Author's Note: Yeah, I know, it's been forever and a day, but recently I've been getting pressured to finish this story, so here it is, I'm going to try and get to the end of this!
Tom gripped the steering wheel of his car as he drove towards the bridge. He anxiously looked over at the duffle bag next to him that housed the money, and he took a deep breath, trying to stay as calm as possible. He had no idea what to expect from the men who had taken Dougie and he didn't know if he would be able to handle the sight of his broken friend. He checked his watch as he pulled onto the cement blacktop near the base of the bridge. It was 1:59. He theoretically had one minute before he would be able to get Dougie back, before the men who had taken him would be there, and all that he could do as he sat there, waiting, was hope that everything would go smoothly.
He was pulled from his thoughts a few seconds later as another car pulled into the lot. He got out immediately, gym back in hand, standing outside of his car while the sleek black compact pulled up in front of his, only a foot between the fronts of the two cars. He clutched the bag handles tightly, praying that Dougie was going to be alright.
"Don't move." A man got out of the compact and walked around to the trunk. The man was masked and Tom knew from his voice that it was not the same man who had abducted Dougie. Tom did as he was told, heart pounding as he remained standing, the weight of his body leaning on the core of his car for support. He watched in apprehensive silence as the man opened up the trunk and pulled Dougie out almost effortlessly. Tom's breath hitched as he saw his friend. The boy was wearing the same thing that he had been in the videos and the night was cold, so Tom knew that he must be freezing. His wrists were tied behind his back, there was a knotted rag through his mouth and the same, dark blindfold over his eyes.
Dougie let out a whimper as the man jerked him roughly, holding Dougie close to his chest as he pressed a gun to the bassist's temple and Tom could hear him coughing through the gag. He could tell just by looking at Dougie that the boy was weak.
"I have the money," Tom offered, his voice quiet as he held up the bag. "It's all here, you can check just – just don't hurt him anymore than you already have." Dougie's head turned as Tom spoke as though he was trying to look up at the young man.
"Kick the bag over to me."
"And you'll give me Dougie?" He asked, tentatively setting the bag down on the ground.
"And I'll give you Dougie." The man nodded, jerking the boy again.
"Fine." Tom bit his lip as he kicked the bag a few feet towards the man. The man dragged Dougie forwards and stopped at the bag. He kept the gun on Dougie as he opened the bag, nodded as he eyed the cash. Suddenly, without warning, he picked the bag up with one hand and tossed Dougie forcefully into Tom, almost knocking the boy over.
"Now get out of here before I change my mined and shoot you both," the man hissed.
Tom didn't waste any time rushing Dougie into the car. He put the boy in the passenger's seat and got in himself, starting the car and driving two blocks away as fast as he could. He stopped and leaned over towards Dougie. He yanked the gag from the boy's mouth and tore off the blindfold.
"Dougie," he whispered, putting on hand on the boy's chin. "Dougie, it's me – you're safe now. Can you look at me?" Dougie let out a soft whimper, but didn't say anything. Tom took a deep breath before reaching into the glove box of the car, pulling out a pocket knife. He used the knife to slice the ropes binding Dougie and pulled his arms around to the boy's side gently. "You're going to be ok," he whispered as he took off his own jacket, throwing it over Dougie's bare chest.
Dougie didn't say anything as he curled up on the seat, pulling the jacket around him tightly. Tom pulled out his cell phone dialed Harry's number with shaking hands.
"Tom?" he asked. "Tom, what's happened? Is everything ok? Is Dougie ok?"
"I don't know," Tom responded. "I have him, he's alive, but Harry…he's fucked up. I'm taking him to the hospital, meet me there." With that, Tom hung up the phone and started the car again, looking fleetingly at Dougie as he did so. They were closer to the hospital than Danny and Harry were, so they got there in minutes flat, Dougie coughing harshly the whole way. Tom parked as close as he could to the Emergency Room and went around to the passenger's seat.
"Dougie?" Tom whispered. "Dougie, you're at the hospital, I'm going to carry you inside, alright?" He felt the need to talk the boy through things, as his friend seemed to be destroyed both inside and out. "I don't want to hurt you," he whispered. "So tell me if I am, ok?"
"T-tom?" Dougie asked, the words leaving his voice in a small, quiet whisper.
"Yeah, Dougie." Tom nodded, picking the boy up gently. "You're safe now, you really are, I promise." He held the boy close as he walked towards the doors, glad that Dougie was alive, but heartbroken at the state that his friend was in. He carried the boy up to the desk and looked pleadingly at the woman. "My name is Tom Fletcher, this is Dougie Poynter and he is very, very sick, you have to help him RIGHT now."
"Calm down and tell me what's wrong?" The nurse said.
"He's freezing, he has a horrible cough, he's been beat up and someone's…someone's raped him. Please…he needs care NOW," Tom practically shouted.
"My goodness!" The woman's eyes widened and she stood up. "I'll get you a doctor immediately."
"Thank you," Tom nodded as the nurse ran off. "Did you hear that?" he looked down at Dougie. "You're going to be fine, just like I promised; they're going to take care of you – I'm going to take care of you."