A/N: Whoa, long time no see... Sorry about that. I was struggling with how to resolve all of that. But I guess my concept works out now. Anyway, thanks a thousand times for the nice reviews and the attention this story actually gets. I am flattered really. I just planned to write a story about the Stonewall riots for I found the topic amazingly fascinating and it makes me happy so many read it. And at least I got the impression I didn't screw up that badly. Thank you all. You rock.
Anyway, next chapter. Enjoy :)
Carmen went through all kinds of books and paper he could find. From time to time he shook his head. It was unbelievable how much stuff Max had piled on the desk. Mostly papers, but he told him he had been trying to find out about Pembroke so it was clear now where he knew most of it from. And the more he scrolled through it, the harder it got to find that one name Max had told him. Some backer he knew from a long time ago; an old Lady from what Carmen suggested. Max only mentioned she'd been married to a lawyer some decades ago and certainly knew what to do. But they had to find her real name. Max had told him he had written it down somewhere, along with the numbers. But right now it seemed impossible to find anything, let alone said little book. And although Carmen had been here quite a few times before, he'd never experienced the office to look like it did right now. What worried him though was the fact that most of it looked like Max hadn't moved much since the day Carmen had been here to thank him. Everything apart from the desk and couch. In fact, he had every reason to believe Max had lived on that couch until now.
He turned his head as he heard Max approaching from one of the rooms in the back again.
"She's gone," he said. "She must have gotten out. Of course. Stubborn girl."
"Well, locking Diane inside that room wasn't the best idea anyway," Carmen replied and smiled slightly, turning yet another page of a book in front of him. "And she's not stupid. It was predictable she's find a way out."
"I know," Max answered. "But I couldn't let her go there."
Carmen nodded shortly, fixating him again. "You thought something could happen to her. It's nothing reprehensible really."
"Yeah," he simply answered and stared straight ahead.
"You did worry about her, didn't you?" Carmen asked again.
"Of course," Max lifted his head again and looked at him sincerely. "If anything happened to her..."
He stopped there. Talking about it led to a lot more questions and that inevitably meant facing the loss of Leo again. He just couldn't do it.
"I see," he heard Carmen speak again. Their eyes met once more.
"You thought something might happen to you," the younger man continued. "So, keeping her safe was necessary for her to replace you, am I right?"
Max didn't answer, but walked past him and sat down on the couch, grabbing one of the books as well. But he turned just to the front page and almost froze, staring at it.
Leo's handwriting immediately caught his eye and made his heart sink once more. He wanted to turn away, but just couldn't. It was as though it was forcing him to keep staring. And all of a sudden all the images came back to him. Max quickly closed his eyes. He closed the book as quick as possible, throwing it on the couch and got up again, moving over to the huge windows and crossing his arms. He felt like breaking down again and knew it was the worst thing that could happen right now.
"Max?"
He heard Carmen's voice next to him. He didn't react though. He just couldn't. So, he just waited but nothing followed.
Carmen bit his lips. He could hardly imagine what was going on inside of the man in front of him, yet he knew too well. He looked at the book Max had thrown away. It had fallen down from the bounce of the couch and had sprung open. He couldn't make out what was written in there, but he noticed Leo's handwriting immediately.
He turned to look at Max again. The older man wasn't moving a bit but staring into space with his back turned on him. And suddenly it made sense to Carmen. All of it.
"You can't stand to be here, can you?" he asked calmly.
Max didn't answer. Of course.
"No, you definitely can't," Carmen answered himself silently, looking around sadly. "Everything here screams Leo's name. Too many memories."
Max sighed.
"It's my fault. All of it," he whispered after a while. "But it doesn't matter now. Not anymore."
Carmen thought about it for a second. Then he slowly lifted his head again.
"Well, what does then?" he asked silently, not leaving Max out of sight.
"To get Roger out of there," Max answered and finally turned to look at him again. "To get that small family back together."
….
Diane sat on the edge of her bed and watched Leo's chest rise and fall. She forgot how long she'd been doing that now, but somehow it made her feel a little better about everything. The simply fact he was still breathing made it better. But then, looking at his face changed all of that again. If only they were able to tell if that punch had caused any serious damage to him. He looked pale; with dark shadows around his eyes, giving the impression he wasn't even alive anymore. And both of them, Clara as well as Diane, hadn't really been able to stop his wound from bleeding. So all she could do was changing that bandage from time to time and spending he rest of the day silently sitting beside him. Sometimes she would hold his hand, just to make him feel he was not alone. Or maybe it made herself feel less helpless. She couldn't say for sure.
All this waiting killed her internally though. Waiting for so many things. Waiting for Clara to return was the most important. He was gone to ask a friend of him for help; some guy who'd been working as a doctor before he got fired when people got wind of his homosexuality. Then, waiting for the moment Leo finally opened his eyes again. Firstly, it would be the evidence she needed to make herself believe he was still alive and would soon be his old self again. And secondly she was waiting for that moment when she could finally apologize for everything. Simply to get it off her chest. But it just didn't happen.
Again, she noticed herself watching over to him. If only that image changed a bit.
She felt tired. She hadn't been able to sleep ever since they'd arrived here, even though Clara had suggested it again and again. But every time she closed her eyes just a bit, the pictures of that night flashed before her eyes again. She'd arrived on Christopher Street too late and found the screaming crowd already attacking the Stonewall with everything they had been able to grab. She'd been fighting her way through them for a while, but then had gotten carried away more or less by the thousands of people. And then, there had been that moment.
She'd heard someone who had been calling Leo's name. She had turned in despair; had tried to find him in that crowd, scanning every face she had been able to make out. Until she'd seen him standing there petrified. He'd stared somewhere. Until that unknown guy had been approaching him from behind. And before she could even move, he'd been striking out. Instinctively she'd closed her eyes. She'd heard that dull impact and had known that instance that bat hadn't missed its target. When she'd teared her eyes open again she hadn't known whether to scream or breath or run. Too horrible had the image of Leo been, lying there on the street; motionless in that lake-like puddle of blood surrounding him. And it hadn't stopped to spread. She'd wanted to run there; to help if possible. But in the wink of a moment hundreds of policemen had been there, marching along the streets and ignoring the bleeding person on the ground completely. She had been running though. Straight to the closest side-street. She remembered it clearly. That hiding behind a wall had been the worst part. But there had been nothing she could have done while the police had still tried to stop the riot.
It had been there she met Clara for the first time. He had been hiding there as well, along with a couple of other people. He'd asked her if anyone had been following her of course, but she'd answered she was only waiting for the police to go away, so she could try and help her friend. She'd never forget the look on Clara's face though.
"You know him?" he'd asked.
She'd nodded. "His name is Leo. And I think," she had sobbed without noticing it. "I think they've killed him."
Clara hadn't been thinking long and had rushed by her side to calm her. He'd flung his arms around her, explaining he was only waiting for them to end all this too. How surprised she had been to learn he knew Leo as well. And when they finally had been able to get closer, they hardly could believe their eyes. Both of them had been in shock. Diane had been starting to cry immediately. She simply hadn't been able to fight it. But seeing Leo like that had been something she'd never forget, for as long as she lived.
"He's still alive," she'd heard Clara's voice. "He is still breathing!"
He had knelt down and had his hand put on his arm to check it. Then he'd lifted his head in her direction. His face had been a mixture of shock and despair and Diane couldn't recall she'd ever seen anyone looking paler.
"We must bring him away from here," she'd said through her tears streaming down her face. "We need a doctor."
"We can't move him," Clara had answered. "What if he is hurt more than we can see? We could cause more harm than anything good!"
"And leave him here? He is as good as dead if we don't do anything," she'd almost screamed? Clara hadn't dared to reply anything, but still had looked as though he didn't believe they were in this together.
"Please," Diane had cried. "We have to try. There must be a little chance he survives this."
Clara had turned away for a moment. It'd been almost as thought he was evaluating everything she'd said. But then he'd nodded.
It had been only an hours later when both of them had arrived in Diane's apartment, carrying Leo with them. They'd been so careful; always trying to keep him steady. But none of them could tell whether it was for the best or not. Leo hadn't shown one sign of being okay ever since.
"I hope he'll hurry," she thought, getting up.
Slowly she moved over to her window and again just stared at the street. She wondered whether anyone noticed what nightmare they all had been through. And suddenly, she thought about Carmen. And Max. Chances were given they'd know what to do. But then, she didn't know whether she should tell them. She didn't even know if Max was fine or not. She hadn't seen him anywhere.
Slowly she put her hand into the pockets of her jacket and pulled out the tiny piece of paper she'd gotten some weeks ago from Max.
"Carmen Ghia," she read the name again and again. She could go there. Tell him what had happened. But then again, what if he already was searching for Leo? As far as she knew he'd been living with them anyway. And Max? She could easily check if he was alright though.
She turned the paper and stared at the phone number of the older man. It was the right thing to do. He had the right to know Leo was still alive. But somehow she just couldn't do it. Max had closed that chapter of his life, hadn't he? Of course. He had been telling her.
She sighed. No. The truth was, she was afraid. He'd surely take him away again. It was the only possible reaction, if everything he told her had been right. So, was it jealousy up to a certain point? No. She shook her head again. She simply had to wait until Leo was over the worst. She had to tell him first. Max had made his decision. He surely wouldn't find him here and most likely he wasn't gonna search for him anyway. There was no way he could know something happened to him.
Quickly she crumpled the piece of paper and opened the window a little. She watched it fly away as she threw it out. For a while she looked after it without moving. Until she noticed the sound of a weak voice behind her.
"Diane?"
She whirled around, her eyes wide in shock. For a moment she wasn't sure if she'd imagined it. But then there was Leo, who lay the way she'd left him. And he was looking back at her although he was hardly able to open his eyes. Diane couldn't believe it. She was petrified and didn't dare to move. Had she fallen asleep? No, this must be real. He was awake.
So, carefully, she walked over to him, sitting down at the edge of the bed. Her eyes were filling with tears again, yet she smiled.
"Hey," she greeted him softly. "How are you?"
Leo blinked once or twice and tried to turn his head slightly. Unfortunately, his face immediately got distorted with pain and he closed his eyes again.
"Why does my head hurt that much?" he weakly moaned and carefully touched it with his hands.
"Don't!" she replied and bend forwards to held him back. She still didn't know whether everything was alright and touching it surely wouldn't help much.
Leo opened his eyes slightly again and finally their eyes met. Diane felt lost somehow, although the relief of Leo being awake and at least able to talk a little made her feel almost drunk with joy.
"You...you got injured," she slowly explained. "That's why. Please, try not to move too much."
"Injured?" Leo didn't seem to follow her that easily. "Where am I?"
"You're in my apartment," she answered. "Clara will return soon and bring a doctor. Don't you worry so much. Everything will be alright."
"Clara...," Leo sunk back into the pillow again, sighing. "How do you know him? I don't understand..."
"It's a long story," she said. "You should rest and recover."
But Leo looked more confused than before. He sunk back into the pillow and continued to stare at the ceiling, opening and closing his eyes over and over again; just as though it would make his blurry sight and the pain go away. Diane watched him and didn't know what to do. She was certain she needed to say something, but upsetting him too much surely wasn't good at all.
"There was that Inn...," Leo said silently. It sounded as though he was strolling through his own memory to restore everything again. "And Clara was there... and Carmen."
Diane didn't move. She hoped instantly Clara would just rush through that door right now, but unfortunately nothing happened. She held her breath for a second and closed her eyes. Biting her lips, she noticed how helpless she still felt even though Leo was awake again. If only there was something she could do.
"I will tell you," she finally said, turning to him again. "Once you're feeling a bit better."
Softly she stroked his strands out of his face. Leo didn't bother to look up at her anymore. He stared into space and looked incredibly tired again.
She sighed. It was best this way. He wouldn't be able to grasp everything anyway. And maybe there was a slight chance of him taking it better once he'd recovered from that first confusion.
So, she remained where she was, staring out of the window too. The silence between them was frightful somehow, yet it felt good to know she wasn't 'alone' in here anymore. She listened to his breaths and the sound of the pillow whenever he moved a bit.
This was funny. A moment ago she would have done anything for him to open his eyes. There had been so much she wanted to say and now that it really had happened, she couldn't remember a word of what she wanted to say.
"There was Max," she heard Leo's voice again and turned to him. She looked puzzled though.
"I'm remembering," Leo said, not looking at her. "He called me and I was initially shocked to see him of all people. But I don't know what happened then."
Diane sighed and looked down to the ground. So it had been Max she'd heard back on that street.
"There was a guy with a baseball bat... And you were in his way."
She heard Leo turn his head and immediately felt him staring at her again.
"You were there?" he asked silently.
She nodded.
"I-I knew something was gonna happen," she started slowly, looking at him again with guilty eyes. "I thought I'd die, finding you were there too. And...and I was too late to do anything. That thing hit you with me standing only a few feet away."
Leo didn't say anything at first. He stared at her again and she wasn't able to tell whether he understood or was thinking about it. But then, he took a deep breath.
"I was here," he said quietly. "That day. I wanted to talk to you, but no one opened."
"You wanted to talk to me?" she repeated. "Why?"
"I wanted to apologize," he explained. "For everything I'd said back at Roger and Carmen's place. I had been mean and unfair. Whatever happened isn't your fault."
"You should have told me before," she said, looking at him sincerely.
"I thought you'd be shocked," he answered.
"I was at first," she replied. "But then I figured I built up that image of you by myself. You never confirmed anything. And Carmen had been right. It's still you. So, I think I owe you an apology too. I've overreacted a lot."
"I... There was too much at stake," Leo continued slowly. "I'm sorry about that. Maybe there's a chance it'll change now, that... "
But he wasn't able to finish. Suddenly everything he felt during the past few weeks came back him and mixed with that terrible headache he had to force himself not to start shivering again. He seriously thought he'd been over that. But apparently he had been more than wrong assuming it only for a light second. And for a moment he wasn't even sure if the pain he felt came from his injured body or from deeper within. So, he turned his eyes away from her as quick as possible. She shouldn't see. Even though there was no need in hiding anymore, he couldn't tell her.
Diane watched him with sad eyes. She could sense what was going on inside of him and wondered whether she should mention her connection to Max; tell him she knew. But it would mean to unintentionally bring him back into his mind. No, it was no option at this point.
"Leo...I," she started, but he cut her off quickly.
"Do you know about Carmen?" he asked desperately. "He had been there too. I...I just want to know if he is alright."
"I haven't seen him anywhere," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears again.
Seeing him like that almost broke her heart. Leo sighed and fixated the window again.
It was strange, yet unbelievable somehow. He nearly died and still worried about someone else first. Maybe he only didn't grasp everything yet. Or maybe, only fractals of that night came back to him and he had his problems controlling all the emotions they caused.
Diane shook her head slightly and more to herself. No, this was just him. She didn't know him very long, but she knew it suited him. So, what now?
She put her hands in the pockets of her jacket again. It was then she even noticed she was still wearing it. No surprise really. She shrugged. After all, there had been more important things than worrying about it. But suddenly she felt something and pulled out a piece of folded paper, looking at it doubtfully. Why was she carrying that?
She unfolded it slowly and noticed her eyes growing wide in surprise.
The picture Max had given to her stared back at her. That very old photo of Leo. And once more, she couldn't take her eyes away from it. They had just met. That's what Max had been saying at least. And from what he had told her, the situation Leo was in now wasn't so unlike the one in that picture; many years ago. A shy, caring, friendly guy who was put in a situation he couldn't control. He almost made a vulnerable image back then; the same as he did now. And still, he seemed not to care what would happen. Or maybe if he did, he simply swallowed all the fears inside and daringly went down the path opening before him.
She had to smile slightly. In a way Max had been right. This picture reminded her so much of what he had achieved. She looked over at him again. She had been so scared to talk to him, yet she immediately felt how very soothing his presence was although he didn't say anything anymore. And sure, it hadn't been his decision to be here, but he was alive. Max even had been right about that one. Just looking at him indeed made her forget everything around her.
But all of a sudden, almost smacked herself in the face. With big eyes she got up quickly, staring at the young man disbelievingly.
"Oh my God, he was right," she thought and felt her jaw drop. As hard as she tried she couldn't take her eyes off of him anymore.
"He was right," she whispered shocked.
Leo on the other hand turned to her again. "Right?"
His eyes wandered down to her hands and soon he discovered that picture she was holding. His look changed. His eyes grew wider and slowly he tried to support himself with his arms getting up.
"What's that?" he asked not leaving the picture out of his sight.
"I... I thought he was kidding," she continued, not having noticed his stare yet. "I never thought... But he knew. He was right."
"Where did you get that from?" Leo asked a little louder now, his body shivering. It was exhausting to hold his body up when he was hardly able to feel any muscles in it. "Diane? Where did you get that picture from?"
"I...,"slowly her eyes wandered down her arm too. Only then she noticed she was still holding it. And as soon as that realization entered her head, she tried to hide it behind her back. "I... I didn't..."
"Oh my God, you were there," he continued and if he'd been able to use his proper voice, Diane swore he would sound very angry. "You...you were at the office!"
"Leo, I..."
"You've talked to him," he continued without hesitation.
"Let me explain," she almost cried. "I needed to know. And I figured among all people, he was the one to know."
"You had no right doing that," he screamed, but she noticed how desperate his gaze got every second. "What were you thinking? I told you not to snoop around in this matter deeper. And the first thing you do is grilling Max?"
"I was worried about you," she replied. "And I needed to know whether it was true."
"You didn't believe me then?"
"I was shocked," she screamed back at him. "You would have been too. And I thought, as your best friend, he should stand beside you in this."
"You don't know..."
"Oh yes, I do," she interrupted him, causing him to look at her even more shocked. For a moment it seemed as though all the blood that was still left in him drained from his face. "I know. Everything. It took a while, but then he told me. And I wanted so much to help you, because... because I love you."
He froze in shock and stared at her with his eyes growing even bigger. And the silence following then could tear down walls. She held her breath. Unbelievable she told him. She didn't plan to. And he didn't react at all.
"He... he talks to you?" And suddenly he sounded so much different. Almost sentimental and desperate again. His voice was shaking as though he was about to cry any minute.
She thought about how to react but then just nodded.
Leo immediately swallowed hard and fell back into his pillow, looking away. He was breathing heavily again.
"I'm sorry. I just...," she started, but he just closed his eyes shaking his head slightly.
"Please, don't," he whispered and she was sure she saw some tears glistening in the corner of his eyes.
Diane clutched her hands over her mouth. It was unbearable to see him lying there. Again, she'd managed to upset him in so many ways. And worst of all he didn't even say anything. The pure mention of Max's name made him fall into that deep groundless hole again. She shook her head. She'd closed her eyes before it for so long. And yet it was true. It was there, written in his face for everyone to see.
And suddenly she was more determined than ever not to say anything to Max at all. Hell, he'd find out soon enough. But if he really hurt him that much, what good would it be anyway?
She looked around with tears rolling down her cheeks. There must be something she could do to ease his pain though. She stared at the window and suddenly something crossed her mind.
So, quickly she moved over to the door. She was about to open it, but it sprung open just as her hand touched the door-knob. Diane almost jumped away.
Clara stormed inside with some guy behind him. He almost crashed into her.
"I'm sorry," he said, looking at her flabbergasted. "Diane? Is everything alright?"
She nodded as though out of her mind, but stared through him.
"I've brought my friend," he said. "To look at Leo."
Again, she just nodded. Then she turned around once more. Leo hadn't moved a bit, but she could still see his chest rise and fall uncontrollably, telling her he indeed was crying.
"I am sorry, Leo," she whispered.
Thus, she took a look at Clara again and rushed past him.
"I'll be back soon," she managed to say to him, before the door behind her flung shut.
….
"So you really think this woman can help?" Carmen asked a little unsure.
He sat on the leather couch in Max's office watching Max walking up and down. He was restless somehow. Probably because he didn't really want to be here. Or maybe because he was in doubt this worked at all. Or against all odds he was nervous too. Either way, Carmen couldn't say for sure.
"I guess so," Max answered, eying the little book Carmen had found underneath a pile of other papers on the desk and which stated the names of hundreds of backers; mainly old women. He took it and browsed through the pages in search for one name. "As I said, her husband was a lawyer and believe me, she is pretty good when it comes to this kind of stuff."
Then he moved over sitting down next to Carmen, who looked down at his feet again. The whole situation made him extremely uneasy. What if something went wrong? What if that indeed was the only chance to see Roger again and what if they screwed it?
"She helped Leo and me in jail too, you know?" Max said calmly. As Carmen lifted his head again he found the older man looking at him softly. "Don't you worry that much. Everything will be alright and Roger will be here again in no time."
Carmen couldn't help but smile back at him.
"What will happen to you?" he asked after a while. "When the money for that production is missing, he will get you."
And suddenly Carmen sounded worried again. Max bid his lips. He'd hoped that question wouldn't come up. He looked away rather quickly again and answered quietly.
"Don't waste a thought about that. He won't dare to do anything."
"Max," Carmen had his hands turned to fists and tried hard to keep them steady on his knees. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing," Max answered, turning around and looking concerned.
"You underestimate him," Carmen shook his head slowly, but never lost the older man's eyes. "To believe he won't do anything is madness. Unless you have planned something."
"Believe me. There is nothing I am planning," he replied once more.
"Don't take me for stupid then," Carmen's voice almost somersaulted as he got up and for a split second looked like a wall, blocking the seemingly only way out of this. "Max. Please be honest with me. What will happen to you when he finds out?"
Max stared back at him but didn't dare to say anything for a long time. Carmen's gaze was so desperate and his voice was shaking. And even though Max knew what was probably gonna happen, he couldn't just tell him. Carmen already worried about so much. And once Roger was back, everything that was going to happen afterwards would be much easier to bear. For both of them. And still, Carmen wouldn't let go until he got an answer.
Max took a deep breath. But just as he wanted to reply, there was that long awaited knock on the door.
"Oh, thank God," he thought. Carmen stepped aside. He looked even more nervous now.
"Don't you worry that much," Max repeated and put his hand on Carmen's shoulder as he passed him. He smiled compassionately at him. "Everything will be okay."
It was when he opened the door and the little gray lady entered, Carmen was beginning to feel a little lighter. But basically, because the old woman had her way to sooth him a lot. In fact she even made him smile a lot and after a while Carmen was sure he'd hardly ever met anyone funnier than that lady. She sat beside him all the time while Max explained what they needed her help for. And even though he skipped a lot of things, she seemed to notice the anxiousness inside the younger man and started to pet his hand from time to time. Up to the point when Carmen started to wonder if she saw through all this. Maybe she knew a lot more just reading between the lines. Who knew for sure after all?
"Oh Bialy, it'll be my pleasure to try and help you and your partner," she said after a while.
Both of them, Max as well as Carmen sighed in relief. They'd hoped for that point at least. Convincing her hadn't been that hard though. So, maybe something about Max's 'former' methods of work must have been true.
"I've heard a lot of your Mr. Bloom and was literally dying to meet him one day," the old lady smiled at Carmen's confused face, softly stroking over his head once.
Max on the other hand chuckled.
"I'm afraid that's not my partner, dear," he answered.
"He's not?" For a second she seemed to be disappointed, looking from Carmen to Max and back. But then that smile appeared on her face again. "Well, never mind. You need to introduce him to me one day. If your friends are that handsome already, I seriously can't wait to meet him."
Max's smile fell though and he quickly looked down to his feet, holding his arms crossed.
"You...you haven't met Leo?" Carmen dared to raise his voice now and looked at her puzzled.
"Oh no, dear," she grinned at him cheerfully. "Max just stopped seeing me from one day to another and for a long time I wondered whether I did something wrong. But then I heard of him working with a partner now. And after that horrible story of both of them having been arrested, well...I was able to help them back when but I never met his partner. Max on the other hand called me again some years later and I was more than happy to back up his shows from time to time. But I haven't been here in...oh years and years. And as a matter of fact, I never met that ominous Mr. Bloom everyone is talking about when Max's name is mentioned."
Carmen looked up at Max. So, it must be true. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry that moment. He'd only heard rumors about Max and those little old lady's. And what did she say? He stopped having contact with them?
Carmen sighed slightly. He knew the reason without anyone mentioning it. There was no need to. It had been Leo. Everything had been Leo. And again, Carmen felt incredibly foolish not having seen it before.
Max still had his head turned away from her. He didn't want to talk about it for sure, but before Carmen could even reply anything to her, Max's voice was to be heard again.
"I'm afraid that won't be happening," he hoarsely replied, causing both Carmen and the old woman to look at him. "He...he ain't here anymore."
"Not? Oh, I am sorry," she said. "I didn't want to put my nose into things that don't concern me."
"That's alright," Max answered, smiling at her softly again. "You couldn't know."
"But as I said, I am more than willing to help," she said, getting up. "So, all you want me to do is go there and pay pay the bail for that Mr. DeBris?"
"Yes," Max nodded. "But no one must know you know any of us. That's why I told you all of this. We need to make up a story about why you are there."
"Oh Maxy," she smiled knowingly at him. "How long have we known each other now? Don't take me for stupid. I guessed it already. The way you spoke about it was more than obvious."
"Was it?" For once Max sounded more than uncertain.
She had to laugh watching him. "Yes, but don't worry," she spoke again. "I will appear as his lawyer."
"You can do that?" Carmen asked in surprise.
"Sweetheart, no one will suspect a thing," she grinned at him, stroking over his cheek again. "Believe me. No one ever could compete with me when it came to legal terms. Except for my husband, but well. He was a lawyer."
Carmen smiled back at her and nodded once. He felt enormously grateful towards her suddenly. After all, she didn't have to do this, but never resisted for a moment. Whatever it was that convinced her, he would never forget that.
"Thanks a lot," Max said to her and handed over a little suitcase he'd prepared while waiting for the old lady. "I owe you for that!"
Smilingly, she took it and got up, shaking her head.
"Oh no," she answered softly. "I know what it's like to miss someone."
She turned and winked at Carmen. He looked pretty amazed in that moment and again wondered what else the old woman seemed to guess through that bunch of suggestions. Then without a further word she headed to the door, but stopped on the threshold again.
"I will bring him to the arranged venue as soon as he is out," she added.
"How can I repay you for that?" Max asked humbly. Carmen 's head rose again. Another tone in his voice; another shading of his personality he'd never before witnessed. This was crazy.
But the old woman simply shook her head once more.
"Oh Bialy, you've done enough over the past few years," she said. "Let's say we're even."
Carmen and Max smiled at her. But when she was about to leave, Max stepped closer to her.
"Wait," he gently said. "One more thing."
Carmen saw him bend forward. He whispered something into the ear of the woman and she started to smile again, after listening to it. And although Carmen couldn't make out what he told her, it must have been something nice for her face immediately spread into a wide smile again. She reached out and put her hand on Max's cheek. It looked as though she wanted to reply anything, but then she just nodded. So, whatever it was Max had needed to tell her, it must have been something nice. At least that's what he suggested.
Then, she turned and left the office. Carmen even kept staring at the door when it fell shut again; almost as though he doubted this had been real.
"She will manage it. Believe me," Max said, having watched him for a moment in silence.
"How...?"
"How what? How she's gonna do it?"
But Carmen shook his head.
"How do you know people like that without anyone having noticed? Ever?" Carmen asked in total awe, turning his head slowly towards Max again. He stared at him in disbelief for a moment.
"I told you I knew some people willing to help me still," he chuckled.
Seeing it, Carmen couldn't resist to smile as well. What did it matter whether the rumors were true or not? Max must have changed. She even confirmed it. And he felt bad having doubted it for so long. But this woman had been proof enough. And even though Max hadn't answered his question about what might happened if Pembroke found out– a fact they would still have to face – Max didn't back away from the idea of doing this. And what for? To help Roger. Someone who'd quit on him; who'd attacked him verbally and physically and who'd been completely against him without trying to understand what was so obvious to Carmen now.
He shook his head again, staring to the ground. This was exactly what a family would do. At least he'd always imagined one to act like this. And that realization made him feel curiously sentimental all of a sudden.
"Max?" he whispered.
"Hm?"
"Thank you!"
….
It was hard to move anywhere in that small cell they were in. Roger sat in the back corner on the ground, looking around suspiciously. He'd known participating in that riot had been dangerous. Hell, Carmen even had said so in the beginning, but the way they'd arrested him had been more than strange now that he had some time thinking about it. All those officers coming out of nowhere. It had been almost as though they've been watching him and had just been waiting to strike. But it couldn't be. There were so many others in that cell with him. He'd felt relieved to the core when he found Shirley, Scott, Kevin and Brian here too. But none of them had experienced the same sort of brutal circling by seemingly thousands as he had. Well, no one could mourn the absence of brutality for that matter, but he appeared to be the only one who had to face an act like that. It felt more and more as though someone wanted to make sure he couldn't have been able to escape at all costs.
And worst of all, there was no sign of Carmen anywhere. He'd been looking around the whole night and the following day. He knew every face that passed him, entering the cell or even just walking by. And each time Roger sighed deeply. In a way he was relieved not to find him here. It meant he couldn't have been arrested after all. On the other hand, it could mean a lot more. Even worse things could have happened to him and there was absolutely no sign of Carmen still being alive as well.
"I should never have left him," Roger murmured, putting his head in his hands.
"You got separated," Kevin answered. "In a crowd like that it happens easily."
"Exactly," Brian jumped in. "And Carmen ain't stupid. He will have gotten his ass outta there."
His four roommates stood closely beside him. They've been through every possibility a thousand times over and still Roger worried a lot.
"It was a good thing something like that riot happened though," Shirley said after a moment. "It was about time to do something about the public perception of all of us being just perverts."
"I doubt one riot will change it that easily," Scott answered. "Especially since attempts of changing our situation had been there before."
Roger nodded slightly, looking up at him. "You mean the incident with that devil's son, right?"
"You've heard of it?"
"Of course," he said. "Who hasn't? It surprises me more Pembroke succeeded in burying it in oblivion."
"Well, after so many years without him even our community forgets," Scott replied.
"I doubt that," Roger jeered. "Maybe they just don't speak about him anymore."
"You think?" Brian grinned. Then he turned around to their other cellmates.
"Does anyone here still remember the name 'Scott Pembroke'?" he yelled into the crowd with a tone of pure amusement. He obviously wanted to prove something to Roger.
Almost everyone around them lifted their heads and stared into Brian's direction immediately.
"Of course!"
"Who doesn't remember him?"
"Scott Pembroke was a hero to so many!"
"I wish he was still there."
"Yeah, he's right. With Scott this might have worked out."
Brian turned back to Roger, smiling.
"You see?" he said. "No one forgets!"
Roger had to laugh. Brian always had a way of stating his point quite clearly. But then he shook his head.
"But don't you see?," he asked. "Even with him in our midst we couldn't do anything. They've murdered him. So how are we supposed to stop it when not even he could?"
The four nodded agreeing. No one knew what to do if they were honest with themselves. And in a way Roger had a point there. The story of Pembroke's son getting murdered because he stood up against him was something each of them had heard before. Their situation seemed pretty hopeless really.
"He ain't dead," a voice sounded in between the crowd causing a lot of people to lift there heads again, including Roger.
"What?" he asked, still trying to find the person who said it.
A tall man got up and made his way in the middle of all of them. He looked at Roger and his friends with a determined sparkle in his eyes.
"Scott Pembroke ain't dead," he repeated a little louder.
"What are you talking about?" someone around them asked.
"Did he really say that?" another one asked.
"Have they hit you on the head?"
"I was there all those years ago. There were thousands surrounding him and beating him."
"This can't be!"
"Scott Pembroke is dead!"
But the guy simply stared around, listening to all the questions and accusations around them without reacting at all.
"I'm telling you, he isn't. He is alive," he remained stubborn.
"How do you know?" Roger asked from his spot on the ground.
Once more their eyes met.
"Because I've seen him," he answered. "In that night. In front of the Stonewall. He was there."
"What?" A murmur ran through the crowd. A lot of people turned their heads to one another and started whispering to each other. Some of them even stared at the young man in pure surprise and with wide eyes. Only a few stood up in excitement.
"You've seen him?"
"If he's alive, they lied to us."
"Or made it up!"
"Or maybe you are making it up!"
The young man looked around again, but now he seemed a little more uncertain than he had been just seconds ago. Roger got up and moved over to him. He put his hand on his shoulder and looked at the others. He almost appeared like a wall next to him and everyone immediately shut up. No one dared to come any closer, intimidated by the tall man seemingly taking sides.
"Can it be you just have confused him with someone else?" Roger asked.
But the guy shook his head quickly.
"It was him," he said. "I am a-hundred percent positive about that! He looks a little different now, but I would recognize that face anytime again."
"You mean, you've seen him before?" someone asked.
"Is that such a strange thing?" Roger stated. "Scott Pembroke wasn't a ghost or something. He wasn't the God everyone takes him for. He was a human being just like you and me and surely knew people as well."
"Yes, but so many have heard of him," another man said. "But only a few really know what he looks like."
"I met him once," the young man stated. "In an apartment on Christopher Street. We used to sleep wherever it was possible then. Nothing different from what many of us face now. He was there too along with a couple of others. I was fascinated by him. I had heard rumors about someone trying to convince people back then that we had just the same rights as everybody else. And when I found out it had been him I was eager to learn more about his ideas. But we sat there the whole night just talking normally about everything that was going on. In the streets and in each others lives. And it made me realize no one in there was different from the 'normal' population. Scott was a normal young man, who had enormous problems at home. Nothing none of us can recall as well. I remember saying 'Sounds like we all share exactly the same experiences'. And Scott just patted me on the shoulder replying 'See? Now you got it!'. So, believe me... It was him!"
No one dared to say anything for a long time. Most of the people stared to the ground thinking about it. Some others didn't take their eyes away from him though.
"So, if that's really true," one man started. "It was a lie. All of it."
"Yes! Like a conspiracy!"
"But if Scott really is still alive," a third man spoke. "Why didn't he return to Christopher Street that very night?"
"I don't know," the young man answered honestly. "But I'm sure he must have had a good reason not to."
"It doesn't matter," Kevin jumped into the conversation. "If it's true, he's returned now!"
"Yes, he's right."
"With Scott we can actually achieve something."
"So, where is he now?" Roger asked. "If you saw him that's fine. But where is he?"
The young man shook his head though. "I have no idea what happened. But it seems each time a huge raid like that happens he is there somehow."
"Means HE is the cause of it?" Roger asked.
"Well, it is possible," another man stated next to Roger. "It ain't a secret Pembroke Senior pretty much disapproved of his son's choice of living."
"I really doubt that," Roger turned his back on him. "What's the point of hiding all those years and only turn up there whenever another raid happens? It makes no sense to me!"
"Funny, I thought you of all knew why he was there," the young man said, looking at Roger sincerely.
"Me? Why me?"
Roger turned again, finding the eyes of that guy almost piercing him. It was then he realized he'd seen him before. His own eyes grew bigger in amazement.
"You...you were the one talking to my partner when we arrived there," he whispered.
"Your partner?" The younger man couldn't believe it.
But before anyone could say another word, someone opened the huge steel-door at the end of the corridor that parted two of their cells and a small group of people entered the room. The first two police-officers knew how to shut them up immediately. They took out their billies and let them slide over the bars in front of them, making them sound like a rhythmic thunder.
"Shut up! All of you!"
They made their way through the aisles and looked like they were escorting someone.
Roger, as well as the others pressed their heads to the bars to make out whether they brought in someone new or not. But actually, their way of behavior was way to 'gentle' to escort just another fag. They were heading directly towards them. Roger and the others quickly stepped away from the bars a few inches, knowing perfectly well they would hit them with pleasure if they stood too close.
But no one lifted a billy. On the contrary they simply stopped in front of them and looked directly into Roger's face.
"Debris?"
One of them stepped forwards. A grumpy looking graying fat guy, reading out the name from a clipboard he was carrying around.
"Yes?" Roger asked and stepped back a little more, instinctively holding his hands up in front of Kevin, Brian and the other two.
The fat walrus stared at him in amusement. He seemed to enjoy the fear they cast among the fairies a great deal.
"Your lawyer is here," he said and stepped aside to reveal an old little lady who grinned at him cheerfully.
"My lawyer?" he looked at Shirley who stood next to him. She simply shrugged though.
"Isn't that one of Max's old backers?" Brian whispered into his ear.
Taking a second look Roger must admit he was right. He was sure he'd seen her before even though that was a long time ago. This was strange. What in heaven's name would a backer of that traitor do here?
"Mr. DeBris?" she spoke very distinctively. "I've brought the money to bail you out, just like we've talked about."
Roger wasn't able to hide the surprise in his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but wasn't able to, for the old woman spoke again quickly. It was almost as though she wanted to prevent him from saying anything at all.
"I figured you mentioned that amount because you wanted your friends to accompany you outside?!" She made it sound like a statement, although Roger noticed immediately it was a question meant for him.
"Yes...erm...yes," he coughed once. "That's what I planned."
He noticed he had no choice but to play along. Maybe if this worked he was able to ask about it when they were outside. The old lady on the other hand nodded once and turned to the fat guy again.
"So, I guess you're gonna tell me where to pay that bail and then leave my client and his friends out of there."
"Certainly Ma'am," he answered, touching his hat once and lowered his head a little. "Will you follow me then? And you two," he pointed at two officers standing next to him. "Get them out of there. And don't harm them."
Roger and the others stood there shocked. They stared at the people in front of them in disbelief when the lock to their cell turned. Three or four policemen rushed into the cell, pushing the crowd aside and thus formed what looked like a small aisle for them to walk out of this nightmare.
"Come on," one of them said, putting handcuffs on Roger and the other four. "Don't dawdle around."
A little reluctant they followed him. Whatever this meant none of them knew, but it was a chance at last to get out of here.
"Talk to Scott," he heard a voice, causing him to turn his head while he was still moving. And from the corner of his eyes, Roger saw the young man in between the crowd, looking after him.
"Talk to Scott," he repeated.. "He will know what to do!"
"Hey, shut up there fairy," one of the policemen rushed by his side and it didn't take more than a heartbeat and the young guy felt his billy in his rips. Roger saw him sinking to his knees, but he wasn't able to do anything right now if he didn't want to blow it all. So, he followed them outside that huge cell-room and heard the door behind him, which was shut with a loud bang.
….
Carmen went up and down for over an hours now. No matter what he tried it was impossible for him to relax now. His whole body was shivering and every now and then he stared out of the windows of the little restaurant they were in. From time to time he sat down next to Max, but got up only seconds later to run in circles again. Max watched him the whole time. He could understand his nervousness too well and feared he might made it worse by just saying something. But then again, Carmen was driving him crazy too.
"Oh, please do me one favor, will ya?" he asked after a while, leaning his head to the wall next to him. "Will you sit down? Just for five minutes? Please, I beg you!"
Carmen looked at him a little angry at first, but relaxed his face quickly. He sighed once and then nodded. Slowly he sat down in front of him and tried to stay calm.
"I'm sorry," he said. "All this waiting kills me though."
"I know," Max replied. "But you won't speed them up by walking through this place like a lunatic. Try to act normal."
"I'm sorry," Carmen crossed his arms and looked at his feet again, inhaling deeply.
"She will succeed," Max said, watching him still. "Hold on a little longer. Roger will be with you again."
Carmen nodded.
"He can't just come and take him away again," Max said a lot quieter now. He seemed to sense what the younger man was worrying about, even though he didn't speak about it. "Even someone as powerful as Pembroke needs a reason to arrest a person just like that."
"He will find a way," Carmen answered and looked up into Max's eyes. "If he really wants to, he will."
"It sounded to me more like a coincidental trade than a planned one," Max said. "He wasn't prepared for you to jump between him and me. The surprise was written in his face that moment."
"Yeah but the way I see it, is that he will do anything to try it again now," Carmen answered. "He loathes Roger. More than me possibly."
"Why?" Max asked. "Have they met before?"
"No," the slender man shook his head. "But he blames everything on him. In his eyes Roger even encourages me in living that abnormal way of life. And it didn't change after he shot the last curse."
Carmen stopped at that point for a moment and shook his head as if to wipe away the memories that obviously teared him up inside.
"Plus, his plan didn't work out as he thought," he said. "I'm pretty sure he hoped I would either leave town or come crawling back to his stoop after a few days. None of it happened. And since we had that deal he couldn't really do anything to me or Roger without fearing I show up again with everyone noticing he'd been lying. Because if people knew what he did..."
"I know," Max cut him off. "It would lead to a lot more questions and most likely people would start to directly attribute all this agitation to him. A danger through and through."
Carmen nodded.
"I... I just want him back," Carmen whispered lowering his head once more. "I don't care what he does and I feel a lot braver when Roger is around."
Max watched him again. He felt sorry for the younger man in more ways than he could describe. In a way he felt just like him. And that was definitely the worst part of it. Knowing completely what he was going through and how he felt didn't help a bit though. He'd done everything he could and wasn't able to add any more than what he already did. Even though he wished to do more, he felt more helpless now than he had before.
"Forgive me," he said after a while and closed his eyes, knowing perfectly well Carmen was looking at him again. He could sense it. "I've done you harm and I never intended it."
But Carmen shook his head determinedly.
"If it hadn't been for you," he said as Max opened his eyes again, looking more desperate than ever before. "I wouldn't have come that far to be honest. He probably would have gotten me back on that street. Or I would be alone now with no hope of seeing the one I love ever again. And then he probably have gotten me in a way or another. So, no blame on my side at all."
Max didn't reply, but put his head in his hands staring at the table with clenched teeth. And for the first time Carmen noticed how much his hands shook too. He felt selfish all of a sudden. In all his despair and nervousness he'd completely ignored Max's feelings through all of this. He probably was shattered even more. And he managed to stay strong for Carmen's sake. He'd lost the person he loved; probably more than anyone else in this world, including himself and still managed to apologize to Carmen for something that wasn't his fault.
Carmen's insights gave a jolt.
"I am glad you know though," he said.
Max looked up again.
"It feels good to finally being able to talk to someone about all this," Carmen tried to smile. "And I never meant to burden you with my shitload of a past, but still... thank you for being there."
And for once Max smiled too.
"That's what friends are for, right?"
"He asked me to marry him," Carmen said then without thinking.
Max on the other hand looked a bit taken aback. He surely didn't expect something like that.
"He did?" he asked then. "Wow. I don't really know what to say. That's wonderful... Forgive my stuttering. I just... I never expected you to tell me."
"I know," Carmen replied. "But I want you to know. I should have told you before."
And without hesitation Max got up and marched towards the younger man. Carmen felt his body stiffen as Max flung his arms around him.
"I'm glad you did," he whispered into his ear. "And I am really happy for you."
Quickly Carmen relaxed and had to smile. Max on the other hand let go of him again and looked into his face. His eyes were wet and he smiled too.
"You belong," he said. "I didn't wanna see it for so long and I am sorry for that. But it's you and Roger. Always. You belong together. It was no coincidence he found you in the streets that day. This was intended to happen. I've never been more convinced of anything."
"Thank you," Carmen answered, resting his head on Max's. "Thank you for everything."
They didn't care at all what this must look like. Neither of them even thought about someone might calling the cops seeing it. This moment belonged to them for once. They've made it that far. And if two people as different as Max and Carmen could overcome their differences, everyone could. The certainty of that stood in the room unvoiced.
They only parted when they heard the little bell on the door, which opened and told everyone inside someone was entering.
Both of them looked over and for a moment Max had the impression of Carmen almost falling over. His face got pale and his eyes wide seeing the tall man entering the restaurant, accompanied by a little old woman.
Roger was looking around rather bemused. He happened not to know exactly what he was doing there, whereas the old woman immediately stared over to the unlikely pair, staring at them in disbelief and grinned friendly.
"Oh my God," Carmen said hoarsely and got up.
It was then Roger caught sight of him and for a moment stood there like frozen. But then suddenly, he almost ran towards his partner who wasn't able to move as well.
Both of them flung their arms around one another as soon as they reached each other. Roger buried his face in Carmen's hair, whereas Carmen started to sob uncontrollably, tightening his grip on the taller man even more.
"I though I'd never see you again," he cried.
Roger on the other hand started to stroke his head tenderly and kissed him softly on the forehead.
"Don't cry," he whispered and wiped away Carmen's tears with his thumb. "It's over. I hoped so much nothing happened to you. Thank God, you are alive."
Max and the old woman watched them from a little distance. He smiled too, but dropped it quickly.
He turned over to the old woman and took her aside a little.
"So?" He looked at her full of expectation. But to his horror she shook her head and her face turned into a sad image of regret.
"I tried," she said. "He wasn't there. No one had his name listed anywhere."
Max sighed. "I see," he said and tried hard not to let his disappointment show. "Thank you for trying though. I owe you big deal."
She shook her head though.
"You owe me nothing," she said. "I understand it now. Why you have dropped me and all the others all of a sudden. And that reason was well worth it."
"You know what?" he tried to cover up the sadness inside by playing dumb. But he knew very well she'd notice immediately. Somehow a lot of older people could see through a masquerade like that.
The old woman reached out and put her hand on his cheek again. She smiled compassionately.
"Don't even try to hide it," she said. "You love who you'll love. It doesn't matter what people think."
"I..."
"I really hope you'll find him," she said. "And maybe you'll introduce him to me one day."
Thus she turned and left, leaving Max a little bewildered. He stared after her for a moment, but then turned as well and closed his eyes. He had to laugh. So, there was no sign of Leo having been arrested. Thinking about it the idea had been stupid anyway. After all, who would arrest someone who was as good as dead anyway.
He turned his head towards Roger and Carmen again and decided to get over there once more.
"Max," Carmen said cheerfully as he approached them.
But obviously Roger hadn't noticed him yet. He whirled around in a hurry and looked furious.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he screamed and within a second gripped him by his shirt again and pulled him closer. "Didn't I tell you not to come near us again?"
He let go of him only seconds later, but almost thrust him away from them, causing Max to stumble into the seats of their table. Roger was quick though. Before he even grasped what just had happened he was bend over him once more.
"Roger," Carmen yelled after him, grabbing his arm. But he couldn't do much.
"What else is it that you want to destroy? Where's your old pal Pembroke?" he screamed. "You just can't see anyone living in peace, can you?"
"ROGER!"
Carmen jumped between them, pushing himself protecting over Max. Roger looked at him in shock for a moment, but Carmen didn't take his gaze away from him.
"Will you stop it for heaven's sake? What's gotten into you?"
"What? What's gotten into me?" Roger asked in disbelief. "Carmen... He is the reason this all happened. Who knows what he is planning now? I'm half expecting to find Pembroke lurking behind the next wall, marching in here any moment and arresting what's left of us."
"NO," the younger man yelled back."Will you please listen before blindly attacking him without thinking any further? He helped me getting you out of there."
"He what?"
"Without him, I wouldn't have come out of that crowd," Carmen continued. "And he's the reason you are standing here now. It was his idea, his money and his plan. So, don't you dare to attack him like that."
Carmen turned around and stretched his hand in Max's direction, helping him up again. He looked at him compassionately.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
Max simply nodded and looked a little scared over at Roger, rubbing his neck.
"What happened here?" Roger asked quietly, staring from Carmen to Max and back. "You two get along now?"
Carmen nodded. "Yes. You see, I realized what kind of idiot I have been. You have been right from the beginning," he explained. "He isn't at all what I thought he was. And I owe him big deal for everything."
Roger's jaw dropped and he turned to Max.
"Is that true?" he asked.
Max hesitated a second. It might have been he feared another attack, but then he took a deep breath.
"I... erm... It was the least I could do," he answered slowly, but remaining in a safe distance to the taller man. "After all that happened... He should have you back. Carmen without Roger ain't possible."
Roger just continued his unbelieving stare. He gave the impression of a statue for a moment and Max didn't know what to think. He even looked over at Carmen in a questioning way. The younger man though only stared back at Roger.
But suddenly Roger rushed forward and a moment later Max found himself entwined in a bear hug. He couldn't believe it at first, but the longer it lasted the more real it became. Roger was embracing him. And he had something desperate about him that very moment. Was didn't really know how to react.
"Thank you," The taller man whispered again and Max swore you could feel tears dripping on his shoulders. "I didn't want to believe you were really able to do something like that. Please, forgive me and accept my apology. Thank you for helping Carmen. Thank you so much."
"Don't mention it," Max only whispered back. And he meant it.
"Well, that's what a family is there for, right?" they heard Carmen's voice and finally Roger let go of the smaller man. Both of them looked over at him.
"You're absolutely right. Speaking of which, where is Leo?" Roger asked, but only earned a look from Max as though he'd start to cry any moment. Quickly he turned his gaze away and didn't answer. Carmen on the other hand shook his head on him.
"He's...," he started but didn't know how to finish the sentence. "We've lost him."
The last part was nothing more than a whisper. Roger's eyes widened again.
"What do you mean lost?" he asked.
"Just what he said," Max finally spoke. "Leo's dead. There was nothing we could have done. So the less said about it the better."
Roger couldn't believe it. He simply stared back at him.
"Will you excuse me?" Max continued, but sounded a lot calmer again. "It's good to have you back, Roger. I'm pretty sure you two have a lot to talk about."
"Max, where are you going?" Carmen asked and almost rushed after him, but Roger held him back.
"Nowhere," Max answered. "I...I just need a little time for myself. I'll see you later."
Then he turned and left the restaurant, leaving Roger and Carmen flabbergasted.
"He's devastated," Carmen tried to explain."Please, don't be mad at him. It's a lot he has to deal with right now."
"Leo's dead?" Roger looked at his partner with wide eyes. It seemed as though only parts of everything he'd heard right now were getting to him. Carmen nodded.
"He got injured. Badly," he answered. "And like he said...there was nothing any of us could have done..."
"Carmen," Roger spoke again, before he could explain any more. "We can't let him wander around alone."
"Who? Max?"
"He hasn't got it yet," Roger explained. "Didn't you see his face? He's suppressing it. It will come out though. And that grief is dangerous as long as he is alone."
They looked at each other again. Carmen understood what he wanted to imply here. So, he nodded.
"We can't just leave him in his despair," Roger continued. "Who knows what he is about to do?"
And without another word they ran after him.
~To be continued~