Broken Angel part 7
Fred quietly sat doing work on his computer. He would rather be with Jim, but he still had work to do. Also he told Jim to come to him if he felt the urge to talk again, and that he would be more than willing to listen. Fred knew that Jim needed some time alone, and that smothering him would do no good any way. Still Fred felt uneasy. The fact Jim wanted to hurt himself did not sit well in his mind. Even though he was not with Jim, Fred made sure that his servants kept an eye on Jim.
Frowning Fred pushed away from the keyboard he typed on. Closing his eyes Fred tugged on his ear not knowing what to do for Jim.
Then to Fred's surprise the door to his office opened to reveal Jim. Fred nearly shot up, and led Jim to the couch across from his desk. Fred sat next to Jim, and asked eagerly. "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"
Jim looked at his feet, and quietly answered, "Yeah, I want to see Gene." Shame filled Jim's face just as the words left his mouth.
Uncomfortable with the request Fred swallowed, and inquired, "Why?"
Lifting his gaze to the white plaster wall Jim responded dutifully, "Because Gene needs me."
Fred sighed, and pulled on his ear. Leaning against the couch Fred asked, "Jim have you ever considered what you need?" Jim turned to look at Fred blankly. Fred continued, "I mean do you need to see the guy who beat you bloody a week ago?" The words came out with an almost scolding tone which Fred did not intend them to have. Jim averted his eyes, as a single tear trailed down his cheek.
Cursing himself Fred gently lifted Jim's chin so their eyes meet. "I'm sorry angel. It's just that I'm afraid of what Gene might do." Fred apologized.
Jim's eyes hardened. Jim sprang up, and shouted. "Don't worry about me. I'm not a fucking kid. I can take care of my self."
Stunned by sudden out burst Fred blinked, but then coolly replied, "Maybe that is your problem."
Confused Jim cocked a questioning eyebrow. Fred stood, and walked over slowly to Jim. "Did you ever play with anyone your own age when you were younger?" Fred asked. Jim shook his head. "Did you ever dream carelessly?" Fred continued. Again Jim just shook his head. "Have you ever not worried about someone else?" Fred questioned with his heart begging that Jim in fact had spent time not worrying. This time Jim just turned his head. Now Fred stood next to Jim, as he asked the final question. "Have you ever done anything just for your self?"
Tears flooded down Jim's face. Immediately Fred embraced Jim. Jim wrapped his arms around Fred's neck, and rested his head on Fred's chest. Tenderly Fred placed light kisses on Jim's hair, and laid his head on Jim's. Jim had needed this kind of comfort for years and no one could or would have provided it until now.
"Maybe for once, Jim, you need to be selfish, and only worry about yourself." Fred recommended. Jim's tears quieted, and he closed his eyes in thought. "I still need to see Gene.", Jim stated.
Suppressing a sigh Fred looked at Jim with why written all over his face.
"Closer." Jim told Fed.
"Then I'm coming with you." Fred informed with no room for protest.
***
Jim stood at the door of his home, as fear crept into his heart. The last time he was here, he meet fists and pain. Behind Jim, Fred stood protectively, and his body language screamed, "Touch him and die!"
Jim opened the door, and walked in. Fred fallowed closely behind. The room had been untouched since Jim left a week ago. The pungent odor of rooted food over whelmed the room. Gilliam lay broken at the front door. Dust covered every thing, and the place was eerily dark. But what caught Jim and Fred's attention the most was the giggling coming from Gene's room.
Quietly Jim walked to Gene's room, and Fred fallowed attempting to control his boiling rage. Jim lightly pushed Gene's already half open door.
Gene sat in the middle of the floor giggling. Insanity gleamed in his eyes. All color had disappeared from Gene's skin, leaving him pale as the dead. Gashes covered his arms, chest, and legs. Blood from the wounds stained the floor surrounding Gene, and a knife covered in old and new blood lay in Gene's reach.
"Gene." Jim whispered to gain his attention, as he knelt in front of Gene. Fred stood a foot behind Jim eyeing Gene warily. Gene blinked, and a little of his sanity returned.
In shook Gene mouthed Jim's name. Trembling Jim touched a fresh wound on Gene's leg. Lifting his hand Jim looked at the blood in morbid fascination. Then Jim gave into the strange urge to lick the blood on his finger. He now had some of Gene's life in him he reasoned to him self. Gene did not care or realize the action, and Fred flinched in concern and disgust.
Then Jim asked, "Why?" And pointed to one of Gene's many mutilations.
The maniac gleam returned to Gene's eyes, as he explained, "I did it to get even for you. I need to avenge you."
Jim looked at Gene with horror. "I never asked you..."Jim began, but Gene stopped him by placing his finger on Jim's lips. Fred visibly tensed, but did not interrupt.
"I'm sorry, Jim. I've ruined your life. When she died I didn't know what to do, or were to go. You were always there trying to help, but I didn't want it. All I wanted was her, and it wasn't your felt she was gone." Gene cried, and gently cupped Jim's chin in his hand. Terror fell on Fred's face. Not because Gene touched Jim, but because he now saw a deep gash across Gene's wrist.
Gene continued his apology, "You must think I was angry because your gay. That was not the reason. I lost it when you said you mentioned Mel. I should not have gotten angry." Gene horse voice was made worse, as he began to sob.
Broken Gene fell in to Jim chanting, "I'm sorry." repeatedly in an attempt to clean himself. Fred joined the scene by kneeling next to the two crying figures. Softly Fred tapped Jim's shoulder, and told Jim urgently, "We must get Gene to a hospital. Now!"
Both Jim and Gene oblivious to Fred were in their own world. They wept in each other's arms. Both of their souls screamed in pain, and no amount of tears could express it. Gene's voice stedaly grew weaker, as he continued to beg for forgiveness. He did not know that Jim had already forgiven him a week ago, when the first blow landed. Suddenly Gene's please for forgiveness stopped, and his trembling body grew still.
Alarmed Jim lightly shook Gene. Gene's head lolled back, and his cold eyes stared lifelessly at the ceiling. "Gene!" Jim shouted, as he shook Gene like a rag doll. Fred felt a dreadful numb, and had no will to interfere.
Defeated Jim dropped Gene's limp body, and searched the room disparity. With out warning Jim lunged at the knife on the floor, but before he could grab it a strong hand held his wrist. Fred jerked Jim away from the knife, and firmly grasped Jim's shoulders. "Don't you dare." Fred commanded. Then he embraced Jim with his life, and repeated, "Don't you dare."
Fred quietly sat doing work on his computer. He would rather be with Jim, but he still had work to do. Also he told Jim to come to him if he felt the urge to talk again, and that he would be more than willing to listen. Fred knew that Jim needed some time alone, and that smothering him would do no good any way. Still Fred felt uneasy. The fact Jim wanted to hurt himself did not sit well in his mind. Even though he was not with Jim, Fred made sure that his servants kept an eye on Jim.
Frowning Fred pushed away from the keyboard he typed on. Closing his eyes Fred tugged on his ear not knowing what to do for Jim.
Then to Fred's surprise the door to his office opened to reveal Jim. Fred nearly shot up, and led Jim to the couch across from his desk. Fred sat next to Jim, and asked eagerly. "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"
Jim looked at his feet, and quietly answered, "Yeah, I want to see Gene." Shame filled Jim's face just as the words left his mouth.
Uncomfortable with the request Fred swallowed, and inquired, "Why?"
Lifting his gaze to the white plaster wall Jim responded dutifully, "Because Gene needs me."
Fred sighed, and pulled on his ear. Leaning against the couch Fred asked, "Jim have you ever considered what you need?" Jim turned to look at Fred blankly. Fred continued, "I mean do you need to see the guy who beat you bloody a week ago?" The words came out with an almost scolding tone which Fred did not intend them to have. Jim averted his eyes, as a single tear trailed down his cheek.
Cursing himself Fred gently lifted Jim's chin so their eyes meet. "I'm sorry angel. It's just that I'm afraid of what Gene might do." Fred apologized.
Jim's eyes hardened. Jim sprang up, and shouted. "Don't worry about me. I'm not a fucking kid. I can take care of my self."
Stunned by sudden out burst Fred blinked, but then coolly replied, "Maybe that is your problem."
Confused Jim cocked a questioning eyebrow. Fred stood, and walked over slowly to Jim. "Did you ever play with anyone your own age when you were younger?" Fred asked. Jim shook his head. "Did you ever dream carelessly?" Fred continued. Again Jim just shook his head. "Have you ever not worried about someone else?" Fred questioned with his heart begging that Jim in fact had spent time not worrying. This time Jim just turned his head. Now Fred stood next to Jim, as he asked the final question. "Have you ever done anything just for your self?"
Tears flooded down Jim's face. Immediately Fred embraced Jim. Jim wrapped his arms around Fred's neck, and rested his head on Fred's chest. Tenderly Fred placed light kisses on Jim's hair, and laid his head on Jim's. Jim had needed this kind of comfort for years and no one could or would have provided it until now.
"Maybe for once, Jim, you need to be selfish, and only worry about yourself." Fred recommended. Jim's tears quieted, and he closed his eyes in thought. "I still need to see Gene.", Jim stated.
Suppressing a sigh Fred looked at Jim with why written all over his face.
"Closer." Jim told Fed.
"Then I'm coming with you." Fred informed with no room for protest.
***
Jim stood at the door of his home, as fear crept into his heart. The last time he was here, he meet fists and pain. Behind Jim, Fred stood protectively, and his body language screamed, "Touch him and die!"
Jim opened the door, and walked in. Fred fallowed closely behind. The room had been untouched since Jim left a week ago. The pungent odor of rooted food over whelmed the room. Gilliam lay broken at the front door. Dust covered every thing, and the place was eerily dark. But what caught Jim and Fred's attention the most was the giggling coming from Gene's room.
Quietly Jim walked to Gene's room, and Fred fallowed attempting to control his boiling rage. Jim lightly pushed Gene's already half open door.
Gene sat in the middle of the floor giggling. Insanity gleamed in his eyes. All color had disappeared from Gene's skin, leaving him pale as the dead. Gashes covered his arms, chest, and legs. Blood from the wounds stained the floor surrounding Gene, and a knife covered in old and new blood lay in Gene's reach.
"Gene." Jim whispered to gain his attention, as he knelt in front of Gene. Fred stood a foot behind Jim eyeing Gene warily. Gene blinked, and a little of his sanity returned.
In shook Gene mouthed Jim's name. Trembling Jim touched a fresh wound on Gene's leg. Lifting his hand Jim looked at the blood in morbid fascination. Then Jim gave into the strange urge to lick the blood on his finger. He now had some of Gene's life in him he reasoned to him self. Gene did not care or realize the action, and Fred flinched in concern and disgust.
Then Jim asked, "Why?" And pointed to one of Gene's many mutilations.
The maniac gleam returned to Gene's eyes, as he explained, "I did it to get even for you. I need to avenge you."
Jim looked at Gene with horror. "I never asked you..."Jim began, but Gene stopped him by placing his finger on Jim's lips. Fred visibly tensed, but did not interrupt.
"I'm sorry, Jim. I've ruined your life. When she died I didn't know what to do, or were to go. You were always there trying to help, but I didn't want it. All I wanted was her, and it wasn't your felt she was gone." Gene cried, and gently cupped Jim's chin in his hand. Terror fell on Fred's face. Not because Gene touched Jim, but because he now saw a deep gash across Gene's wrist.
Gene continued his apology, "You must think I was angry because your gay. That was not the reason. I lost it when you said you mentioned Mel. I should not have gotten angry." Gene horse voice was made worse, as he began to sob.
Broken Gene fell in to Jim chanting, "I'm sorry." repeatedly in an attempt to clean himself. Fred joined the scene by kneeling next to the two crying figures. Softly Fred tapped Jim's shoulder, and told Jim urgently, "We must get Gene to a hospital. Now!"
Both Jim and Gene oblivious to Fred were in their own world. They wept in each other's arms. Both of their souls screamed in pain, and no amount of tears could express it. Gene's voice stedaly grew weaker, as he continued to beg for forgiveness. He did not know that Jim had already forgiven him a week ago, when the first blow landed. Suddenly Gene's please for forgiveness stopped, and his trembling body grew still.
Alarmed Jim lightly shook Gene. Gene's head lolled back, and his cold eyes stared lifelessly at the ceiling. "Gene!" Jim shouted, as he shook Gene like a rag doll. Fred felt a dreadful numb, and had no will to interfere.
Defeated Jim dropped Gene's limp body, and searched the room disparity. With out warning Jim lunged at the knife on the floor, but before he could grab it a strong hand held his wrist. Fred jerked Jim away from the knife, and firmly grasped Jim's shoulders. "Don't you dare." Fred commanded. Then he embraced Jim with his life, and repeated, "Don't you dare."