A/N: There's some serious values dissonance in this chapter. Your mileage may vary, but one of us writers thinks that, if someone has a kink about murdering you, has actually caused you bodily harm, and is probably very capable of murdering you, that's a real problem. Another writer… disagrees. So be prepared for that, going in! Also, the POV switches may get a bit more erratic going forward. Apologies if you find it too jarring.

Chapter 11: Dirty Laundry

The drive to the hospital was a bit of a strain. Trent still seemed to be lost in his thoughts and even though he held her hand, he said nothing for the whole drive. That almost drove Rebecca nuts! But she respected his silence and gave him the time he seemed to need. She really didn't want Paula and Greg to follow either… but… they never seemed to listen to her anyway, so she just let it go.

As they were getting Trent admitted, things took another odd turn. Nathaniel was being discharged at the same time, and Rebecca felt the energy within Trent shift again before he tried to control it. She looked over at him with furrowed eyebrows till she saw who he was looking at.

Oh, fucking great! she thought to herself as she met and held Nathaniel's eye; she shot daggers at the man. He stared back at them both, but mainly at Trent.

She stood and positioned herself in Nathaniel's line of view, then crossed her arms and lowered her chin at him as her expression turned sinister. She could be spiteful when she wanted to be and, having learned a few 'tricks' from Trent inadvertently, she knew how best to frighten this man before her. She had no idea what had gone on between the two of them, but she wanted to know and one way or another, she would find out!

Nathaniel just quirked an eyebrow at her, unbothered. "I'll be back, actually, I forgot something in my room," he said to the nurse.

"Well, hurry up, we need that bed for the new patient."

"It's okay, Martha," said the simpering nurse who had refused to throw out the pink oleanders. "These two know each other. Did you want to bring him your flowers, hun? He's going in the same room, so we can just leave them there. Everything else has been disinfected."

Nathaniel blinked. "Uh… yeah," he said. "Actually, do you mind if I have a moment with him? Alone?"

The simpering nurse smiled at him. "Of course! Just let him change into his hospital gown first. We need to check him over and make sure there's nothing more serious going on."

So, Trent was left alone to change, and he was grateful for that. He didn't want to deal with the tension, and he really didn't want anyone else who wasn't a medical professional in the room with him at all.

Rebecca waited as her boyfriend was taken back to change and get his vitals checked, grateful at least that Paula was there to help support her. She was still a mess inside, still confused about all her emotions. In fact, she was so keyed up that she felt sick.

As soon as the nurses had taken Trent's vitals and left, Nathaniel strode into his room, climbed onto the exam bed over him, pinned his arms above his head, and kissed him, full of spite and anger. Trent closed his eyes, and a soft sigh passed his lips; Nathaniel locked eyes with Rebecca through the observation window defiantly.

It was as she was turning to respond to Paula, who had asked her how she was doing, that she saw it! Everything. Literally. Stopped!

She didn't hear Paula's voice anymore. Didn't feel her hand at her shoulder. Didn't even know she was moving until she had crossed the floor, banged open the door with such force that it slammed into the wall behind it, and, reaching up, grabbed Nathaniel by the scruff of his shirt and peeled him off Trent.

Then she hauled back and punched the shit out of Nathaniel, sending him flying back. She got some sick satisfaction to see him stumble, before she punched him again. Then when he slammed against the nearest wall, she reached down, grabbed his cock through his pants, and squeezed and pulled at the same time. Nathaniel gasped, his eyes watering.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip it off and feed it to you." Rebecca's voice was soft, menacing. If people thought Trent was scary, it was nothing compared to what she wanted to do to the man before her now!

"What the hell do you think you are doing, Nathaniel!?" Her voice was a low growl; her eyes shot fire as she squeezed again, a sneer forming over her face as she reveled in this feeling. She wanted to hurt him!

Paula's eyes went wide as she came into the room and stopped short. This wasn't her friend. This wasn't the quirky person she worked with and had grown to love. No, this was someone else!

"Rebecca… don't…" was all she could get out, before she gulped. This was some fucked up shit!

Greg had heard the commotion and come looking; he was no help at all as he stood there, jaw agape, staring at the scene.

Nathaniel could admit he deserved the first punch, but the rest was out of hand. He howled in pain as this tiny powerhouse beat the shit out of him. But secretly, he had to admit he kind of liked it.

"Don't—ow! Because he wants it, okay?"

Trent gave Nathaniel a cold look; just because Nathaniel was discharged now didn't mean Trent couldn't put him right back in the hospital and poison him. Or even something more immediate.

Nathaniel flattened his lips angrily. He had to find a way to tell Rebecca what had happened without telling her what had happened.

"You're right," he said. "That was way out of line. I guess I just got turned on when he was licking my face earlier and wanted to find out what kissing him would feel like," he lied smoothly, trying to avoid meeting Greg's eye.

Rebecca's rage only grew. Her grip around his cock tightened and she pulled harder, taking immense pleasure in his pain. Something didn't make sense in his words. Her head tilted in that creepy way that made her look almost inhuman as she glared at the man before her. But before she could respond, Greg piped up.

"Then why were you a complete mess when I visited earlier?" His eyes furrowed as he looked back and forth between Rebecca and Nathaniel. Gods, that woman was scary! "You were so upset, you threw up. You had to be sedated." He paused and looked back over his shoulder, spotting the nurse from earlier, and turned to look back at Nathaniel. "Besides, that nurse seemed to think you two are close, and we all know that you hate each other."

Rebecca swore she couldn't breathe. What was Greg insinuating? Growling deep in her throat like some wild animal, she got into Nathaniel's face; he could see the killing rage inside her eyes. "Try again… the truth this time… or I rip it off and then make you eat it!" She dug her nails into him and delighted in his squeal. The man really was a pig.

Nathaniel really couldn't tell her. He wanted to, but he couldn't. He pushed through the pain, not even feeling safe to snark that this felt familiar from six hours ago.

Finally, he said, "Greg, what are you talking about? I threw up because I can't eat the crap the hospital serves us. You know I'm on a strict diet." He had been on an IV during his stay and no food had passed his lips. The only thing his lips had touched— nope, he didn't want to think about it.

"But… you were on IVs during you—Ohhhh… !" Greg's eyes went wide, and he turned to look back at Trent—who hadn't moved or so much as made a sound during this whole debacle, which was really weird—and then back at Nathaniel.

Rebecca's rage faded as quickly as it had come, and disbelief flooded her. She shoved away from Nathaniel, trying to stay alert, trying to keep from passing out at the swiftness of her flocculating emotions. She turned her gaze to Trent, pleading with her eyes for him to refute what she had suddenly figured out. To say anything. Her breaths came in gasps; she looked around her and shivered. "No…." She shook her head slowly and instantly regretted it. So dizzy.

"Rebecca?" Paula's voice was full of concern as she watched her friend, who looked like she would pass out.

Rebecca turned her attention back to Nathaniel and glared at him. "You! Get out!" She paused to breathe a few moments before she shouted. "OUT!"

Nathaniel shot a glare right back at her and left.

Rebecca turned her gaze back to Trent and bit her lip, before addressing Paula and Greg in a slightly softer tone. "Could you guys… excuse us please? For one moment?"

Paula didn't have to be told twice! She booked it back to the waiting room. Greg hung around a moment longer, just to make sure Rebecca was back to herself, before he nodded and followed suit.

Rebecca walked slowly over to Trent's bed and looked down at him, her face a mishmash of emotions as she reached out for his hand.

"Trent… " Her voice was soft, no hint of anger left. Her expression was neutral as she looked into his eyes. He would tell her the truth. "What happened, with Nathaniel?" she asked gently. "And remember… you promised to be honest with me…."

Trent had dissociated during the conversation and was just staring through the wall, not processing anything anyone said. He didn't feel Rebecca touch him, nor see her, nor hear her words; he was completely out of it.

Outside the room, the nurse came up to Nathaniel. "Did you have a nice visit with your boyfriend, hun? Do you mind if I go check on him?"

"Please do," said Nathaniel simply. "There's a crazy chick in there interrogating him." And he stalked off to the men's room.

The nurse went in.

"Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. There's been a complaint."

Turning to look at the nurse like she had lost her mind, Rebecca felt panic flood her once more.

"What? From whom!?" she asked, but she knew! Damn that man! "This is my boyfriend; I have no idea what you have been told…." But she was interrupted as the nurse insisted again.

She looked back at Trent and gave his hand a squeeze. "Trent!? Please…."

Only when she was threatened to be escorted out did she cave. She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Trent's cheek, then, with a quick "I love you," she retreated from the room.

She felt so… empty. Seeing Paula look up at her with such a questioning gaze, she broke down into near hysterics.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Paula went to Rebecca and hugged her tight as her friend told her what the nurse had said. She tossed Greg a look.

Greg sighed and nodded. "I'll go stay with him and tell him what happened when he comes back out of it. Get her home."

xoxo

Rebecca was inconsolable as Paula led her out of the hospital and drove her back home. She vowed to stay with her friend till this all worked itself out. After comforting her enough to stop her tears, she led Rebecca to her room and tucked her into bed as if she were a child. Then she went to sit on the sofa with a sigh, turning on the tv, and waited to hear anything from Greg. Being Rebecca's friend sure was interesting sometimes.

xoxo

Greg had gone back into Trent's room, fully intending to tell Nathaniel off if he made another appearance. Trent made Rebecca happy, and she made Trent happy. They didn't deserve this. What was wrong with Nathaniel?

Nathaniel stayed in the men's room a little longer than necessary before going back to Trent's room. To his surprise, Greg was there.

"Hey, man," said Nathaniel. "Can I talk to you for a second? Away from him?"

Greg looked up at hearing Nathaniel's voice and glared at his friend. Looking over at Trent and then back, he nodded, stood, and walked out of the room, staying close enough to keep an eye on Trent, just in case.

"What do you want, Nathaniel? Haven't you caused enough problems already?" Greg's voice was angry as he crossed his arms. "I don't even pretend to understand the beef between you and Trent, man, that's on you… but Rebecca? For God's sake, man, what is wrong with you?"

Nathaniel held up his hands. "Okay, you know what? This is why I wanted to talk to you. Yesterday, Paula and I were in LA on business, and we ran into Trent and Rebecca." He couldn't tell Greg what had happened at the hospital earlier, but he could share what Rebecca already knew.

"He was acting really weird, man." He shook his head. "This is going to sound ridiculous, but it was like he was going to ravage me at any second. Honestly, the way he was eating his ice cream and looking at me, was like he was hitting on me—noGregletmefinish! Then I overheard the girls talking and Rebecca said he shares fantasies with her in bed, about him murdering me. Rebecca and I got in a fight and he…." Nathaniel grimaced. "Threw me across the room and threatened to…" His face flushed. "Not murder me," he hinted. "I woke up in the hospital. Then he came to visit me with those goddamn poison flowers. I wish I could tell you more, but I really can't."

Greg listened in disbelief to everything Nathaniel had to say. It didn't matter what Rebecca and Trent did together in bed, and he was confused as to why that bothered Nathaniel.

"Ok… so?" Greg shrugged, looking over at his friend. "What Trent and Rebecca do is no concern of ours. So, the man… has a weird kink… ok!" He motioned with his hands to Nathaniel. "You aren't the most sensitive guy out there and I bet you have some… weird likes, yourself—nonowyouletMEfinish! Rebecca is happy, man, HAPPY! What you did in there, knowing it would get that response out of her, is your fault." He sighed and smirked, shaking his head. Sometimes Nathaniel acted like a spoiled brat, and this was one of those times. "If you ended up hurt because you got into a fight with Rebecca, then maybe you deserved it. Trent's crazy, but he wouldn't hurt someone without cause. I trust Rebecca, and she trusts Trent… so…."

Sighing again, he waved his friend off and headed back to Trent's room. "Just… go home, man. Get some sleep. Figure your shit out and leave Rebecca and Trent alone."

"Wait," Nathaniel said, reaching out and grabbing Greg's arm. "Look, man, you're right, he is crazy. And Rebecca's got some kind of Stockholm Syndrome going on where she can't see him for what he is. I needed to find a way to show her exactly what he is. Was kissing him a bad idea? Yes. (He's a really good kisser, actually he's great with his mouth in every way) oh shit I shouldn't have told you that, you're right I'm going home, bye."

Hoping to God that Greg finally got the message, Nathaniel left.

Greg turned back and looked at Nathaniel like he was nuts. In fact, he had noticed Nathaniel acting a little weird ever since he and Rebecca broke up. Was Nathaniel slipping? Should Greg be worried? Shaking his head, he went back into Trent's room and sat on the chair near his bed, waiting for the man to come to.

"Hey, man… I don't know if you can hear me, and frankly I don't get this whole shit going on right now… but Rebecca loves you…."

He winced when he said it, but he had to admit it. To himself, to Trent. Letting go was harder than he thought, but he knew better then to ruin someone else's happiness simply because he could. Rebecca was a friend. He had hoped, still… and it hurt to think it, but she was Trent's now.

"You have got to come back to her. She's so unhappy without you, man." So saying, he settled back into his seat, preparing to wait as long as it took.

xoxo

Back home, Rebecca had cried and sobbed until she couldn't cry anymore, and it all turned to hiccups. Lying in bed, utterly exhausted, she pulled a pillow to her chest, another to her back, and burrowed into them.

"Trent…." Her voice was so forlorn. Somehow, she found new tears and cried herself into exhaustion.

xoxo

Trent had drifted off to sleep, mentally and physically exhausted. His ear infection was being treated with antibiotics, his lungs had been checked for fluid, his ankle was wrapped. He was completely unaware of anything going on around him. He was empty, fully and completely, a blank slate. His sleep was dreamless for once. He wasn't comatose, but he also wasn't responsive. The nurses were keeping him for observation due to his catatonia.