Falling
Doug took a deep, hard breath. "He did something to you, Tom; something you don't remember…"
"What are you talking about?"
"He raped you…"
Tom blinked his eyes in confusion, as he heard the words his friend was saying. "I… I'm sorry… I didn't understand," he muttered. Did he friend was just telling him that Rafferty raped him? This didn't make any sense. He would know if something like that had happened to him. He would certainly remember.
Penhall clenched his fists and lowered his head. He knew how hard this conversation would be. "He raped you while you were sedated. That's why you don't remember… I'm really sorry. I didn't know how to tell you this, but you deserve to know what happened to you in that clinic…"
Tom felt his legs weak. They sedated him, more than once. He remembered when Rafferty himself did it. But how could his friend know what happened behind that closed doors? "Doug… How… how do you know what happened to me?" He asked in a shaky voice.
"He confessed it to me before he killed himself," Doug quietly explained, without face his friend in the eyes.
Tom closed his eyes and took a step back.
"Let me go…"
"No… You still need my help, but don't worry," Rafferty said, caressing his face. "I will take care of you…"
"Tom?"
Tom shuddered at the memory. "Oh God!" Feeling really nauseous, he rushed for the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Doug's face contorted in concern, as he heard his friend retching.
"Are you alright?" Doug asked, after gently knocked the door. He sighed as he heard the tap running. "I'm really sorry, man… I… I couldn't keep the secret anymore… I had to tell you what happened…"
Every word Doug spoke was like a knife twisting in Tom's brain, and he shut his eyes tight to block his friend out.
Don't touch me.
The bile rose in his throat again and Tom splashed cold water in his face before stare at the mirror.
He raped you.
He raped you while you were sedated.
"Tom… Do you need help?" Doug asked in concern.
"Go! Please go!" Tom shouted.
"Tom," Doug whispered, the hurt obvious in his voice. He opened the door a fraction. "I'm really sorry…"
Tom turned his head and looked up at him in anger. "You… How could keep it from me?"
"I… I didn't know what to do and I didn't want to hurt you," Doug confessed. "But the secret…It was eating me alive!"
"I need to be alone…" Tom said, embracing himself.
"Tom…"
"Please…" the young police officer pinched his eyes closed.
"You're my best friend, Tom… I was trying to protect you, but… I… I'm sorry, please, forgive me," Doug said in a shake voice.
Tom shook his head. "Please, go…"
Doug nodded resignedly. His friend certainly needed some space to think about what happened. "I'll go, but if you need something…"
"I won't," Tom said coldly.
Doug sighed heavily and left the apartment.
A/N: Thank you for the followers and favorites :)