Thank you ever so much for the review greggo-123 and danita3 :) I'm glad that you seem to be enjoying it and are sticking with it and taking the time to tell me what you think! It truly does mean a lot to me, so thanks again :) So this is Chapter 3 and we're at Russell's house! This is how I think it would be but I'd love to see how you guys imagine the Russell's household. Be warned though, this is a pretty dark chapter, so don't be too surprised with what happens. Please enjoy and let me know what you think!
The Russell's.
Carrying his satchel bag on his shoulder, Greg followed Russell up the path leading towards his house. It was a fresh, pale cream colour with a splatter of ivy vines trailing up the right hand side. Shiny windows with a posh border around the edge of the glass shone brightly, as if they'd just been cleaned.
The garden was just as well kept; the grass trimmed short and neat, especially around the path, and flowers booming in every direction. There were bullet shaped bushes with not a single straying branch. Maybe if Greg didn't work as a CSI, he would have thought of them as another shape.
Russell's house matched the other houses on the street, all in pristine condition. His drive was paved with an outline of pebbles and just next to the garage there was a small soiled patch, where it looked like some vegetables were growing.
Even though flowers and gardening wasn't really Greg's thing, he thought about how much time and effort it must have taken to make the garden look this good and was amazed with how nice it looked.
"Honey, i'm home!" Russell yelled happily as he entered the house, using the well known line deliberately, which made Greg smile.
"Come on in" Russell said to Greg as he was still standing outside.
"You know, you could have told me you were on your way home. This really wasn't what I was planning on Greg seeing as soon as he got here!" Russell's wife said as she came from another room in her gardening pants and shirt, which hung loosely on her slender frame.
Russell brushed his thumb gently over his wife's cheek, "You got a little dirt here..." He said as he brushed it off.
"Now gardening pants and shirt, which hung loosely on her slender frame.
Russell brushed his thumb gently over his wife's cheek, "You got a little dirt here..." He said as he brushed it off.
"Perfect."
Russell's wife laughed. "Hi Greg i'm Maria. I'm glad we could finally meet, D.B's said only good things about you." She said shaking Greg's hand.
"Likewise." Greg said. "You have a lovely garden, I bet it takes a lot of looking after."
Maria laughed, "Why thank you. He can stay here as long as he wants." She said as she playfully elbowed Russell in the side, still laughing.
Russell joined her, "Haha, yeah, I think he's good at washing dishes too."
Greg smiled at them both, "I'll do them. It means a lot to me, you letting me stay here."
Maria waved her hands, "Don't mention it, I love having people over and you seem lovely already. Now, you two come in and i'll fix you up something to drink." She told them with a smile before walking away.
"Here, let me take that from you" Russell said as he took the bag from Greg's shoulder.
"Now if you follow me, I'll show you your room." Russell said as he started to head up the stairs. He looked back to see if Greg was following and saw him remove his shoes and pick them up before he started up the stairs.
Russell smiled. "Maria is going to love you!" He then continued up the stairs laughing.
"Guys do you want a beer with your dinner or wine? We have soft drinks too." Maria asked as she walked into the living room where Greg and Russell were, with Russell's son Charlie. They were all chatting and relaxing, playing on some game of Charlie's.
"We'll all have a beer please honey." Russell said for them all, Greg and Charlie were still playing their game.
Greg turned around, "I don't know if that's a good idea..." He told Russell, worrying slightly about his last time with a drink.
"We've got juice, water? Or lemonade? Erm, let me see what else we have." Maria said from the kitchen as she went to look in the cupboards.
Russell looked at Greg, "Don't worry, you'll be fine, alright? I know you will. But I don't want to force you."
Greg nodded.
"Sweetie, Greg will have a beer too please."
Russell turned back around after he knew Maria had heard him.
"Charlie, turn it off. Let's go and get something to eat!" He said rubbing his hands together.
"So Greg, Russell never told me why you are here?" Maria asked whilst eating her meal.
Greg swallowed, "He didn't?"
"Nuh- ah." Maria said through a shut mouth. Once she had done chewing she spoke again, "He told me you'd be stopping with us but that's it. He just doesn't have the time to talk to me anymore." She jokingly said as she did a dramatic sigh.
"Hey!" Russell said defensively.
Maria laughed, "Relax, i'm joking and you know it! So, yeah what brings you here Greg? Don't think we don't want you here because we do!" She hastily said.
Greg laughed awkwardly, "Erm, this thing happened and I, erm, I can't really stay at my place." He said trying to make something up, but still telling the truth.
"What did someone break in?" Charlie asked inquisitively.
Greg took a swag of his beer, trying to wet his suddenly dry throat. "Eh, not quite. It's complicated, these people..." Greg coughed. "Sorry, could I use your bathroom?" He asked starting to breath heavier.
"Second door on the left" Russell told him whilst pointing back behind him. He looked into Greg's eyes and said through them that it was okay. This made Greg feel a little bit easier as he got up quickly and left the table.
"Dad what's wrong with him?" Charlie asked glancing down the hallway as he saw Greg enter the downstairs toilet.
"Nothing's wrong with him. He's just having a rough time right now." Russell said, continuing to eat his dinner, hoping that they would drop it.
Charlie was just about to speak again when Greg came back and sat at the table.
"I hope you didn't have to leave because of my cooking!" Maria joked with him.
Greg pretended to laugh, "No it wasn't, sorry." He said looking at her with eyes which were now glistening slightly.
"Don't worry about it. It's usually this one who has to get up during our meal!" She said pointing her fork Russell's way.
Greg smiled again, then picked up his knife and fork. His hands had started to shake and the cutlery jingled slightly on his plate, making the other three people at the table look at him. He knew they were looking his way so just looked down.
For the next five minutes everyone continued like normal until they had finished dinner.
"Dear, that was lovely!" Russell said as he ate the last forkful of food on his plate.
"I'm glad you liked it, because we have more left! Would you like anymore Greg?" Maria asked as she got up to get the rest of the food for Russell.
Greg shook his head, "No thank you Ma'am. It was great though." He said as he placed his knife and fork down on his empty plate, his hands now a little more steady again.
Maria smiled as she placed more stew on Russell's plate.
"Charlie, you want some more?" She asked as she hovered by with spoon in hand.
"No thanks Mom, I need to go and attempt my chemistry homework." He said with a sigh.
Russell frowned, "What's up?"
Greg looked at Charlie as well as his Mom and Dad who were expecting an answer.
"It's just hard. I don't get any of it, Mr Grayhem doesn't explain anything." Charlie told them.
"You want me to help?" Greg offered. "I studied chemistry at Stanford, and worked in a lab for over five years."
Charlie shrugged, "If you don't mind?"
Greg smiled, "Of course not."
"Thanks, are we alright to go?" Charlie asked already preparing to leave the table.
"Yeah, sure. Go on." Russell said.
Charlie stood up and took his dishes to the side.
"You want me to wash up?" Greg asked standing behind his chair.
Maria smiled, "It's alright Greg, thanks anyway."
"Okay, thanks for dinner." He said before following Charlie up to his room.
Russell smiled at Maria then stuck into his second helping of stew.
"Thanks for helping me. My teacher just thinks we can do everything without him having to even move!" Charlie said to Greg as he trotted down the stairs.
"Don't mention it. If you ever need me again just ask." Greg said happily. Glad that he could be of some help.
Charlie turned back to him, "I might hold you to that!"
Greg smiled, "I hope you do."
"It's not that at all D.B and you know it. I'd just like to know why one of your work colleges is staying at our home." Greg heard Maria say in a hushed whisper as he reached the end of the stairs near the living room.
"Hey Greg, you want another drink?" Charlie asked him as he went to the kitchen.
Greg nodded, "Please."
"Maria, Greg's a good guy, one of the best i've got. He hasn't done anything so you've got nothing to be worried about."
"That's not the point. I can tell from just tonight that Greg is a good guy. He's charming in fact and I think you could probably learn a thing or two from him. But, I don't understand why you can't tell me what's happened."
"I told him I wouldn't so I'm not. It's not my place to say."
"Here you are." Charlie came back with two ice cold beers from the fridge.
Greg grabbed one, "Thanks Charlie."
"S'alright. I'm heading upstairs, see ya' later."
"Yeah see ya.'" Greg said.
He knocked on the living room door before he went in.
"Am I alright to come in?" Greg asked side stepping through the door.
"Sure. We were just talking." Maria said as she smiled at him and patted the seat next to her.
"Thanks." Greg said.
"I promise you I wasn't deliberately listening but I couldn't help but hear what you were saying."
Maria looked to Russell, not knowing what to say.
"I don't blame you for what you said. You deserve to know why i'm here and I can go if i'm in the way..." Greg said.
Russell shook his head, "No way Greg. You're not in the way at all."
Greg nodded. "If I tell you what happened, I don't know whether i'll manage to keep it together, so don't be shocked." Greg started.
"Greg, you don't have to tell me, I have no right to know your business." Maria said in an apologetic tone.
Greg smiled at her, "You do, I can't just stay at your house without an explanation."
"Right... I don't really know where to start." Greg nervously laughed.
Taking a big breath he started.
"Last week, well it's a week ago today that I had the night off, so I went out with some friends to a bar." Greg paused for a minute before continuing.
"We stayed there for a while but then all my mates said they were heading home, but I thought i'd stay for just one or two more drinks, you know? So after i'd done for the night I headed home. I considered getting a taxi but I thought walking home would be a good idea, so that I could get some fresh air." He paused again and tried to take a few deep breaths.
"I'd only just set off and I went down this alley which is a short cut to my apartment complex. And, as soon as I turned down there I saw these guys at the other end all stood in a group. Most of them were black, not that i'm racist or anything because I definitely aren't, but they were quite big and had huge muscles, and I felt a little uneasy because I got beat up a few years back but it was like in a side street. But anyway, these guys just stared at me as I was walking towards them, and they all stopped laughing as soon as I tried to get by them." Greg swallowed.
"I said excuse me and tried to go down past them against the wall, but, this guy stepped back deliberately into me. I apologised to him and tried to walk by but, the guy just stepped towards me and shoved me. 'You think you can do what you want?' he shouted at me and then all the others chipped in. I tried to turn around but when I did, this guy pulled my shirt collar and yanked me backwards. It left a bit of a mark..." Greg said as he pulled his shirt to the side, showing Russell and Maria a dull, faint blue bruise.
"They shoved me to the floor. I took out my wallet and threw it at them to see if they'd leave me if I gave them the money I got. But one of them just went in it and pulled out my driver's license. They obviously got my name from it and then started saying how I 'look young for my age'. The same guy threw the card on the floor next to me then kneeled on one knee on top of me."
Greg scrunched his shaking hands into fists a few times to try and stop the shaking but it was no use.
He screwed his eyes tight, feeling tears forming. He opened them though and tried to finish his story relatively quickly.
"The guy started stroking my face. I told him to get off but he didn't and he kneed me in the stomach, so I couldn't really say anything because the wind was knocked out of me. His hand trailed down my chest over my shirt. I thought he was gonna' do something but then he stopped. And, I, I was just so relieved. I crawled back and tried to get up but then a different man pushed me down. My head hit the ground hard and it knocked me a bit dizzy. This guy ripped my shirt open, and did the same as the last one but then started squeezing my... My... You know."
Greg looked down ashamed.
"Another person put their hand over my mouth and two others held my arms. I tried to get away, but I couldn't. I really tried." Greg said looking at both of them to see if they believed him.
"We know Greg." Russell told him.
Greg nodded. " Someone pulled down my pants, then, then my underwear. The man on top of me started grabbing me and rubbing me there. I was so scared that I..." Greg let a tear fall down his face.
"Oh Greg, you don't have to say anymore if you don't want to." Maria told him, reaching over to him tentatively and touching his knee comfortingly.
Greg shook his head. "I didn't mean to but I was so scared, so I, I, I wet myself whilst they all watched. The one who was touching me started squeezing really hard and I guess it forced me to stop. It really hurt, but he just, kept on doing it. I shouted under the hand over my mouth for him to stop but he didn't. He just squeezed harder." Greg let a small sob slip past his lips and Maria hugged him as he broke down.
"Shh." Maria cooed. "Is it still working okay down there? We can take you to the hospital if there's something wrong."
Greg pulled away and wiped his eyes with his sleeves which he had pulled over his hands. "I think it's okay. It's, it's really bruised. Like dark purple and b, black. It still hurts now but it will be fine, I think."
Russell spoke up, "Greg, Maria used to be a doctor. Do you want her to have a quick look to make sure everything's still alright? She'll make sure you're okay." He said softly.
Greg looked at Maria and nodded as he cried even more.
"It's okay, i'm sure there's nothing to be worried about but we will check just to make sure, alright? Do you want to finish telling us what happened? We can stop here but it might help to tell just us two." Maria smiled softly at him.
Greg took a shaky breath. "After that he, he let go of me, and, and pulled his trousers down. I could see he was really excited and I freaked out. I started to try and shout and get free, but I, I, there was no way I could get away. Before he did anything, he pulled my pants and underwear from my ankles, then..." Greg was getting more and more worked up.
"Greg calm down, you're safe here okay. Deep breaths." Russell told him.
"He shoved my underwear in my mouth and then that guy put his hand over my mouth again anyway. The guy on top of me was first and I screamed as loud as I could but he carried on r, ra, ra..." Greg couldn't say it.
"After he'd done another one took his place. It seemed like they all had a turn. They all spat on me when they finished. Some of them, they even peed on me too. I'd already been sick, but it couldn't come out my mouth, so it started to come out my nose, but when it went over the guys hand he moved it. I managed to get my underwear out my mouth and I threw up some more. The guy who I got sick on wiped his hand on my hair then picked my head up by my hair and smashed it onto the floor."
Greg unconsciously rubbed his head where it hit the floor.
"I threw up even more when they weed on me. It, it went in my mouth and everything. But after that they left."
Greg looked up when Maria spoke. "How did you get home?"
"Erm, as soon as I saw them turn the corner I got up as fast as I could. It was really dark and I couldn't see anything, so, I, I had to feel around on the floor for my pants. I put them on when I found them, but they'd managed to snap my belt and break the zip on them, and the button must have flew off, so they, they hung open when I walked. I buttoned up what I could of my shirt but you could still see my chest clearly, and my nipples had started bleeding because they were inched so hard."
"I began to head home but as soon as I left the alley, I saw two men walking my way. I, I knew it wasn't any from earlier, so tried to walk past them. But, but as I got closer I started panicking because I knew they'd be able to see everything. I managed to get by them but they stared at me when I went past. They looked at me and one of the guys asked me if I needed help. He tried to grab my arm, to see but I pulled away from him and ended up falling again a wall. I scratched all my back, and my pants had fallen down a bit so they could see... the same guy tried to help me up, but I got up as fast as I could and ran. I tripped a few times and fell, messed up my knees, but then I was home."
Greg continually wiped his face, the tears falling never stopped for a minute.
"Oh Greg, I'm so sorry that happened to you. Just know that you can call this home now and us family." Maria said and rubbed his back as he tried to hold in a sob.
Greg nodded.
"I know this is soon, but should I take a look at your injuries now? After that you can go to bed, I bet you can even have tomorrow off work." Maria smiled at him and Russell agreed with her.
Greg said okay.
"Greg if I fetch my camera will you let me photograph your injures? They can help the case."
Greg barely nodded but Russell saw it and went to fetch his camera.
"Right, can you remove your pants for me? In your own time, there's no rush." Maria told Greg.
Greg slowly pulled them down and stepped out of them.
"Okay, good. And now your underwear."
Greg swallowed deeply then nervously took them off.
Maria gasped when she saw Greg's penis.
"Oh Greg." She said sadly. "I'm just going to feel around if that's okay?"
Greg nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
"Oww, ahh." Greg said whilst Maria gently examined him.
"I'm sorry Greg. I'll try to be quick."
Russell took pictures after he told Greg that he was going to.
His injuries made Russell think; how did I miss this?
Flippin heck, that was a long chapter! Sorry it was so dark and maybe too graphic for some people. Please review to tell me what you thought :) Thanks for reading!
