Chapter nine:

No one's P.O.V.

Geoff sits down on his bed as he is now back in the hotel room. He pulls out his phone and finds texts from the other three achievement hunters. He reads them.

Let us know how it goes. Our other children know what you told me. - Jack.

How hard did you punch that piece of shit? Did you break anything? - Ryan.

Keep us updated. We want to make sure he's ok. Good job in helping him. - Ray.

Geoff smiles and begins his replies.

First to Jack.

I will keep you updated. And thanks for letting the rest of our kids know.

Then the next to Ryan.

I punched him as hard as I could at the time. I think I only broke his pride perhaps. If I could right now I would break something on him though.

Then the final one to Ray.

I will. And so do me and Gavin. Gavin gets a good amount of the credit. He was the one that carried Michael out of there and got him to a place where an ambulance could be called. I just took out the son of a bitch.

He puts his phone on the nightstand when done and lays back on his bed. "That reminds me... I should bring Gavin some clean clothes tomorrow." He closes his eyes. "I'll worry about that tomorrow."

The next day...

Gavin blinks as he awakens. He looks to Michael who is still unconscious. He can't help but give a gentle kiss to Michaels forehead. He stays there not wanting to move and he watches Michael, smiling at his peaceful face.

A little later a nurse pokes her head inside in which Gavin turns to her.

"You are awake." The nurse moves into the room. "Did you sleep well?" She asks stopping beside the bed.

Gavin nods sitting up a little. "Yeah. How's Micool doing?" He asks.

The nurse takes a look at the equipment that is hooked up to the red head. "He's doing very well." She smiles and turns back to Gavin. "You're helping him a lot."

Gavin beams. "That's good." He turns back to the other. "You're doing so good my boi. You're so strong."

The nurse smiles a little more at this. "I'll bring some food in."

Gavin nods turning back to her. "Thanks."

The nurse leaves with that and Gavin turns back to Michael laying back down.

Gavin is content in just being there with Michael and the nurse returns with food letting him use the tray that can swing over the bed for the patient to eat on. He makes sure he eats a good amount then not long later Geoff comes in holding a plastic bag. "Hey Geoff." He greets.

"Hey Gavin. I brought some clean clothes." Geoff holds up the bag.

"Thanks." Gavin carefully gets up and takes the bag. "I'll change in the bathroom. Just stay with Micool." He slips away into the bathroom to change.

Geoff turns back to Michael. "Hey." He greets the other. "Well I guess I'll talk to you so you know I'm here." He rubs the back of his head slightly. "I'm glad that we got you out of there… Even though I do wish that it wasn't like this…. The only thing I wouldn't change would be that I got to punch the man that was hurting you."

Michael's P.O.V.

Geoff is here. He's just standing there in front of me and I can't move any closer like there is one of the invisible barriers as seen in video games. His dim light isn't as bright as Gavin and I can sense the presence of my father behind me watching me with menacing eyes.

It may not be the amount of security I feel with Gavin but it's something so I'll take it.

I kind of wish I could have a conversation with either Gavin or Geoff but when I talk to them it's as if they don't actually hear me at all thus not responding in any way.

Perhaps Gavin knew I needed him and came back to me that one time in the time that I have been in here.

No one's P.O.V.

Gavin comes out of the bathroom in clean clothes and his dirty clothes being in the bag now. "Thanks."

"No problem." Geoff nods as Gavin sets the bag on the nightstand.

There is a knock and the two turn finding a female police officer.

"Greetings." The officer walks in.

"Hello. What can we do for you officer?" Gavin asks.

"You Gavin Free?" The officer asks Gavin in which Gavin nods. "Ok. I need to talk to you. Just some questions about everything."

"Sure." Gavin agrees. "Maybe we could do it here? I'm worried Micool will panic." He glances back to the other. "I'm still here my boi." He says to the unconscious other in assurance. "Geoff is here too. And a police officer." He places a gentle hand on Michael's. "The officer wants to talk to me and I promise you that I will tell everything I know. So you can't be hurt by that man ever again."

"It would be better in a private room." The officer responds.

"It is private." Gavin turns to them.

"In a hospital this might be best if you don't mind." Geoff adds. "I can leave if you want."

"Geoff can go buy some more food since we don't know how long we will be here for." Gavin adds.

"Alright. Close the door on the way out." The officer gives in seeing their point.

Geoff nods and leaves with Gavin giving him the bag of dirty clothes. He shuts the door on the way out and heads off to do a little shopping.

The officer pulls a spare chair over and settles to sit in it as Gavin brings his own over. "Alright. What do you know?"

"Well he came into work one day like he was just a shell of his old self. He wouldn't tell us what was wrong then I went to his place to hang and hope that he would open up to me if we were alone. After Micool had a panic attack thinking I was his father for a moment while we were at his place then he talked to me about what was going on. Micool told me that his father was violent." Gavin begins. "He told me that his father doesn't really care for him or mother. That really his mother only stays with him and let's him be around because she's scared that he will kill them if they don't. He explained that his father would attack him and his mother. Even making excuses to do so if he has to at times."

The officer nods taking notes as Gavin talks.

Suddenly Michael's heart rate goes up just a little though not by too much as if he is scared by or of something but knows that Gavin is still somewhere close by.

Gavin gets up racing over to him and holds his hand. "I'm still here." He assures him and as the officer watches in amazement Michael calms back down in a matter of seconds.

"We will move this closer to him." The officer says and moves the chair closer as Gavin sits beside Michael only to turn to her. "Please continue."

"I was told that his father does leave for a little bit then comes back. Micool took his leave with one reason being that his father was gone longer than usual and the other being that he didn't know how much more he could take. His mom didn't want to lose him. So she encouraged him to go. He then told me that he was back and that he had return to the house because he can't leave his mother alone with that man." Gavin explains. "I got him settled into sleep then called Geoff for advice and help. Micool was having nightmares so I settled him down. He freaked out whenever he thought he was back in that hell hole. Especially when he thought that I was also in the hell hole with him. Then at work we got him to wear the new shirt. He changed his shirt in the room and me along with Geoff saw his scars in which we knew that he was in a lot of danger if that was the damage we could expect. So Geoff decided that we were going with Micool to support him and to be there if he ever needs us instead of being so far away that we would never make it in time to save him if he needed help. I talked to him as much as he wanted to and as much as I could wanting to distract him and try to make him smile or at least happier. I didn't contact the police because I feared that someone showing up at the door be it police or someone representing some stop abuse place then his father would get mad and kill my little Micool. I didn't want to lose him or cause him more than that of what he is already enduring. I was scared of that happening so I did what I could by being there for him. I would do what I could no matter when or what I was doing to talk or listen to him. Whatever he needed me to do to make him feel better. Then he texted me the two simple words of help me. Me and Geoff rushed to the home and raced inside. We found his mothers body and continued to look for Micool. We found him on the ground in the living room. His father was also there with a knife and stalking closer to Micool. We sprang into action and while I went to check on Micool Geoff went to hold his father off. I was glad that Micool was alive though I knew that he needed help right away. As Geoff told me I grabbed him onto my back and hurried Micool out of there. I got to where I could get him help which happened to be that store… I didn't really check what it was or anything because I was too worried about getting Micool help. The ambulance was called and he was rushed to the hospital." He finishes.

"Alright. I should have everything that I need." The officer nods seeming to be satisfied.

"Thank you for helping him no longer have to be in that hell hole." Gavin says grateful.

The officer nods. "It is no problem." She assures him. "I will contact you or Geoff if needed."

"Alright." Gavin nods then the officer turns to leave.

"Good day." The officer says.

"Good day." Gavin responds and the officer leaves. He turns back to Michael. "Micool. It's just the two of us." He says. "You are staying strong and it makes me so happy to see. Oh and don't worry if you feel like you're being too clingy because you are not being too clingy." He continues to talk to the other. "You are perfectly fine. You knew that I was close by so you didn't panic until something happened wherever you are right now. I just hope it's not…. Back there….. Anyways." He waves it off with his free hand then lowers it as he watches Michael all while still talking to him. "Micool. Didn't you want to see the I am bread real life video?" He asks. "Do you think they did it yet? I can only imagine Joel and Adam walking around as a slice of bread as people watch them."

Suddenly there is the smallest twitch of Michael's lips almost as if he is trying to smile.

Gavin swears that his heart did flips when this happened and he grins. "Oh Micool. You smiled." He can't help but giggle happily like some girl would to her big time crush or a like a fangirl would. "That's so great!"

Over the next four days nothing exciting happened.

Geoff had to call in work saying that Michael was injured from a fight and they were allowed some more time off as long as they were kept updated.

Gavin spent his time in the hospital being with Michael and of course Geoff would visit every day though always had to leave when visiting hours were over.

The doctors are rather with Michael's progress that he is making and are extremely grateful that he has friends like Geoff and Gavin looking out for him even now.

Gavin and Geoff weren't sure when Michael was going to wake up though well then again no one really did.

Then on the fifth night something happened.