leanonme2

His eyes grew wide. I guess he never heard me swear before.

Let me look at it Tai. I plead.

okay, fine. But I'm used to pain.

Your also used to hiding it Tai.

He stares intently into my eyes. Dammit, why did I have to say that? Now he knows that I know. Maybe that's good my mind reasons. He won't have to hide anymore. Tai winces as he tries to take off his shirt.

Here let me help you Tai. I take his shirt off as carefully as I can, but Tai still whimpers.

Sorry Tai. I murmur.

I busy myself with the first aid kit, trying not to stare at his smooth golden brown chest. A few soft brown hairs were scattered about, giving promise to a very hairy chest someday.

My hands shake as I finish playing doctor.

Thanks Doc.

You need help, Tai.

I don't know what your talking about.

I've seen the bruises Tai. I know that your Dad is abusing you.

ARE YOU CRAZY! Its not my Dad!

Then who?





Its my mother. He muttered quietly.

Tai, there are places you can go, and get help.

He laughs bitterly. Sure they'd take me away and put me in foster care. And then what would happen to Kari?

I begin.

He looks at me, his chocolate eyes hot and demanding. Promise me you won't say anything.



PROMISE ME!

I promise.

Its my fault anyway. Tai muttered. His eyes downcast.

How could it be his fault? Tai look at me.

Pain filled eyes met mine. His lower lip trembled.

Tai, come here. I enfolded him into my arms. He fit perfectly. I stroked his back and comforted him while he cried.

After a while, he stopped crying. But he continued to let me hold him. Tai laid his head on my chest. I willed my heart to stop beating so fast. I was going to have a heart attack any minute. This might be all I would ever have. I smiled down at his tousled brown head.

Thanks Joe.

No problem. I'm here for you Tai. I say.

He looks up at me, his eyes flashing uncertainty and something else.

Joe...don't hate me for this, but...

He kisses me on the lips, softly but firmly.

This whole thing never happened okay. Tai stammers.

I stammer.

************

Tai was back to his usual self the next morning. It was if our conversation and kiss had never happened. I would have thought it was a dream. We would catch each other looking, and then look quickly away. What we felt was too intense. Maybe if we ignored it, it would go away. That's why shortly afterward, I volunteered to stay behind with Mimi. Maybe by going our separate ways we could come to terms with what had happened. It broke my heart to watch him leave. Those tortuous nights, I would stare up at the moon, and it would be Tai's face. I would catch glimpses of him, and then it would turn to shadows.

Oh Taichan. Whose going to take care of you? I mutter softly. I can only hope that Tai knows that what I feel for him just isn't going to go away. I hope that he knows that he can lean on me.

I look over at Mimi and our digimon sleeping. They were all oblivious to the torture I was undergoing.

Goodnight Taichan. I whisper softly, hoping that it would travel to his campsite, and he would know that I am here for him, no matter how far away I was.