Chapter Seven

The next few days passed by somewhat uneventfully. Ray didn't ask about how it had gone with Stephen and Brendan didn't mention it. He didn't really know what was going on himself. Right now however he needed to focus on himself, and how he was going to get himself out of this terrible situation.

"Ray" Brendan began, sitting with his legs drawn up to his chest, his arms supporting his head. They were sitting outside again; it was a nice day, as far as nice days went in prison.

"Yes, Brendan?" Ray asked from his position on the floor where he was doing his daily sit ups.

"What was it like, going to court?"

"Which time?" Ray replied, grinning.

"I'm not fussy" Brendan said sardonically.

Ray sat up and stretched his arms to the sky. His shirt rose up a little, exposing his flat stomach. Once again Brendan found himself staring. He looked away hastily, waiting for Ray's reply.

"Well to tell you the truth, it's scary as fuck" Ray laughed, standing up to stretch his legs out. "But you just gotta keep your head down, answers their questions and get the fuck outta there quick as you can"

"And what if it's no good? And they still charge ye?"

Ray sighed, looking at Brendan. "You just have to take it like a man"

Brendan looked down, his hands held out in front of him. "And if ye can't do that?"

"Then that's what I'm here for" Ray smiled kindly at Brendan. "You won't get charged though, I'm almost certain of it"

"Ye?"

"Definitely. They'll take one look at that pretty face of yours and be putty in your hands" Ray grinned. Brendan gave him a playful shove.

"I ain't pretty"

"Nah, otherwise Donny would have some competition" Ray winked.

"He still does" Brendan retorted, smirking.

"I'll bet" Ray said easily, sitting beside Brendan. "We get post later today"

"Great" Brendan mumbled.

"You expecting anything?"

"Not really" Brendan looked upwards at the sky. "Ye ever think about escaping?"

"Course not. That's a fools dream. I've seen people try, never ends well"

Brendan grunted, looking down again. "The monotony in here, it's getting to me"

"It gets to everyone, you get used to it"

"How many times ye been in here?"

"This is my third" Ray said with a moment's thought. "First time when I was twenty-one, four years I got as you know. Armed robbery. Then again when I was twenty-seven" Ray looked at his hands solemnly. "GBH"

"Seriously?" Brendan asked in some surprise. "Who?"

"Who do you think?" Ray said quietly.

Brendan nodded in sudden understanding. "It took ye two years?"

"Had to track him down, almost like he knew I was after him"

"And what happened when ye found him?"

Ray laughed darkly. "It wasn't pretty... broke a few of his bones, messed his face up pretty bad, nutted him as well"

"Nice" Brendan commented, smiling.

"He got some punches in too. I barely felt them" Ray looked pensive again. "I just kept seeing his face. I saw the body after, when they cleaned him up. He looked so small…" Ray shuddered a little at the memory. Brendan wrapped an arm around his shoulder, feeling more than a little disturbed at the mention of dead bodies.

"And then what happened?"

"I got arrested, went away willingly. Spat on him before I did though"

"Did ye tell the police who he was?"

"Oh yeah. He got life" Ray nodded.

Brendan thought about this for a moment. "Is he in here?"

Ray looked at him. "No. Not any more. They had to move him to another prison; too many fights…Got me an extra year in here making it three in total. I was lucky my sentence was short, I guess they felt sorry for me" Ray smiled a little at that.

"And this time?"

Ray smirked a little. "Only got a year, six months if I can get out on good behaviour, which I will. Learnt my lesson there"

"When did ye meet Donny then?"

Ray looked thoughtful for a moment. "When I was about twenty-six. I didn't tell him the story about Johnny for a long time. He was appalled when I got sent down, but he stuck by me… waited for me. Not this time though"

"So ye have been together how long now?"

"Eight years"

"Jeez" Brendan breathed out.

Ray looked at him and smiled. "That surprise you?"

"Well, ye…"

"You were married though right? But I guess that didn't really count"

"No…"

"So you and Stephen, how long?"

"Almost a year"

"That all?" Ray laughed. "It gets easier in time, trust me"

"Hm" Brendan's lips quirked. "So what happened? Why did Donny end it?"

Ray breathed out deeply. "He just, didn't approve of my lifestyle"

"Why did ye steal a hundred grand?" Brendan asked curiously.

Ray chuckled lightly. "That's another story" he stood up, holding out a hand to Brendan to help him up. "Come on, post should be arriving soon, let's go back in"

XXX

Brendan was surprised to see that he had received a letter. He tore it open eagerly when he noticed the familiar handwriting. Ray lay on his bed, reading his own letter. Brendan sat at the desk, poring over the short words.

Bren,

Thanks again for letting me come see you. It helped, it really did. I'm not sure why I decided to write you really except to say that I took your advice. I'm taking the kids away from the village for a while; I need some time away to think about things.

I'll still come see you, if you want me to. You only have to ask. I know that sounds pretty pathetic but I can't help it. Listen though; I get what you were saying before, about us not being able to be together right now. I'm not even worried really that you got with Ray because I know we'll find each other again, somehow.

Just…take care of yourself. When you're ready, I'll be here. I never could walk away, could I?

Ste x

Brendan didn't have time to ponder over this letter because he immediately heard something crashing against the wall.

"What the fuck?" He said in alarm, jumping up.

"Shit"Ray breathed, nursing his hand. He was bleeding.

"What did ye do?" Brendan asked in panic, rushing towards him.

"I punched the wall" Ray said, wincing.

"Why did ye do that ye idiot?"

Ray shook his head, climbing off of the bed. He went to the door and started banging on it.

"I need a guard!" He turned back to Brendan. "Sorry I scared you, I had reasons"

Brendan looked at him incredulously. "Ye don't just punch the wall! What were ye thinking?"

"I was thinking that I've wasted eight years of my life" Ray said angrily, his teeth bared.

"What are ye on about?" Brendan asked in annoyance.

"He's fucking someone else!" Ray roared, not really directing his rage at Brendan. The door of the prison cell burst open suddenly. "Lovely, nice of you to join us. I need a doctor, thanks"

"Ray-" Brendan began.

"I'll see you later" Ray nodded at him before being swept out by the guard.

Brendan could only stand motionless, glancing at the wall which was dented slightly.

"That guy has a mean punch" Brendan muttered to himself, strangely impressed.