I know there has been some unease concerning the future of Ste and Brendan. Sometimes even I wonder if it is possible regarding the circumstances that have led to the deterioration of their relationship. I must be a romantic then? Or perhaps too blinded to the toxicity of their relationship and how undesirable it would be to be in either of their shoes. I enjoy happy endings though, regardless, and I believe that in the words of Michael Scott that Ste and Brendan are one of those couples with a long story. The best love stories are plagued with trails and tribulations, and maybe one storyline Ste is involved with someone else and the next Brendan is. I have a feeling that it will be a long time coming for this couple, but when both of them work out their issues, it will be, like Michael Scott said "perfect".
Also I have a disclaimer: I do not condone Domestic Violence, or abuse in any forms. However like Hollyoaks I enjoy my flights of fancy and this story is one of them. Enjoy.
Chapter 3
Brendan watched as Anderson stepped into the room. Fine lines had etched themselves across his forehead and around his mouth over time. A deep grey colour had begun to highlight his normally dark brown hair and Brendan noticed a more polished tailoring to his clothes.
'Life treating you well?' Brendan asked, though not really caring for an answer.
Anderson shrugged pretending to smell one of the bouquets left by Cheryl. Brendan watched him pay a particular interest to the card that accompanied the peonies and then look away as if it had held no fascination at all.
'Can't say the same for you though,' he said finally and chuckled, 'concussion, broken ribs, it's as if someone wants you dead?'
'Yeah, that's is the drift I got.'
Anderson sat down in the empty chair by Brendan's bed. He leaned back and let his left foot rest atop his other knee. He cocked his head as he stared at Brendan with a bemused expression.
'It's been too long Brendan. I was hoping for a celebration of a reunification with you and Danny.'
'I wouldn't call it a celebration...'
'No? Going to the pub for some pints. Hitting up a club or two? Finding some ladies and then you off to shag Vinny. Like old times, except of course, Vinny is dead now.'
The breath hitched in his throat as Vinnys' name felt like bullets ripping into his heart. He knew this game that Anderson played. Brendan knew he couldn't react. But those memories, those images from the past rushed to the front of his mind. Suddenly he felt sick.
'I never really cared that you slept with blokes Brendan. Mostly it was entertaining watching you try to make us think otherwise. Entertaining, yes, and sort of pathetic really.'
Brendan looked away but he could feel Anderson staring at him with satisfaction. The room was only silent for a moment before he heard Anderson sigh and felt him lean in.
'I came to tell you that I arrested Warren this morning. Found Danny's credit card on him... Poor fellow looked like he had the wind knocked out of him. You know, with you in hospital and Warren incarcerated, it does not really bode well in this village.'
Brendan turned to him with blank eyes, 'what is that supposed to mean?'
Anderson smirked, 'my mistake. I meant to say simply "bode well" Brendan.'
Brendan leaned forwards glowering in an attempt to intimidate Anderson, 'did you send those pictures? And that note? What are you playing at Anderson?' The fury burned in his chest. But he knew he could be calm. Cheryl, Ste and Mitzee depended on it. Taking a deep breath Brendan found his footing and sneered, 'I did know you were the type to go after women and children. Can't play with big boys?'
Anderson however didn't take the bait and smiled with a careless air, 'Just a slip of the tongue mate.'
Brendan glared at him as he stood up, 'I'll be out of here soon.'
'Yes I'm sure you will be. Silly of me to get a head of myself like that,' he walked towards the door and cocked his head to the side, 'I shall not do it again,' he said in a tone that betrayed his mistake. 'Good day.'
Ste had fallen asleep on Noah's couch. When he woke he felt the soft cotton of a blanket that had been draped overtop of him. He hadn't remembered taking one and assumed it must have been Noah.
The light shone through the drapes and he could hear the kettle whistling atop the stove. Ste rubbed his eyes and sat up feeling incredibly drowsy. The clock told him he had slept past noon, which wasn't surprising considering he was up till three in the morning talking to Noah.
Ste could not remember ever talking to another man about his feelings. Brendan was always silent and secretive, and his stepfather abusive and manipulative, neither of which prepared him for emotional vulnerability. If the saying the 'weight lifted from your shoulders' was any description for last night, Ste didn't know what could be. For spoken word, and every unloaded feeling felt soothing upon his heart.
Noah listened. He had listened Ste remembered without saying a word. Ste had watched him closely, studied his gaze when he told him about Brendan. As the words tore at his heart making him feel nauseous and frightened, he felt Noah's hand upon his own squeezing it gently.
Ste never knew how to move on. He had been in love with Amy, and maybe even Rae, but Brendan was something entirely different. The first man he'd ever been with. The first person he had ever truly loved with all his heart, and also the first person to really break it.
Then there was Noah, a man entirely Brendan's opposite. Noah was the day to Brendan's night, the single catalyst of their love affair.
If Ste would want that.
Ste felt like he'd being lying to himself had he rejected the notion of Noah being anything more than a friend. Noah was kind, funny, and supportive. He was safe, stable, and open. For each thing that he was, Brendan was not, and ironically the only thing that Noah could never be, was Brendan. That reflection tugged at him painfully.
'Want some tea?'
Ste jumped. He hadn't even heard Noah approach. A cup was handed to him and Ste nodded in thanks. He sipped the tea carefully and it soothed his dry throat.
'Completely shattered from our talk,' Noah began, 'but feeling very good about it too.'
'You know all my secrets.'
Noah smiled, 'they don't have to be secrets anymore.'
Ste smiled in return. He hadn't been entirely truthful regarding Brendan. He had glossed over some of the abuse. It seemed low to betray Brendan while he lay in the hospital like that, even if on some level he deserved to bear the consequences.
'Do you have plans today?'
'Not really, the club is closed.'
'Fantastic. Let's grab a bite then. My treat.'
Ste nodded but felt like he was lacking the excitement that Noah reverberated. The last forty-eight hours had been filled with a whirlwind of emotions. He hadn't even told Noah about Anderson, or the pictures and the note. Ste didn't want to drag him into this tangled mess that Brendan had weaved for himself over time. There were enough potential victims in the mix already, and Noah would be the most innocent.
'I probably shouldn't.'
Noah's face fell.
'It's just… Amy is back with the kids in a few hours and I really need to talk to her... about stuff.'
Noah nodded, if not necessarily pleased, 'tell her I say hello. I really want to meet Lucas and Leah.'
'They'd love to meet you too, Amy as well.'
As they finished their tea Ste decided to keep the conversation light. He needed time to think about what to do next. It had been a small white lie with Amy and the kids. They wouldn't be back till Tuesday, which gave him another day and a half to figure out how to keep them safe. His stomach turned at the idea of having to leave Hollyoaks altogether in order to be out of harm's way, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The idea that people out there wanted him dead made his heart speed up to unimaginable levels.
'I'll call you soon,' Ste said as they walked to the door.
Noah leaned against the wall watching him closely.
'Thank you so much for listening.'
'Always will,' Noah said coming towards him and before Ste could react Noah had pulled him into a hug. Almost immediately Ste felt the urge to pull away, but maybe it was the lack of sleep, or the thought of impending doom, but he decided not to. Instead he leaned into the hug, wrapping his arms around Noah's waist and held onto him. Surprisingly, it felt right.
Pete had called an emergency meeting. Ste returned to Chez Chez for the first time since the assault against Brendan. The lights were dim inside as always and by the bar sat Mitzee, Cheryl, and to Ste's surprise Theresa on the stools.
Ste turned to Pete in confusion.
'Warren,' he replied simply.
Ste noticed Cheryl appeared much less emotional than yesterday but she also looked upon edge while Mitzee appeared outright frazzled. Ste had never seen her without loads of makeup or perfectly coiffed hair, but today it was in a messy bun and the only sign of makeup was the mascara on her eyelashes.
Pete seemed much calmer than he had been at the hospital. Unlike him, Mitzee, and Cheryl, he looked as though he had actually gotten some rest, that and a change of clothes.
'I showed Cheryl the note and pictures,' Pete told him.
'What did she say?'
'Nothing, really. I think she is in shock.'
Ste breathed heavily. Cheryl had no idea. No idea of anything that Brendan had gotten up to. 'Does she know why?'
Pete shook his head, 'Brendan needs to tell her. It isn't my place.'
'What is this meeting about then?'
'It is about how we are going to protect ourselves.'
Mitzee had opened a bottle of wine and poured herself and Cheryl a glass. Theresa had declined and remained silent ever since. Ste stood beside her offering her his own silent support.
'What do we do?' Mitzee asked taking a large gulp, 'should I book a plane ticket out of here now? Or do I have some time?'
Pete chuckled darkly, 'the humour is much needed Mitzee.'
'I don't see anything funny about this,' Cheryl said, 'we have targets on our backs.'
'You need to keep a level head Cheryl. This isn't necessarily a promise. This threat was made against Brendan and Warren. Not you,' Pete explained, despite not seeming to believe his own words.
'Not against us?' Theresa said standing up from the stool, 'that note "revenge is a six letter word" it means murder. We are going to be killed.'
Ste agreed.
'It wasn't meant for your eyes.'
'Then what is the point of this meeting? Why would Warren insist that I talk to you?' She asked beginning to cry, 'I don't want to die.'
'Oh sweetie,' Cheryl said wrapping her arms around Theresa's shoulders and hugged her, 'we'll figure something out.'
'What do we know about Anderson?' Ste asked.
Cheryl looked at him, 'Anderson? He is the detective Ste…'
'We can't be naïve Cheryl,' Pete interjected, 'he and Danny used to be close. He might think Brendan had something to do with his death.'
'But Warren was taken into questioning,' Mitzee said looking between Cheryl and Pete hopefully, 'he should be cleared of any suspicion!'
'Being called in for questioning is not being indicted,' Pete finished.
'Then what do we do?' Cheryl asked.
'We cater to the enemy.'
Ste could feel everyone's eyes on Pete in shock.
'What?' Mitzee cried choking on her wine.
'We act like nothing is wrong. We get close to Anderson and we push Brendan and Warren far away.'
'I can't do that,' Cheryl said sounding lost, 'he is my brother. This is when he needs me most.'
Pete frowned, 'Anderson needs to know that any relationship with Brendan or Warren has deteriorated.'
Ste shook his head. He couldn't stop picturing Brendan in the hospital alone and feeling unwanted. The last conversation he had with Brendan seemed so foreign to him now. I don't love you anymore… the words came as a complete surprise and yet an air of liberation for him as well.
'I don't think I can do this,' Cheryl said leaning against the counter in defeat, 'he was just attacked…'
Pete sighed while Theresa unlinked herself from Cheryl appearing much more together than before, 'I shouldn't be a threat any longer. I'll simply be with Ethan then.'
Mitzee looked uneasy, Ste knew she was collateral in this mess. He could tell she wanted to say that she meant nothing to Brendan or Warren as well. She was his fraud girlfriend. He felt sorry for her. But honesty was too late now. For all of them, it was simply too late.
Noah locked up LookSharpe and placed the key in his pocket. He had picked up a shift after realizing he would have nothing better to do when Ste went home. However, he couldn't stop thinking over his and Ste's conversation earlier.
'Brendan? Really?'
Ste nodded his head, his face flushed.
'I never would have thought.'
'I don't think anyone did. But he and I… we were… in some sort of relationship.'
'Did you love him?'
'I did. But I never found out whether he loved me back.'
Noah shook his head. How could Brendan not love him? He was gorgeous, funny, and so open that it was disarming at times and yet somehow, Brendan let him go. He wondered how Brendan could lay in a hospital bed on the brink of death and not reconsider how he lived his life?
As Noah set off for home he found the village to be eerily quiet. It had been that way since Brendan's attack, and the murder of that girl India, and Brendan's friend Danny. Something dark appeared to be boding and Noah mused with the idea that he should move back home to the safety of his family and old friends.
'Noah.'
Noah's heart stopped. He turned his head slowly and to his masked horror stood Anderson smoking a cigarette against the wall Chez Chez.
'Such a small world innut?' He said in his usual smarmy voice, 'I should move here shouldn't I? I already have a lovely group of friends waiting.'
'I didn't know you were coming here?'
'I had to. Circumstances demanded it. Are you doing what I told you to do?'
Noah nodded.
'Good. Keep doing it. Make him fall in love with you. Make sure he stays away from Brendan.'
'You didn't have something to do with his attack did you?'
'Noah, Noah, of course not… don't be silly,' Anderson walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. 'You are the safe bet. Don't get involved with this. Protect Stephen.'
Noah eyed him with growing suspicion. He never understood Anderson, yet he had known him since childhood. Anderson, his brothers' best friend till his death, had always appeared larger than life. The football hero, the boy every girl desired, and every gay boy fanaticised would begin to bat for their team. However as childhood innocence died along with his brother, Noah found it harder and harder to make excuses for Anderson's shady behaviour. Then out of nowhere he left for Liverpool and Noah breathed a sigh of relief that that was the last time he'd ever have to see him. However, that phone call four months ago had proved otherwise.
'Why did you want me to get close to Ste?'
'Like I said: safe bet.'
'Don't hurt him.'
Anderson laughed, 'are you actually falling for him?'
'Isn't that what you wanted me to do?' Noah retorted not betraying his feelings. Anderson's threat imbedded into his mind.
'Yes. And keep doing it. I don't want any harm coming your way. A storm is brewing here Noah. A horrible, horrible storm.'
