Author's Note:
I seem to be slightly confused... My name isn't Cliff, and I hate no one, not even anyone named Cliff, so why on Earth would I be hanging Cliff? [shrug] Come now, it wouldn't be a good story that kept you chomping at the bit if there weren't at least some intrigue! (Please don't kill me!) LMFAO
It has come to my attention that many of you have problems with hanging by your fingertips from cliffs, so I decided to have at least a little pity on you.
So ... enough from me ... on with the show!
Don't know anything, don't know anyone, and certainly don't own anything. (I wish though!) Please feel free to review with constructive criticism, etc.
02 - Kindred
Dan walked in the house to find glasses and pop cans on the living room table and the boys nowhere to be found. Untidy was not the boys' usual practice, so he looked around confused and called out for Blaine, but there was no answer. He went down the hall, checked Blaine's room, and found it empty. Something occurred to him so he went to look out the front door. He saw Kurt's car, but not Blaine's which piqued his curiosity.
He pulled out his phone and tapped a few buttons. "Hey, Bro, where are you guys?"
"Uh, Dan?" came the female voice.
"Anne?" Dan said.
"Yeah," Anne said.
"Why do you have Blaine's phone and where are you guys?" Dan asked.
"We're at the hospital..." she said.
"What?" He took a breath realizing that he'd cut her off. "I'm sorry, go on."
"Understandable reaction," she said. "We're at the hospital; Sam was ... mugged tonight while he was making deliveries. Blaine brought the boys over, but Sam's not up to seeing anybody. Blaine left his jacket in the room with his phone in the pocket."
"Well, if Sam's not up for visitors, why didn't they just head back home?" Dan asked.
"I'm not sure," Anne, told him. "Blaine came in to get his jacket, but he had a look at Sam and just bolted out of here. Max ran after him, but he just disappeared down the steps."
"That doesn't sound like him," he said. "Which hospital are you in?" She told him the information and he grabbed his stuff and headed out.
Dan arrived at the hospital and made his way to Sam's room. On his way, he spied the other two boys in the waiting room, but they were still alone. He rapped softly on the door and slowly entered.
"Hey," Anne said as she saw him.
"How is he?" Dan said quietly.
"He cried himself to sleep," Max told him frowning as they shook hands.
"What happened?" Dan asked.
"I'd like to say that someone just mugged him, or robbed him," Anne said. "That's just the half of it though."
Dan looked over at the bed; his eyes grew wide and his jaw went slack. Sam's assailants had exaggeratedly marked up his already wide lips with what looked to be red marker, making him look like The Joker's stunt double. The word "FAG" was written across his forehead in black marker, and portions of other homosexual epithets could be seen on the exposed sections of his arms.
"Oh my God," Dan said. He sighed. "Blaine saw him didn't he?" Anne nodded. Dan blew out another breath. "Blaine had something similar happen to him a few years ago. Seeing him probably brought it back."
"Oh my Lord," Max said. "The poor kid."
"Well, the good part is that Sam has someone that can truly empathize," Dan said. "I'll go find him. You guys have enough to worry about. Speaking of which, where are the other two kids?"
"A neighbor is looking after them," Anne said.
"Which reminds me," Max said, "I need to get home and get them back home and to bed."
Dan took the car keys from Blaine's jacket and headed out to the waiting room. He gave the keys to Kurt and told him to drive himself and Dave home.
"Are you sure?" Kurt said.
"Yes, I'll find him," Dan said. "I won't go home without him."
Kurt grudgingly agreed and he and Dave took the elevator down with Dan, who saw them to the lobby. After he'd watched them go, Dan headed toward the hospital coffee shop.
He gave it a thorough search, making sure to check all the dark corners that one could go to "lose" oneself. Then he left, pausing shortly in front of the chapel. He thought for a moment and then ventured in. He looked around and spotted the curly mop of dark brown hair he was looking for, so he walked over and sat down on the bench behind him.
"How are you doing?" Dan said.
Blaine turned around and glanced at him. "I've been better," he said. He turned and closed his eyes again. "I shouldn't have done that. Is he okay? I saw the look on his face, but I couldn't help it. I had to leave."
"Whether he's alright or not isn't the point right now," Dan said. "You first. Let's make sure you're back on point and then we'll worry about him."
Blaine nodded. "I just had to get out of there. You know how much I love hospitals in the first place."
"I was kind of impressed that you took the lead and got them over here in the first place," Dan said with a crooked smile.
"Heat of the moment," Blaine said. "I just did what needed to be done." He paused. "Have you seen him?"
Dan nodded. "Yeah, I did."
"How the hell could anyone be that fucked up?" Blaine said shaking his head.
"I know," Dan said. "We just don't worry about that and we pick up the pieces."
"Oh, God," Blaine said becoming more animated. "Kurt and Dave, I just left them sitting there."
Dan placed his hand on his shoulder. "It's okay; I gave Kurt your keys and told him to get Dave and himself home." Blaine seemed to relax. "Back from your little trip, huh?"
"Yeah, if you could call it that, " Blaine said.
"I told you, worry about yourself first," Dan said. "Get on an even keel, and then you can worry about everyone else. When you're on a plane, you put your oxygen mask on first, and then you worry about the next person. It's the first thing you learn in drown proofing too, you make sure the person you're trying to save doesn't take you down with them."
Blaine nodded. "Thanks for taking care of Kurt and Dave for me."
"Not a problem," Dan said. "Look, when I was just up there, Sam was already asleep. Why don't we head home and get a fresh start in the morning. Replenish those reserves and then make a better attempt in the morning."
Blaine nodded. "Yeah, that's probably for the best."
"We need to go grab your jacket and phone," Dan said. "Do you want to come with or wait here?"
"I think I'll just let you go," Blaine said. "I'll wait for you in the lobby."
Dan nodded and they both went out to the lobby. Blaine waited in the seating area as Dan went up to get his things and tell Anne good night.
The next morning Dan and Blaine rose bright and early. Blaine had spent his night talking to Kurt and explaining what had happened as well as he could without giving him specific details. The conversation ended well, though, when Blaine promised to make it up to him in a method of Kurt's choosing. Once they had both showered and grabbed a quick breakfast, Dan grabbed a small bag of supplies and they headed for the hospital.
They went straight up to the room and rapped lightly on the door. They heard Anne say to come in and they opened the door slowly.
"Hi, guys," she said.
"Hey, lady," Dan said as he walked over and gave her a friendly hug. "How's he doing?" he asked nodding his head toward the curtain.
"Physically, he's better..." she said.
Dan nodded. "Can I buy you cup of coffee?"
She looked behind the curtain to Sam, then back to Blaine, and said, "Yes, I believe you can."
He smiled at her and then the two went downstairs.
Blaine came around the curtain to stand beside the bed. "Hey," he said.
Sam looked anywhere but at him. "Hey," he said looking toward the window.
"I'm sorry I bolted last night," Blaine said.
"It's okay," Sam said shrugging.
"No, it's not," Blaine, said. "It was me; I don't like hospitals anyway and seeing you ... I knew what happened and it hit pretty close to home. What happened in ninth grade came flooding back and ... I just couldn't handle it."
Sam nodded, finally looking at him. "I understand." He looked away again. "I don't want to see Dave. Is that bad?"
"Why not?" Blaine said.
"I..." Sam started and then paused. "He's asked me some many times... Sam, you're bi, why are you with me, why don't you just forget me and stick to dating girls?" He shook his head. "I don't want some girl," Sam said. "It's so much more; I like him for being ... him. I want someone who has principles, who stands up for them, who recognizes what right and goes for it."
"Someone who's a friend first and then becomes more?" Blaine said.
"Yeah, exactly," Sam said smiling.
"I know," Blaine said.
"I don't want to see him yet though," Sam said. "Well, I don't want him to see me."
"The ... decorations?" Blaine said sympathetically.
"Yeah," Sam said frowning. "I don't want him to think it's his fault."
"Sam, it's nobody's fault but the assholes that did this to you," Blaine said. "I went through this when I got ... when I was attacked. I wondered if it was my fault for being so outspoken on gay rights. My God Sam, you were just delivering pizzas."
"But..." Sam started, but then started crying. "It's all over me. I don't want him to see it; I don't want to hurt him."
"Well, we've got a plan for that," Blaine said.
A few moments later Anne and Dan came back in.
"Perfect timing," Blaine said. "I was just about to tell him the plan."
"What plan?" Anne asked.
"Professor Deen's Magic Elixir and Ointment," Blaine said. "I'm thinking more ointment than elixir, though, 'cause I wouldn't like to try drinking it."
Dan chuckled. "As a student teacher, the school I worked in was one of those new ones that doesn't use chalk boards. White boards only in all the classrooms. We made our own secret recipe for marker remover."
Sam's eyes lit up as he wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Really?"
"I think I got the recipe right," Dan said. "We'll try it somewhere and see."
Blaine got a few paper towels and rubbed some of the concoction onto Sam's arm and the marker eventually started to come off.
"Uh, before you start in earnest," Dan said. "Did the police get any pictures of the ... decorations?"
Anne shook her head. "Not that I remember," she said.
Sam shook his head as well.
"I really hate to put you through it," Dan said, "but it might help you not have to actually do more than say 'yeah that's them' if they have the photos to back it up. Let them do the talking for you."
Sam nodded. "They don't get to Dave, though. Please."
"Your decision," Blaine said. "It might be better coming from you though, once you're doing better."
Sam nodded at him. Blaine helped him with his hospital gown and Dan snapped pictures of the injuries and markings. They were just finishing up when they heard a knock at the door.
"Just checking up on you before I get off Mr. Evans," the male nurse said. "Oh, I'm interrupting a photo shoot. I thought you looked like a model."
Blaine turned and looked at him and then stretched out a finger. The nurse did likewise.
"Mr. Anderson!" he said.
"Andy, right?" Blaine said smiling.
"And if it isn't Mr. 'Cute but not interested', right," Andy said turning to Dan.
"I think we went with 'Deen, but no relation'," Dan said smiling.
"Ah, that's right," Andy, said grinning.
"I take it you guys know each other," Anne said.
"Andy took care of me when I wrenched my shoulder," Blaine said. "I guess you lucked out," he said patting Sam's shoulder.
"So ... what are we doing?" Andy said.
"We were just snapping some pics as evidence so we can try to get rid of these," Blaine said.
"Cool!" Andy said. "I just got off my shift, so count me in. An extra set of hands is always useful."
"I don't want to hold you up if you're heading home," Sam said.
Andy sniffed and pointed around the room. "He's taken, unless Mr. Gaga went stupid; he's not interested; she's married and I'm not interested anyway; and you sounded like you were attached ... so unless he has the number for that hot model that he looks like I have no better prospects."
Blaine scrunched his face. "Actually, we all have his number, but he just got married, so ... too late?"
Andy glared at him. "Hold out!" He shook his head. "How do you all have his number?"
"Brothers," Blaine said pointing at Dan with his thumb.
Andy's jaw dropped. "Wait, his name's not Deen is it?"
"You're not nuts," Dan said. "He goes by his middle name."
"Okay, I feel a little better now," Andy, said before looking at Blaine. "You're still a hold out though."
"His husband might hurt you if you hit on him though," Blaine said. "So it was really a kindness."
Sam nodded and smiled.
"Oh my God," Andy said. "He can smile! I was beginning to wonder."
Anne sat down with her coffee and a magazine as the guys started working on Sam. Once Andy saw the process, he came back with supplies more suitable for the task. He grabbed them vinyl gloves and gauze, which, with its rougher texture helped them get the marker off faster. He also took care of the red marker around Sam's lips, careful not to disturb the lesions and cracks.
Sam was leaning forward so that they could get his back and he groaned.
"You need some more ice?" Andy asked. Sam bashfully nodded. "Both?" Andy asked. Sam nodded again. Andy headed out with the little Styrofoam pitcher.
Anne leaned forward and asked, "Are you okay, Sammy?"
"Yeah," he said nodding.
"You sure?" Dan said.
Sam nodded again. "I ... they ... um..." He closed his eyes and shook his head. "They kicked me," he said.
Blaine tipped his head to the side curiously, as Dan squinted, then Dan's eyebrow went up and he looked over at Anne. She grimaced and nodded. Dan groaned as Andy walked back in with a full picture and a sock-like ice pack. He offered it to Sam and he replaced the one already between his legs with that one.
"Oh my God," Blaine said shaking his head. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Not going to be playing with Dave any time soon," he mumbled almost under his breath, but Blaine heard it and gave him a sympathetic smile. "I'll be fine though."
A little while later the boys finished cleaning Sam up. Thankfully the majority of the damage and "decoration" was on his upper body, the assholes weren't brave enough to venture further down except for several kicks which left a good deal of bruising, but nothing worse except for the truly well placed one to his crotch.
"Have you seen that guy of yours yet?" Andy asked.
Sam shook his head.
"Well, it's almost lunchtime," Andy said looking at his watch. "Why don't we get you the rest of the way cleaned up and you can have him drop by after you eat?"
Sam looked unsure, but Blaine gave him a nod, which was echoed by both his mom and Dan. He thought about it for a minute and then shrugged and nodded.
Andy nodded and said, "I'll go get what we need and one of the other nurses and we'll get you cleaned up."
Sam's eyes grew wide and he looked around with uncertainty.
"This is a hospital, not a porno," Andy said giving him a look. "There won't be anything that your boyfriend won't approve of." Then he thought about it. "Or your mom, though I think we'll ask her and your other friends to go on down and get them some grub while we get you ready."
"Already on my way out," Dan said as he headed for the door.
"Will you be alright honey?" Anne asked.
"I guess, as long as Dave won't have a problem with it." Sam then quickly added, "Or you."
"Well, I have a problem with it," Blaine said. "I just got a back rub, and he gets a sponge bath... Where's that fair?"
"One word..." Andy said looking at him. "Icepack."
Blaine looked at him briefly. "Got it." He then turned and quickly headed out with Dan.
Mrs. Evans leaned over and kissed Sam on the forehead. "Enjoy yourself honey."
Sam looked at her and screwed his face up slightly. "Mom ... icepack."
She grinned, smiled and kissed him again then headed for the door.
Andy came back with another male nurse, basins and towels. "I figured you'd be a little more comfortable with another guy, but I can ask somebody else to help or take care of it entirely if you want."
"No it's fine," Sam said.
"Are you doing okay?" Andy said as his partner filled the basins with warm water. "You look like you're kind of running out of steam. Are you sure you weren't just putting on a face for the folks?"
Sam shrugged as Andy helped to get his hospital gown off. It was clear he was having trouble deciding what to say.
"If you don't want to talk you're always free to say shut up," Andy said.
"I'm not gay, I'm bi," Sam said. Andy nodded. "My boyfriend's asked me several times why I just didn't stick with girls so I didn't have to worry about crap like this." He took a deep breath. "I just don't want him to feel bad."
"Okay," Andy said as his partner placed the basins on the small rolling table. Andy squirted shampoo in one to suds it up. "And why would he feel bad about this?"
"I don't know," Sam said. "I mean it wouldn't have happened if we weren't going out." He scooted gently over to the edge of the bed as Andy and his partner each took a side and started gently scrubbing his arms.
"You might have still been jumped for the money even if you were going out with a girl," Andy said, his partner nodding. "It has nothing to do with being gay, some people are just assholes." They rinsed his arms and started on his back.
"I guess that's true, I just..." Sam started and then stopped shrugging.
"You can't live your life with or for 'I just's," Andy said. They rinsed his back and massaged it as they dried it off, then had him lay back down on the bed.
"I guess you're right," Sam said. He watched as they washed off his chest and stomach, being extra careful around his bruises.
"Were you on your back while they came at you?" Andy asked.
Sam nodded. "Yeah, they were basically standing on my upper arms," he pointed at the large bruise blooming on the inside of one of his upper arms.
"Oh, there just weren't as many bruises on your back," Andy said as they toweled off Sam's chest. They pulled up the sheet, covering his chest and midsection and pulled it up from below exposing his legs. Again each soaped their cloth and took a side to make it faster as they worked from his feet up. Sam giggled as they worked on his feet. "Ticklish?" Andy said with a grin.
"Just a little," Sam said stifling another giggle. "Something else my boyfriend doesn't need to find out."
Andy and the other nurse both mimes zipping their lips. "So, how do you guys all rate having male models number?" The other male nurse arched an eyebrow and Andy nodded. "Keep in mind; we can tickle the truth out of you if necessary."
"No need," Sam said laughing. "Derrick is Mr. D's brother; we all met him in New York last year while we were on a school trip. His husband Bryce is a cool guy too. We have his number too."
"Just don't tell me he's a male model too or something," Andy said jokingly.
"Well ... actually," Sam said. "Ah, bruise!"
"Sorry, that was just a little shock," Andy said. "Lost my concentration."
"Jealous much, Andy?" his partner said breaking his silence.
"Yes!" Andy said. "Freakin' little hold outs. They both have boyfriends."
"Well maybe you should get your nose off those celebrity blogs and look a little closer to home," the other nurse said.
Sam grinned as they dried his legs.
"Yeah right says Luke with his beautiful girlfriend," Andy said rolling his eyes.
"For your information, Krista and I broke up about a week ago," Luke said. "And we're not all either gay or straight." He made a "snick" sound with his tongue and teeth as he rewet the cloth.
Andy froze then slowly looked up at him.
"I think I'll take this part," Luke said. "He did get kicked, and you seem a little distracted ... not to mention slow."
Andy arched an eyebrow and turned to look at Sam, who grinned up at him trying not to laugh.
Luke gently cleaned Sam's private parts without looking up as Andy stared at him. Once he was done washing and drying Sam off, he pulled the sheet down to cover Sam and looked up at Andy. "Butt?"
"Excuse me?" Andy said staring blankly at him.
"Would you like to wash the rear or are you still flabbergasted?" Luke said.
Sam couldn't help but laugh this time.
"Shut up you," Andy said to Sam.
"I think I can get that part," Sam said.
"Not without hurting one of the twins and I think they've had enough," Luke said. "Just roll over toward me, gently."
Sam did so and moaned slightly.
Andy cleaned and dried his posterior and then went to empty out the basins as he rolled back onto his back.
Luke looked at him and smiled. "This is no rinse shampoo," he said holding up a small bottle. "Just put some on and lather it up like normal, then all you have to do is towel it dry."
Andy came back, squinting at him as he placed one of the basins to the side to dry. He partially filled the other and placed it on the table.
"Here are a razor and toothbrush and all the stuff you need," Luke said. "If you feel up to it, you can go in the restroom, but we'll leave this here with some fresh water. There's a mirror in the table if you squeeze here and slide it if you don't feel up to going in there. I'll get you some fresh ice for the icepack too." Sam nodded. "Don't try to empty the basin either, get your mom or one of your friends to do it so you don't hurt yourself. And, um, remind him that I get off at three when he snaps out of it," Luke said pointing over his shoulder at Andy.
Andy rolled his eyes as Luke walked out with the icepack.
"Hold outs, I tell you damn it, they're all hold outs!"
Sam laughed as Andy stood there shaking his head.
End note:
Okay, there we go, and we even had a nice little blast from the past. Now we just have to wait and see how it goes with Dave. Does this still constitute as a cliffhanger, or is this just a little fog? Hmm ... I wonder. [shrug]
Don't forget to leave reviews. How else am I supposed to judge how it's going?
Wikipedia: picture definition: a design or representation made by various means (as painting, drawing, or photography).
