he was scared but he wasn't about to let his hand go.

After icing his shoulder and giving him some pain medication they moved him upstairs to Dylan's room so he could be comfortable on the bed.

Later that night Dylan was sleeping on a makeshift bed on the floor when he was woken by crying. He looked up to see Marco awake and crying.

"Marco, what's wrong, are you in pain?" Dylan asked, he was automatically extremely worried.

"No, well yes, but that's not why I'm crying. Dylan, how could they, they are suppose to love me to matter what, it hurt so much and every time I asked my pa to stop he would hit me harder. Now when I close my eyes I see him, his anger, and my ma's disappointment. It hurts more then the pain," Marco said. Dylan just laid down next to him and Marco curled up next to him as much as he could without causing further harm. And that was the way they fell asleep.

Spinner had called his house and asked if he could stay over that night and he sort of told them why and they agreed, they also said that he didn't have to go to school and could take care of his friend.

The Michalchuk house was quiet the next morning, Mr. Michalchuk had tried to get off from work but he couldn't. Mrs. Michalchuk however did manage to get the day off to be there for Marco. All the kids had called in sick and Paige and Spinner called Jimmy, Craig, and Ellie so they didn't go to the Del Rossi house to check up on him. They were worried and asked if they could come by later but Paige had asked them to wait a little while. It was going to be a long healing path.

Okay so tell me how it was, review, and ill get back to you all with another chapter.